Miss Seychelles the National Pageant is back! |22 February 2020

The contestants raring to go (Photo: Louis Toussaint)

• Beauty Empowerment Seychelles takes on the challenge

Yes indeed! You heard it right! Miss Seychelles the National Pageant is back on our shores.

This was announced yesterday evening at the Berjaya Beau Vallon Bay Resort & Casino by Stephanie Duval, chairperson of the Beauty Empowerment Seychelles (BES).

Twelve young Seychellois girls have been selected, out of 30 candidates, to participate in this competition: Kelly-Mary Anette (23 yrs) from Pointe Larue; Amanda Rose (24 yrs) from Mont Buxton; Alison Elizabeth (23 yrs) from Bel Ombre; Gabriella Gonthier (21 yrs) from Beau Vallon; Rebecca Filippin (25 yrs) from Baie Lazare; Shannen Henrie (25 yrs) from Perseverance; Deidrey Roucou (18 yrs) from Belvedere; Irene Marie (20 yrs) from Perseverance; Michelle Pool (23 yrs) from Union Vale; Alison Hoareau (22 yrs) from Mont Buxton; Elsia Françoise (17 yrs) from Takamaka and Fatma AbdulRahim Ali Salim (19 yrs) from Anse Aux Pins.

Most of them have a university degree, a diploma or just completed A-level Studies. This year the pageant will surely attract the attention of the nation.

The chief executive of the Seychelles Tourism Board, Sherin Francis, noted that “as one of the past organisers of the Miss Seychelles Pageant, it is indeed a pleasure to see the relaunch of this event and I hope it gathers momentum to be one of the much anticipated events on the Seychelles calendar of events. To the organisers, I thank you for the initiative and for the bold step and I truly hope that you ensure that you give attention to the little details to ensure the event remains at par with public expectations. That is the only way you will be able to gather support.”

She further encouraged the participants with these words: “You will be starting an amazing journey which will change your lives. Take this opportunity to learn, grow and get out of your comfort zones. It will not be easy but one thing I can be sure of is; it will be rewarding!”

She highlighted that whoever gets to wear this crown after this journey will be the face and an ambassador for Seychelles and it’s important that you uphold the title.

“You will have many opportunities; and you should make sure that you seize them. How much you grow, how far you go will all depend on you. The organisers and their collaborators will be able to take you so far, but the rest will all depend on you. Remember, the title will open up opportunities, but it will not be a magic wand to all your wishes.”

The general manager of the Berjaya Beau Vallon Bay Resort & Casino, Norazman Chung, noted that “the Berjaya team extends its immense support to Miss Seychelles The National Pageant event that has come forward with an aim to empower and promote Seychellois women to the world. Berjaya Beau Vallon Bay Resort & Casino is proud to be the official partner of the entourage of Miss Seychelles – The National Pageant 2020. Your value is priceless, your potential is limitless! With this strong message, I wish all the 12 contestants a wonderful time and travel in the forthcoming journey with lots of amazing memories that will remain as a treasure in each one’s life”.

In her opening speech, Ms Duval also said that “our hope is for everyone to rally behind this incredible cause to uplift and encourage these young ladies so that they can in return, support and inspire others. My team and I firmly believe in the independence, empowerment, and dignity of women. An empowered woman is the catalyst to an empowering community. As the UK’s former Prime Minister, Margaret Thatcher, once said, “If you want something said, ask a man; if you want something done, ask a woman.”

She noted that there are far too many misconceptions surrounding beauty pageants; such as it being demeaning of women’s standards or of it reinforcing ideas that only unwise girls compete in pageants. Let it be known that our contestants have a wide range of abilities, talents and academic background.

“BES was formed to empower and to promote the empowerment of women and girls. It is for this reason that we have taken this initiative to bring back a different version of Miss Seychelles: The National Pageant. What this journey hopes to achieve is the reinforcement of strong, positive values as well as help and support these contestants to reach their maximum potential.

“It aims at giving the crowned winner ample time and support to accomplish her project. This will reinforce our organisation’s goal whereby we contribute positively to the society by empowering women and girls to deliver on socio-economic development goals for a better and a more sustainable Seychelles.”

On behalf of the contestants, Rebecca Fillipin noted that “my fellow contestants and I aspire to inspire young girls by conveying the message that little Seychellois girls with dreams may become independent women with vision. The new Miss Seychelles platform and its enthusiastic contestants are taking the competition to new heights and aiming to compete ambitiously in international pageants”.

The pageants will teach the same values as sports do such as: discipline, respect, fair competition, the fostering of friendships, striving for excellence and above all, Miss Seychelles the National Pageant instills in one, the essence of patriotism.

Beyond receiving modelling contracts and acting opportunities beauty queens are often selected to become global ambassadors for prestigious, charitable organisations; they bring attention to worthy causes and taboo subjects; these are career milestones that most of us will never get the chance to see.

Vidya Gappy