La Tisha celebrates her African roots

SHE stepped on stage wearing an exquisite African outfit befitting of a princess. La Tisha Hospedales walked with elegant strides, flashing her charming smile as she held everyone’s attention. She was modelling before the judges at the Miss Teen Trinidad and Tobago pageant recently. The 17-year-old from Talparo Main Road, models at shows and is a Sixth Form student of the Polytechnic Educational Institute, St James. Tisha, as she is fondly called, is studying Advan-ced Level Maths, Physics and Economics and hopes to one day pursue a career in Business Management. Apart from her studies, the ambitious young woman is also a pan music graduate with Magic Notes Orchestra in her area. She will be playing the pan in the talent category at the Miss Teen pageant.

Tisha loves to meet and interact with people. “I love to be among successful people. People who are involved in business or those who are into the arts of music and song. It is amazing how quickly they find solutions and get ahead of people of the world. In my own world I try to overcome difficulties by emulating those who are successful.” Tisha is actively involved with the Talparo Village Council and has been assisting in the beautification of a park in her area. She is also an usher at the Talparo Pentecostal Church. Expressing her feelings on Emancipation, Tisha said that it is a most deserved holiday since it marks the freedom of slavery and the “now” population of TT are those who came out of slavery and indentureship.
 
“I believe Emancipation gives us hope for a better tomorrow. It shows that through perseverance one can succeed. Our ancestors persevered and it brought them freedom and success and we should keep persevering for a better country and nation,” she said. She would like to see more people dressing in African fashion for formal and semi-formal occasions. “I feel that the styles of Africa are catching on, on the world stage and more and more models are now into the tiger skin prints as well as the head ties and this is good. In Trinidad, however, people are too shy to just come out ‘of the blues’ and wear one of these authentic outfits. But I feel comfortable in it and I would like to encourage the other girls to wear these fashions.” Tisha is looking forward to enjoying some vacation time with her family in Tobago. “Tobago is fun,” she remarked. She noted that she was lucky to have witnessed the old-time wedding in Moriah, Tobago. She also loved the Tobago Heritage queen contest as the women try to out do one another with their African outfits.

“While I would like to participate, I wanted to look and learn first. I have seen a lot of fashions and I have my own idea of the fashions I would like to wear when I do enter,” she said laughing. Tisha is grateful to her parents Rufus and Katherine Hospelades for supporting her in everything she does. “I am one of the lucky girls to have my parents’ attention most of the time. I would like to make them proud of me and I am working towards getting all my passes and entering the job market,” she said. She admires Brian Lara for his determination as sportsman and also his style as a man. “He is a perfect example of a true gentleman. And I hope he knows that many young people of this country look up to him as an inspiration,” he said.