Valene to belly dance at Miss World

As one of her duties of being a delegate Maharaj had to come up with a charity for children for the Miss World Pageant segment “Beauty with a Purpose.”

Maharaj who has a love for children and art decided to bring the two together with her charity themed “Paint Your Dreams”.

Valene chose the St Mary’s Orphanage in Tacarigua to be the home for her charity.

“It wasn’t hard choosing this home because every time you pass there you see the children playing and making the best of what they have and I just wanted to bring a little art into their lives,” she said.

She approached the director, Theresa Greenaway and presented to her the idea.

“She was very excited and willing to expose the children to this,” Maharaj said.

To prepare herself for the work ahead she trained in Canada for a month with Bobby Ackbarali, a native of Trinidad and Tobago who has been involved in international fashion and pageant industries for nearly 30 years, achieving an unparalleled record of success who taught her everything she needed to know.

“I absorbed so much from him, it was a great experience learning from him,” she pointed out.

The 30 children with the ages ranging from eight to 16, learned photography where they learned the do’s and don’t’s, disposable cameras were donated and the children were allowed to take their own photos.

Maharaj said they also had a lot of fun creating whatever their heart desired with the paint and paintbrushes that were given to them.

She also introduced them to music where singer Bryan Charles and the band “The Generals” taught them music production, they learnt about the enjoyment that you get from performing and creating music.

“I think it is important for children to work with their hands and when they see what they do they feel so good, their faces light up and I encourage them,” she said.

“We even got the chief chef from the Trinidad and Tobago Hospitality and Tourism Institute Jason Peru, to come and teach them how to make chicken wantons and ravioli and of course they enjoyed the fact that they got to eat everything they made,” she said with a smile.

“The children even learned how to do different dances from my dance teacher Nalini Akal,” she said.

She told Sunday Newsday that an auction is being planned for October 28 to auction off the children’s creations.

Maharaj who leaves on October 31 says she prays to God every night that the auction is a success.

“I give them so much love and attention, they feel like family to me and I want to give my best to them, my everything so that is why I want to go all out,” she expressed.

“I just want to give back to the community. I know with what I am doing I could inspire a person to become something. It is my belief that art transforms your life, it challenges it.”

Since being crowned Miss TnT, Maharaj’s life has been very hectic. Her day begins from 6 am and it does not end until 6 that evening.

“Preparing for this has been challenging but I have had so much help and support from so many amazing people like Peter Elias, my chaperone for the pageant Alison Brown, Adrian Raymond, Bobby Ackbarali and so many others,” she said.

Preparations include gym for two hours, make-up classes and life lessons with Yvonne Popplewell, etiquette and learning the art of walking with Alison Brown, a woman she describes as someone she aspires to be.

The 21-year-old revealed for the talent segment of the pageant she would be performing a belly dance.

“I am very excited to perform that because my teacher Nalini Akal taught me so well,” she said.

She wants Trinidad and Tobago to know that she is going over there to do her best.

“I am going to be the best representative and ambassador for my country,” she ended.

The 111 delegates will visit a number of popular spots in mainland China and view the preparation for the 2008 Olympic Games. Miss World 2007 will be held in the Crown of Beauty Theater

Unlike 2005 and 2006 editions, Miss World 2007 will not have continental zones in the selection of the semi-finalists. All the contestants will vie for the semifinals spots. The format is also similar to that used in Miss World 2004 with the exclusion of the Miss Congeniality award.