Overwhelming welcome for ‘Paloma’ and ‘Barbara’ |28 April 2006

Silvia Navarro (who stars as Paloma) and Anette Michel (who plays the role of Barbara, Paloma’s bitter enemy) in the much-loved telenovela Cuando Seas Mia – translated into English as ‘When You Are Mine’ – arrived at the Seychelles International Airport early on Thursday morning on board an Air Seychelles/Air France flight from Paris at the start of a six-day visit.

Their visit here is in fact part of a tour of several countries on the African continent where this serial is being aired.

They were met on arrival at the Pointe Larue airport by the managing director and other top officials of the SBC, which is playing host to the two actresses during their stay here.
Later during the day, the two actresses paid a courtesy call on President James Michel and Vice-President Joseph Belmont at State House.

The crowd of onlookers who had lined up the streets leading to State House to catch a glimpse of ‘Paloma’ and ‘Barbara’ turned into a ‘mob’ when the two actresses came down from their State House visit to have lunch at the Le Rendez-Vous restaurant in the centre of town.

Traffic practically ground to a halt as hundreds of avid fans took to the streets, mobbing the cars the two actresses were traveling in so as to get a closer view of 'Paloma' and 'Barbara', who for several months now have been keeping many Seychellois TV viewers glued to their screens on Thursday and Sunday evenings as episode after episode of the serial Cuando Seas Mia unfold.

Even as the two stars were having lunch on Thursday, the crowd stood defiantly in the streets, waving or simply watching in awe.

In the evening, the two TV stars were hosted to a private cocktail reception at the Northolme Hotel, Glacis, at which were invited a small group of fans who had come out winners in several radio phone-in quizzes based on the serial Cuando Seas Mia which had been taking place earlier during the week.

Other winners of these quizzes have received free tickets to a grand musical show on Saturday at the Stad Lanmizik where 'Paloma' and 'Barbara' will also make a brief appearance.

For other members of the public, tickets to the show cost R25 and are on sale at the SBC sales office and other outlets in town.

During their stay here, the two actresses will also have the chance to visit Praslin and La Digue and indulge in some leisure activities.

They are expected to leave the country next Tuesday.