Here is another article by the Trinidad
Newsday. They still are making a mistake about the location of the Miss Universe Pageant. It is in Vietnam, not Ukraine.
ON SUNDAY evening two women embarked on a journey to represent this country at the world’s most prestigious beauty pageants. Gabrielle Walcott, Miss TT/World, and Anya Ayoung- Chee, Miss TT/Universe were crowned at the end of an intense competition at Club Zen in Port-of-Spain.
From now on, there will be hardly a dull moment for the two local beauties who have already started preparations for the pageants later this year.
Gabrielle, who is from Petit Valley, will represent this country at the 2008 Miss World Pageant in Vietnam on October 4. Anya, of Maraval, is gearing up for the Miss Universe Pageant in the Ukraine in June.
Gabrielle said she was always confident of her chances in the local pageant and plans to bring the international title home later this year.
“Ever since I met former Miss Universe Wendy Fitzwilliam, I wanted to be like her. Since then I have been preparing myself to one day walk in her footsteps.”
She said she is throwing herself into preparations for Miss World 2008 with a passion. Bubbling over with enthusiasm she said: “I believe that the human can achieve any goal if they really want it,” she declared.
No stranger to the bright lights, Gabrielle made her debut before the cameras in a Klim commercial when she was just six years old. Since then she has been involved in modelling, and acting, including a supporting role in the movie Backlash which was filmed in TT in 2006. Gabrielle, who has a Degree in Visual Arts and Theatre Arts, recently returned to TT from Manhattan, where she did a one year diploma in voicing, monologues, public speaking, speech writing and acting for the camera and for live audience. She is now confident that these recently acquired skills will help her win the international title.
“I lived in Manhattan for one year . . . after working in visual and theatre arts I now have the experience necessary for this type of competition,” she said.
Over the next six months Gabrielle will undergo rigorous training under the supervision of the pageant committee headed by Peter Elias.
She credited her parents, Camille and Dereck Walcott, for encouraging her to pursue her dreams.
Anya says she has been in a state of shock since being crowned Miss TT/Universe. She said her mind went blank as she received her crown and sash and she was so overwhelmed that she struggled to make the final walk with her bouquet of flowers.
“I was over the moon with excitement,” she said.
Anya said her decision to enter the competition wasn’t spur of the moment. It is just the latest step in a process of rebuilding her life following the tragic death of her brother, Pilar Ayoung- Chee, in a car accident nine month ago. She said after losing her brother, she took another look at life and started to explore other avenues in a quest for fulfillment.
“Although I was very vibrant, I realised that I could do a lot more in life,” she said. Anya who is of mixed descent — her father Wilson is of Chinese origin and her mother, Michelle of East Indian and African ancestry — has dabbled in all cultures in TT.
“We have such a unique mix of people here that there is never a boring moment. There is always something happening within the various denominations,” she said. The 26-year-old recently started a job as a graphic designer at Above Studios.
“I studied graphic design at Parsons School of Design in Manhattan. It is something I really love to do,” said Anya, who is the first of six children and the only girl. She said she considers it a blessing to be part of her family. No stranger to the world of fashion, Anya recently assisted Meiling in designing clothes for popular rapso group 3Canal for their Carnival performances.
For now, however, all other pursuits have been temporarily set aside as she concentrates on preparations for the international pageant in a few months time.
