Miss Seychelles Plus beauty pageant 2018 |10 January 2018

‘Beauty should be celebrated’

‘Beauty should be celebrated’ is the theme of the first ever Miss Seychelles Plus beauty contest which is being hosted this year.

The show will take place on February 3 at the International Conference Centre (ICCS) from 7pm onwards.

This pageant, which is a paying event, is being organised by the Beauty Organisation Seychelles being led by Kevin Perine and Stephanie Duval.

The main aim of the organisation is to promote women empowerment, spreading the message that girls and women are powerful.

The journey of the ten contestants taking part in this first pageant started last year during the first week of December and since then they have undergone numerous training sessions comprising question training, public speaking, catwalk, confidence building, pre-judging and dance choreography.

The pageant regroups ladies of size 12/14 and between the ages of 18 and 35.

The 10 contestants are Valerie Barbe, Verona Marie, Christina Toule Thilatier, Judline Marengo, Diane Victor, Sandra Florine, Angela Jeannie, Natasha Charlette, Juane Freminot and Marie Reine Mahoune.

The girls train three times a week -- Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.

Miss Duval said the vision of the organisation is to become among the most respected beauty pageant organisations in Seychelles.

Miss Duval said plus-size is a term applied to an individual of average to larger stature -- sometimes but not exclusively overweight or obese.

“Anyone who wears a size UK 10 or more cannot participate in conventional pageants as currently most pageant system prefers contestants UK6-UK8 sizes. Some contestants of UK 10 sizes have taken part in pageants, but they literally have to go on crazy diets to extensively lose weight,” she said.

She said that because some contestants differ in sizes as opposed to others doesn't mean they cannot participate in the Miss Seychelles Plus.

“This is a platform focus on women empowerment and giving women who can never participate in a conventional pageant system the chance to do so without being criticised,” she said.

She said that nevertheless like in any other pageant the girls face harsh criticisms from the public.

“It is also a challenge to mobilise sponsors as they do not want to be associated with this event but at the same time we have received a few promising ones who want to support the girls,” she said.

She is welcoming individuals and businesses who want to support their aim.