|
She waltzes into the patisserie and goes straight to the glass showcase. Gazing wistfully at delectable scones and quiches, she orders a simple coffee for herself. “I’m on a strict diet” she explains, “but those things just look so good!” She chatters incessantly, drops random bits of hair advice, and thinks that spending a day alone is a sad thing indeed. Meet Valene Maharaj, Miss Trinidad and Tobago World, 2007: stunning sweetheart, clever conversationalist, and fun-loving fashionista all rolled into one.
Being a beauty queen is something that millions of girls worldwide dream about; how hard could it possibly be to get dressed up like a doll everyday, smile prettily while cameras constantly click in your direction, and go to just about every social event in the country? As taxing as it might be for the average person, some of us are just born for the role. “I just love it all!” she says, her eyes shining with excitement—confirming that she’s definitely meant to be in the limelight. “I love the fashion, the modeling, the constant interaction with others.” But what has really put the icing on the cake of the Miss T&T World experience for her is the charity project that she dreamt up all on her own.
“One of the requirements of the Miss World pageant is that each contestant be involved in a charitable project; mine is called Paint your Dreams and it’s something that I’m doing with the kids of the St. Mary’s Home in Tacarigua. So every weekend, an expert in a certain field of art will visit the children, talk to them, and teach them something new. The kids will do little projects and right before I leave for the pageant, we’ll have a big auction for whatever they’ve made, and the proceeds will go towards their Home. The kids will learn things like photography, painting, cooking, and even dancing! Actually, my performance for the Miss World talent show will be a belly dance, so I’m doing that one with the girls. Oh, and I’m also baking brownies for all of them tomorrow! I’m so excited…this is all I’ve been thinking about!”
What a brilliant and creative way to bring joy into another’s life! How did she come up with all of this?
“I didn’t want to do something ‘traditional’ like a marathon or walkathon, and I’m also very passionate about art and fashion…it’s something that allowed me to express myself as a child. I think Paint your Dreams is exactly what those kids might need right now. Suppose one of them goes on to be a huge fashion designer or brilliant artist just because of some inspiration from this program? That’s something I’d want to do for children all over the country.”
For Valene, the best part about winning the Miss World crown will be using her status and perks to help underprivileged people across the globe. “At home in Trinidad, I’ve been spending every free minute trying to make things perfect for Paint your Dreams. As Miss World, I’ll be able to do this on a much larger scale. That’s why I’m working so hard towards the crown!”
So how exactly has she been preparing? Strict diet, gym workout, this practice, that prepping, and the other training—usual story. But there’s one ingredient in the recipe for producing the perfect Miss T&T that Valene treasures the most.
“I just came back from spending two weeks in Canada where I had the opportunity to work with one of the most revered people in the beauty pageant business: Bobby Ackbarali.”
Her voice drops a bit as though she’s sharing a secret. “In fact I feel so prepared now that I don’t think anything that happens during the pageant can blow me away.” What could possibly have happened to make her so confident? “I discovered myself,” she says simply.
“Bobby and I would play a game called Who is Valene in which I’d have to probe my mind and really think about what inspires me, what makes me sad, what makes me happy, what gives me the ‘awwww’ feeling. I really figured out whoI am and what I want, not just from the pageant, but from life. Now, I feel like I have a new perspective on things. The biggest lesson I learnt is accepting constructive criticism; I can listen to what someone says without feeling hurt or angry or taking it as a personal insult. In a competition like Miss World, it’s not enough to just be beautiful, because every contestant is! You have to be different from the inside and really know yourself before you can share yourself with others.”
Does Valene get bored with the superficiality of the beauty business or annoyed at having to be a glamour doll 24/7? “I’ve been told how to sit, stand, smile, walk, talk—you name it! Someone even told me once that I should get a nose job…at that point I drew the line between advice and nonsense! But seriously, during my training, I’ve understood that those who instruct me just want the best for me, and I have to be close-to-perfect on the outside to compete as best as I can. And that’s the wonderful thing about the Miss World pageant; yes it is about beauty, but more than that it’s about beauty with a purpose and what the winner can contribute to the world. As for the ‘glamorous’ part, I have absolutely no problem with that!” Said like a true diva!
But what about the times when she has to wear strange get-ups that thrive under the labels of ‘fashion’ and ‘haute couture’? Overcome by giggles, she swears that she never once had to wear something that resembled a crocus bag. “Peter Elias is my stylist, and he has impeccable taste. So, I know that when he’s in charge, I’m always going to love what I have to wear!”
“I have to tell you though, that it’s not just fashion I learned from Peter. He’s coached me in everything, both personal and professional. He’s the one who had faith in me from the start. His belief in me made me believe in myself! He told me, when I began my training with him, that he’s like my own Dad and that he would take care of me in the way he’d treat his own daughter. He’s truly a wonderful person and I’m so lucky to have known him so well.”
Well, Valene, we in Trinidad and Tobago are just as lucky to have someone as genuinely beautiful and sincere as you representing our country on the world stage. We at Caribbean Belle, on behalf of all our readers, wish you every success. We’re already so proud of you!
Family
My family is the most important thing to me…I grew up with my parents, a sister, two brothers, and extended family. Since I’ve always been around lots of people, it’s a sad day for me when I have to be alone! My parents are wonderfully supportive, and my Mom’s even going to China with me for the Pageant.
Movies
I’m a huge fan of movies and TV! Even though I’m more of a ‘comedy girl’ since I like to laugh a lot, I really enjoy a cross-section of films—especially those that touch on real-life issues. Just recently I saw The Kingdom, and A Mighty Heart, and they both made a big impact on me since they really are a reflection of the world. It’s hard to pinpoint any movies that are my favorite since I watch so many of them…but The Notebook was just too sweet! As for TV series, I’m glued to Nip/Tuck, and oooh! I love OC!
Her Fashion Style
It’s important to have a diverse wardrobe; I wear all different styles of clothes. Sometimes, I like to wear edgy, ‘in-style’ stuff, and on other occasions, I appreciate older trends, or have fun dressing up in Indian outfits! Accessories, I think, can make an ensemble extraordinary…can you guess that I accessorize a lot? J If I had to choose anything to wear, my first choice would be a casual, pretty sundress with a matching pair of cute heels.
Food!
My favorite time of the day is breakfast…because it’s the only time I’m allowed to have bread! You can’t go wrong with a meal of macaroni pie, fried rice, stewed chicken and calalloo…and these days, I’m hooked on authentic Indian food. I just can’t get enough paneer, murgh tikka masala, or garlic naan!
Her dress for the Miss World pageant
I love my dress! The piece is called Hands of the Future and it’s a beautiful white gown designed by Bobby Ackbarali. The most amazing part is that on the trail of the dress there will different-colored handprints of the children from the Paint your Dreams project!The only sad part is that I can’t ever wear it again…if I put it on and go to a wedding, people will want to know why I’m trying to upstage the bride!
|
