Miss Seychelles … Another World 2013-Pageant’s contestants to begin training sessions |20 March 2013

The 14 contestants – Lindy Barallon, Sandra Ramanoelina, Joanne Napier, Naomi Fernandez, Emma Denousse, Angèle Quatre, Kelly Payet, Agnes Gerry, Nikita Nourrice, Isha Hoareau, Avrena Marie, Francesca Lablache, Steffie Fred and Rohanna Adelaide – met officials from the Seychelles Tourism Board (STB) and various partners and groomers to discuss how the training sessions will be conducted.

STB’s chief executive Elsia Grandcourt said her message to all the contestants is simple and clear: “You, as the contestants, having already been selected in the group that goes through to the Miss Seychelles, you have already achieved something big. Now it’s the training and the preparation that goes into getting you ready to take part in the beauty pageant.”
 
The weekly training programmes are designed to help the contestants brush up on their public speaking techniques, general knowledge on the Seychelles culture and economy, phone and table etiquette, conversation in French and performance skills on camera. They will also be having choreography training sessions as part of their preparation.

All these tailored training sessions have been planned by the STB to prepare the contestants not solely for the Miss Seychelles ... Another World 2013 beauty pageant in May, but to give the winner a solid chance of winning the Miss World pageant to be held in Indonesia on September 28, 2013.

Ms Furneau said that she will be available to all the contestants and will gladly provide them with words of encouragement, tips and advice.
“I am feeling so excited, and I know just how you are feeling,” she told the group of enthusiastic contestants.

“It’s a moment for you to really grab - this is a moment few girls can have, so appreciate the fact that you are here today, because it’s one of the moments you will never be able to have again.
“You are practically sisters now, and that’s the way it should be. You should be there for each other, because these times you are spending together are the moments that should be cherished for a lifetime.”

Ms Grandcourt said: “Whenever we think of a local pageant, we always just think of it as just a beauty pageant, but at the same time we want to bring out the training that these girls are getting.
 It stays with them, nobody can take it away, and that’s the beauty of it. By the time we are finished, we would have managed to make a difference to the lives of 14 girls in Seychelles.

“The one who walks away with the crown has an added responsibility of representing Seychelles as an ambassador, but more importantly, if what the girls have learned can filter out into the community, we hope that we will be able to make a difference to the girl next door.”

Ms Grandcourt said she believes that the training the contestants receive will have a ripple effect on the community, thus making a difference for the youth of today. She also said the contestants will have the opportunity to support various causes and will be given the opportunity to brainstorm and think out of the box this year in terms of what they want to do.

“It’s not just about going out there in a bikini,” Ms Grandcourt said. “There’s a lot more to it than that. We will be gearing the girls to represent the country and show what we have to offer.”

The contestants are scheduled to go on several social outings, such as a photo shoot at the Vallée de Mai on Praslin this weekend and a nature trip to Curieuse Island.