PERSONAL INFORMATION
Name : Ashanna ARTHUR
Age : 22
Height : 173
Languages : English
BIOGRAPHY:
21 year old Ashanna Arthur won the title of Miss Trinidad And Tobago World 2009 which took place at the Queen's Hall Auditorium as what most would refer to as a Gala Pageant Event.
Ashanna Arthur hails from Glencoe and has a Bachelors's Degree in Biology. She however, hopes to be the owner of an events management company one day. She will represent the island at the Miss World 2009 contest to be held in Johannesburg, South Africa, next December.
| INTERVIEW | |
| Tell us about your job/studies | |
| I have a Bachelor of Science Degree in Biology but my desire is to become the owner of an Events Management Company. I am currently a Human Resource Consultancy Project Coordinator. | |
| How are you preparing for Miss World in South Africa? | |
| I stay focused mentally and physically. I believe that anything worth doing is worth doing well so I am completely dedicated to this process. I have speech therapy, physical fitness sessions, runway coaching, etiquette and protocol lessons and training for my talent. I have become quite the reader; newspapers, books, journals- just about everything. It has been challenging at times but ultimately, the rewards are worth the sacrifices I have to make. | |
| What's your daily routine? | |
| A healthy breakfast, 2 hours in the gym, a light lunch, speech and voice training, talent, runway coaching, fittings, public appearances, questions and answers (personal interview coaching), dinner and rest. I have been so focused on preparing for this pageant that my family members have to make an appointment to see me. | |
| How do you feel about travelling to South Africa? | |
| Every new experience excites me. I have always wanted to visit this beautiful country. South Africa is so vibrant and rich in cultural and ethnic diversity- very similar to Trinidad and Tobago. I have been studying its history and I am looking forward to visiting many of the places I have read about. I would embrace the opportunity to meet Nelson Mandela. Someone once asked me if I could preserve one item in a time capsule for future generations, what it would be and my response was Nelson Mandela’s Autobiography- “The Long Walk to Freedom.” His story is inspirational and shows the true depth and power of the human spirit and mankind’s most unique gift- our ability to rise above circumstances and to overcome adversity. | |
| Which elements of Miss World are you most looking forward to? | |
| The competition. Meeting the other delegates and hopefully establishing some meaningful and lasting new friendships. The atmosphere and excitement and the joy of being part of a global phenomenon such as The Miss. World Pageant. | |
| Do you have a message to the other Miss World contestants? | |
| The greatest glory in living is not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall- Nelson Mandela. | |
| What do you think are you qualities that youwill bring to the competition? | |
| Humility. Strength of purpose. A willingness to share my experiences with others and to make them relevant and purposeful. A positive attitude. Warmth and charm. Grace under pressure and a deep appreciation for the efforts of those who have gotten me to this point in my life. | |
| What individual talents will seperate you from the other contestants? | |
| I believe that we all possess unique and special gifts. One of my talents is the ability to listen to other people and to offer compassion and sound advice. I am very approachable, warm and friendly and I enjoy meeting people and making new friends. | |
| What would it mean to you to do well at Miss World? | |
| It would allow me the opportunity to use the title to effect a positive change in the lives of others. Should I win the title of Miss. World 2009, I hope that my year would be spent visiting countries in turmoil; poverty stricken regions, countries decimated by war or by the scourge of HIV/AIDS. I believe that Miss World is a powerful symbol of growth, change, personal development, dreams and hope and I believe a Miss World title holder has to be a public figure and a servant of the people. | |
| What is your favourite landmark? | |
| Christ the Redeemer in Rio de Janeiro (Brazil). The statue is situated on Corcovado Mountain and overlooks the city. It is a powerful symbol of Christianity but for me its outstretched arms represent redemption and forgiveness and it is a reminder that we are all human and that we all make mistakes but we need to forgive and learn from our mistakes and strive to become more considerate and accepting of others. | |
| What is the one thing you cannot live without? | |
| My family. They have been so supportive. They have really encouraged me to pursue my dreams of becoming Miss. World and I would not be here without them. I don’t generally form attachments to material items but my personal journal would have to be the other thing I cannot live without. It contains my innermost thoughts and my secret hopes and wishes. | |
| Who do you most admire? | |
| My mother because she has a quiet strength and she is dignified. She has taught me what it means to be a woman. She has instilled in me a sense of pride, a sense of discipline and a strong sense of right and wrong. She works hard and still manages to take care of her family. She is independent, open minded and progressive and she exemplifies for me, the type of woman I want to become. | |
| Who has inspired you most in your life? | |
| Mother Teresa- an Albanian Roman Catholic nun who founded the Missionaries of Charity in Calcutta and was awarded the Noble Peace Prize in 1979 for her work in the slums of India. At the time of her death in 1997, The Missionaries of Charity were operating 610 missions in 123 countries, including hospices and homes for persons living with HIV/AIDS, leprosy and tuberculosis; soup kitchens, children's and family counselling programs, orphanages, and schools. |
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