(Seychelles News Agency) - Petra Tamatave is aspiring to make it big in the world of fashion.

Coming from Beau-Belle in the north of Mahe, the main island, Tamatave, 23, is one of the 14 participants for the upcoming Miss Seychelles … Another World pageant scheduled for August 26. She is contestant No. 8.

For Tamatave the pageant will be a self-discovery which will improve her self-confidence.  

SNA met with Tamatave to explore her reasons for joining the pageant and what are her expectations. 

SNA: Tell us a little bit about yourself.

PT: I grew up in a family of four – my mum, dad and younger brother, who is funny and chatty. Unlike me, he is always entertaining us with jokes and funny facial expressions. Although I am very focused at times, I can be an affable and outgoing person.

Without wishing to sound boastful, I am really honoured to be here today to talk a little bit about myself. This is a one-time opportunity. Before I go into an overview of my background, I would like to say that I am a person with a versatile skill-sets, a lot of integrity, and a willingness to go the extra miles to achieve my goals.

SNA: What are your qualifications and what are you doing career wise?

PT: I am doing a three-year course in Business Administration at the University of Seychelles. After getting my degree, I hope to specialise in international business. There is a lot of prospect in this area for self-development.

(Michel Desnousse) Photo License: CC-BY

SNA: What encouraged you to join the pageant?

PT: My interest in joining the beauty contest came five years ago. After thinking it through, I realised that I was not ready. This year I said why not give it a try and make a drastic change. Taking that big pageant leap will allow me to showcase my talent with other wonderfully artistic young ladies.

SNA: Apart from work, what are your interest and hobbies?

PT: Aside from my interest in fashion and modelling, I enjoy reading, swimming and singing. For the time being, I am still discovering myself as an artist – a singer.

SNA: For this pageant which project are you working on?

PT: My project is aimed at helping people who are homeless. I have already approached a group called ‘Paster Lanwit’, which has experience in dealing with the homeless. They are me giving the support and advice on how to put my project in place. If I am not crowned as the next beauty queen of the island nation, I still want my project to materialise.

(Miss Seychelles - National Pageant, Facebook) Photo License: CC-BY

SNA: What will be your advice for young women, who are scared or not confident in joining the pageant?

PT: Being a titleholder and with the experience gathered throughout the pageant will give you a voice to enlighten and empower others.  It will help expand your horizons so you can view ideas from another vantage point. As the adage goes ‘you don’t know until you try it.’ Young ladies out there should always reach for the star – just like me.

SNA: What are your expectations after this experience?

PT: The pageant in itself will be a time of self-discovery, connecting beauty and humbleness. I expect to be more confident and make new friends with whom I will continue to network in years to come. The interview (in prejudging), on stage question time and skills articulation are all qualities acquired during the pageant that will help in my in future undertakings.

SNA: If crowned what changes will you bring to the society?

PT: I want the society to realize that being homeless is not a choice but a life circumstance.  Then again, if I don’t win, I will rejoice with the winner and cheer her on to go for the gold! If I win, I will use the title to empower others and give a helping hand whenever I can.