Up Close … with International Beauty Pageant coach and fashion stylist Stephanie Duval |12 September 2017

‘In 10 years I wish to be a better and improved version of myself’

In our Up Close column this week we will unfold the story of 28-year-old Stephanie Duval who is a well known persona on the pageantry platform as she was crowned Miss Regatta in 2007 and took part in Miss Universal Petite last year in the United States.

Childhood:

Born March 7, 1989, Stephanie spent most of her childhood at Hermitage in the Mont Fleuri district. During the school holidays she would alternate between spending time with her cousins from her mother’s side at Hermitage and Baie Lazare at her father’s place.

“It was always exciting. With my father we would spend time on the farm where they reared animals and grew various vegetables and fruits. I also had friends and cousins whom I loved having at my place for sleepovers,” she says.

“Every experience has counted for something, the good and the bad. Many people have come and gone in my life but I have learned to accept the things that cannot be changed and not to bother about the things that are of no help to my future. I am more focused than I have ever been,” she adds.

Being ahead of her time:

Stephanie feels she has always been ahead of her time while growing up which made her stand out as a child.

“I’ve always known more compared to most kids my age. I remember always being keen on listening to adult conversations and wanting to be part of their discussions, but that was considered disrespectful. I still enjoy being around older people. Most people I know are older than me. I also have very interesting friends who are above the age of 50,” she says.

Education:

Stephanie completed her primary and secondary education at Mont Fleuri school and then studied Telecommunications Engineering at the Seychelles Institute of Technology (SIT). Following SIT she took an Advanced Sports Management Course and since then she has attended numerous training sessions on several topics. She was among some 30 young people chosen worldwide to take part in a Youth Leadership Programme organised by the office on Sports for Development and Peace at the United Nations (UNOSDP).

“Currently, I’m studying International Development with the University of London online and I have also recently been certified as an International Beauty Pageant Coach and a Fashion Stylist,” she says.

Professional life:

Stephanie dreamt of being a dancer when she was younger but as she grew up she developed an interest in politics.

“At one point I wanted to become a politician (smile). That sparked my interest in current world affairs and matters affecting relationships between countries which led me to my current field of study and present employment. But deep down I have always secretly wanted to be a fashion stylist,” she says.

Stephanie, who is now a social secretary, has held various positions in different organisations which have prepared and helped her to land her current position and she is very proud.

“I am doing my part to help development so what I do is very meaningful and rewarding work, but at the same time I want to keep coaching beauty pageantry and styling while still supporting the local sports community to progress,” she says.

Her passion:

Stephanie is a part-time model, silently working with a few individuals who believe in her to leave her mark in the petite modelling world.

“Becoming a model and doing pageantry would have to come from one of my aunts, Diane. She was a model when she was younger. Her pictures still fascinate me,” Stephanie says.

She also loves travelling as it teaches her more than she could possibly learn in a classroom.

“I’m also passionate about sports; seeing the different emotions that it brings out in people and how it instills discipline. I enjoy dancing and I like to read from time to time,” she says.

Contributing to the sports community:

Stephanie is also a member of the Seychelles Women and Sports Association where they advocate women’s concerns in the sports community.

“Our aim is to encourage more women to take part in sports and sports related activities for the countless benefits it offers. As well as encourage more women to take up leadership roles in sports,” she says.

Social life:

Stephanie avails of weekends to do errands that she does not get time to do during weekdays.

“My weekends are rarely ever the same; sometimes I see my friends and we do something

fun while always squeezing sometime for the beach with my better half or watching movies and documentaries,” she says.

Inspiring family:

Stephanie comes from a very big family where she is exposed to different personalities and she derives her biggest inspiration from her family as they portray good work ethic and their ability to stand up for themselves.

“My mother is one of the most hardworking people I know and is literally the strongest human being I know. I am who I am today because I was given the freedom of choice from my mother to decide for myself what it is that I want to do. She did not interfere with my decisions,” she says.

About the youth:

Stephanie remains positive in regards to the youth as we are the generation that asks the tough questions, we want to know what the real issues are and we want to make things better.

“Nonetheless there is an alarming number of issues affecting our youth such as heroin addiction, bullying and students infringing violence on one another while having no respect for their superiors. On the other hand, I still prefer to believe in the youth’s ability to do good,” she says.

Beauty queen or role model:

For Stephanie being a beauty queen or a role model is about doing purposeful work.

“For all I know, the most memorable and relevant beauty queens of all time had and still do have incredible platforms that they work for. I don’t believe a person aspires to be a role model; your actions will determine if people will look at you as a role model,” she says.

Future:

In this modern day and age Stephanie says she wants a shocking number of six kids.

“Whenever I say that people seem to think I’m crazy. My grandmother has six children, and family gatherings are always fun; that is what I want for my future. In 10 years I wish to be a better and improved version of myself,” she says.

Advice:

Stephanie says if a person does not set goals, they will end up working for people who do.

“If you do have goals they will remain goals if you don’t act on them and if it is important to you I would say go after it with everything you’ve got,” she says.

She says it is vital to educate oneself about one’s goals and what it takes to achieve them.

“Surround yourself with people who support you. Stop comparing yourselves with others and be patient. Real goals, the ones that actually do matter in most circumstances, take a long time to materialise. You need to have conviction and must be willing to take risks and bet on yourself,” she says.

By Ralista Hortere