Miss Universe crown awaits winner

They are Sasiya Albert, Kerry Ann Murphy, Makeda O’Neil, Gabrielle Walcott, Anya Ayoung-Chee, Priya Chanderbally and June Lightbourne. Before they were exposed to the limelight they lived very ordinary lives.

Sasiya Albert, did not want to “sound clich?” with her reasons to enter the pageant world but according to her she cannot help it.

“Every little girl’s dream is to look pretty and be paid attention to and I used to dress up in my mother’s clothes pretending to be that little beauty queen,” she explained.

Albert who is a second-year law student with Keate Beckles Law Associates and Tutors Limited and an electrical engineering trainee at Powergen also said her history in folk dancing gave her another reason to follow her dream.

“When I danced with the Malick Folk performers as a child I fell in love with the stage and that helped the drive to grow,” the 22-year-old explained.

When asked what she likes to do for fun, she quickly replied: “Being a Trinbagonian is equal to having a fun life. We are free-spirited people.”

Albert revealed she would love to get the opportunity to represent TT at the Miss Universe competition.

“I always say when you go for something, go for the gold. My motto in life is, if life gives you a lime, add some ice and a splash of Angostura bitters, sit back and enjoy that flavour because soon enough champagne will come to you on a silver platter,” she said.

Kerry Ann Murphy remembers her love for modeling at a very young age. “I admired watching models, I thought they had such elegance and poise,” she said. For Murphy, observing former Miss Trinidad and Tobago, Valene Maharaj’s performance at the Miss World competition made her want to represent her country.

The San Juan young woman revealed if she had a choice she would prefer to go to the Miss World competition.

“There is more charity work behind that pageant and that is something I would love to be a part of,” she said.

At the tender age of 19, Murphy has accomplished a lot in her life. She is an accountant with the Ministry of Works and plans to pursue fashion at the University of the Trinidad and Tobago (UTT).

“I also plan on majoring in English at the University of South Carolina (USC) in September because I would love to be in the field of journalism,” she revealed.

Being chosen out of the many women that tried out last Sunday, Murphy is very grateful.

In her spare time, she loves absolutely everything a person can do outdoors.

“Hiking, swimming, football, biking, I am capable of playing any sport possible,” she revealed.

“I entered this competition to prove that it’s not just about the way I look. I decided that I was going to challenge myself to prove my worth,” says Mekeda O’Neil, whose dream is to be crowned TT’s third Miss Universe.

Commenting on her venture into the world of beauty pageants, the statuesque beauty admits: “This is a first for me. A lot of the girls seem experienced. That makes me a bit nervous but it’s motivating me to push myself, so I’m going to challenge myself.” “People always told me that maybe I should go up for competitions such as this. Before, I had a hard time accepting myself, but not anymore. I told myself that I already feel accomplished in my academics and the way I look, so I should move on and try to accomplish something else and that’s when I decided to enter the competition,” says O’Neil. O’Neil, who has a degree in English Literature and Education from the University of the West Indies (UWI), currently works as an administrative assistant at the Urban Development Corpora-tion of Trinidad and Tobago (UDeCOTT). O’Neil says she is looking forward to the rigourous training that comes with representing this country on an international stage.

“I have the support and I’ll do my best. I wish all the girls good luck. I believe we each stand a good chance. Whoever wins would be a good representation of TT.”

Gabrielle Walcott, of Petit Valley, revealed that Wendy Fitzwilliam became her inspiration when she was 13.

“I remember seeing Wendy Fitzwilliam and thinking of what a stunning woman she was and how she made a difference as Miss Universe and saying to myself that is what I want to be,” she said

Walcott would love the opportunity to represent TT at both competitions.

“Both are aligned with amazing charities, Miss Universe has the Cancer and AIDS charities and that hits close to home as my aunt died of breast cancer and my uncle died of complications from the HIV virus,” the 24-year-old explained.

She continued: “The Miss World competition deals with children and I have three younger siblings I can identify with that.”

She told Sunday Newsday she recently finished a course in acting at HB studios in New York.

“I also have a degree in visual arts and theatre arts from the University of the West Indies(UWI). Walcott revealed she grew up in a very strict Catholic home.

“My parents are very supportive of me as long as I stick with my morals, they would stand by me no matter what my decision is,” she said.

Anya Ayoung-Chee really wanted the opportunity to represent her country. “It is a competition where you come to terms with who you are,” she said. Ayoung-Chee who resides in Maraval describes herself as a very passionate individual.

“Everything I do I put a lot of heart into it and I truly devote my time to things I really care about,” she said.

The 26-year-old recently started her 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,” she said. Being the first of six children and the only girl, Ayoung- Chee considers it a blessing growing up with her family.

“They have really grounded me and I do not know how to be anything else,” she said. She explained her brothers are very protective of her.

“They are a bit hesitant with me pursuing this competition when they saw pictures of me in my swimsuit all over the newspapers but nonetheless I have their support,” she said. She describes her parents as the two most incredible people she knows.

“I alway say if I am ever a quarter of whom they are I would be truly satisfied with myself.”

She is at the age limit for entering such a competition so she is “going for the gold” as she hopes to represent this country in the Miss Universe competition.

Ayoung-Chee shared the one major rule she lives by. “Be the change you want to be in the world,” she said.

Priya Chanderbally is currently pursuing Information Systems and Management at the School of Business and Continuing Studies (SBCS).

The 24-year-old revealed she started modeling at the age of 19 and her first fashion show was with local designer, Meiling.

“The first time I walked down that runway I instantly thought it was for me. I feel free and I feel like I could go do what I want,” she said.

This would be the third time around for Chanderbally in the Miss Trinidad and Tobago competitions and she confessed if she does not succeed this year she is going to do it again next year. “Persistence is key in my life and I am going to continue going after my dream,” she said.

Chanderbally who lives in Chaguanas describes herself as a genuine person. “If anyone talks to me, they would realise I give real answers. I am not a person to put on a show,” she explained.

A woman she looks up to the most in her life is Oprah Winfrey.

“She is one of my role models because of how strong a woman she is. She went through so much negativity and she has turned out to be one of the most successful women in the world, I really admire that,” Chanderbally said. If she wins tonight, it does not matter to her which competition she is chosen for.

“Whichever one it is, I know I will do my best,” she said.

Twenty three-year-old June Lightbourne, currently lives in Couva but she grew up in San Fernando.

She credits her mother and Wendy Fitzwilliam for her love for the modeling world. She remembers having a picture of Wendy Fitzwilliam stuck up on her door when she was crowned Miss Universe.

“I wrote on that picture, ten years this would be me and I am so close to that dream,” she said.

Lightbourne entered the modeling world when she tried out for Synergy’s Super Model competition in 2006.

Lightbourne told Sunday Newsday that she has three other siblings including a twin sister. “We are not similar in any way, she loves numbers and accounts and I love modeling but we support each other,’ she said. Her future plans for herself are to pursue journalism and broadcasting as she hopes to have her own talk show.

She professed her love for her mother as she went through a lot with her and her siblings.

“She gave up her dream of being a model to marry my father and have us. She is like a sister to me, a friend, I love my mummy,” she said.