Please introduce yourself. What do you do? Why? What do you want people to know about you?
I am the reigning Miss Bahamas Universe and have had the opportunity to be the first in Bahamian history to place at Miss Universe in 2021. I also own a pageant, runway and etiquette coaching business. I love being able to help others build their confidence and become the best version of themselves. I am a budding actress and think that I’d do Catwoman a lot of justice in a role, ha. I look forward to one day being in film and television industry. Runway choreography is one of my favorite past times and I think that some of what I’ve done already is SavageXFenty Show material.
What qualities make you different and unique from everyone else in the industry?
I’m not a perfectionist. I understand that though I dream big, that it may take time before it comes to fruition. Because of that, I try to enjoy the process as best as I could. I believe that my inner confidence transfers to others which makes being around me a pretty great experience. My work ethic is give it my best versus my all, that way I have some for myself to remain mentally healthy and happy.
Describe THAT moment when you realized you’re doing what you were born to do.
I started my pageant journey in 2013 to expand my platform, Youth Development and with the hopes to compete at Miss Universe. That year, I placed 1st ru (if you’re not versed in pageant talk – 2nd, lol). I wasn’t disappointed but so proud of myself considering my background. I grew up in an inner city community, in a single parent home whereas my mother migrated from Haiti in hopes of a better life. After 2 losses, I won a national title as Miss World Bahamas and competed at Miss World in 2015 (top 30 in talent). I knew that the experience I gained would be vital to others and so I started coaching – I coached a group of young girls for a fashion show, some had never walked in a show before. The delight from their friends and family was astounding. They had completely transformed in their confidence and attitude. I was overwhelmed with emotions and sat in my car and cried for 15 minutes straight before leaving. Years later, still coaching, I found myself vying for the Miss Universe title again – this time having co-founded a non-profit organization for youth, coached tons of winners and persons interested in building their esteem and it was finally my time. I gave away the ending earlier on, but now you know that it was years before such a feat. Because of this, my dream of being in the acting industry is even stronger. If I could do something that had never been done in the 70 years of Miss Universe – surely one day, I can be a Bahamian who follows in the footsteps of Sir Sidney Poitier, who was the first Bahamian and black actor to win an Oscar.
What’s been the biggest challenge you’ve had to go through and how did you grow through it?
I shared this during my journey because I wanted persons to know that the ride didn’t have to always be smooth. In the height of the pandemic, me and my mom were briefly homeless. It was difficult to fathom and humiliating really to find myself in such a hopeless situation. I learned that it is so important to lean on your community and to hope, pray and dream even harder. Sometimes the only thing that can motivate is who you can become if you don’t stop believing that in the end, the challenges will all be worth it. Now I speak this inspiration to young people around The Bahamas. It feels great to be able to speak and have something worthwhile to say.
Who are the TOP 3 people you’d want to meet that could elevate your career or business? Why these specific individuals?
I’d love to meet Shonda Rhimes – Though she’s not a casting director – I love her approach to all of the projects that she’s worked on. One of my dreams is to be snag a lead role in one of her projects.
Would love to meet Rihanna – being an island girl with ties to the fashion industry – she’s a phenomenal example of making it and never leaving her people behind. An opportunity to use one of my talents as a runway choreographer would change my life.
I’ll be honest, top 3 is just not enough! My final would be Ava DuVernay – she has an incredible work ethic and for each film or project of hers that I’ve seen, I was left inspired in more ways than one.
Drop your social media links.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/meetchantel
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/meetchantel/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/meet_chantel