(Seychelles News Agency) - After having excelled in sports in recent years, precisely in athletics, 19-year-old Stefannie Underwood is trying her luck in another kind of competition.

She will be battling alongside 12 other young beauty queens on Saturday May 30, to try and win the prestigious crown in this year’s Miss Seychelles…Another world beauty pageant.

Being chosen as one of the contestants this year was Stefannie's second attempt after she was not successful in her application last year.

Though she says it’s been a long-time dream of hers to take part in the pageant, Stefannie has now realized that it is much more than the glamour.

Describing herself as rather timid she confided in SNA that the training she has received over the past three months has helped her to “come out of her shell”.

Hailing from Mont Buxton, a district on the periphery of the capital of Victoria, Stefannie got involved in sports at a very early age and her ability to run long distance even earned her the chance to represent the island nation at international sporting events on more than one occasion.

“In 2010 I travelled to Mauritius for the ‘Jeux de L’espoir’ games and achieved 1^st place in the 3000-metre run. That same year I travelled to Reunion island for the ‘CJSOI’ games, also running 3000 metres and came out 3^rd,"  she told SNA.

Merging beauty and sports

Nevertheless, being a Miss Seychelles contestant has not led Stefannie to completely forget about sports, on the contrary, she has learnt to merge the two.

Based on her own personal experiences she has discovered that aside from the clear health benefits, sports can also improve someone to improve in the areas of discipline and teamwork.

It is for this particular reason that her beauty with a purpose project is focused on getting the schools across Seychelles to set up programmes that encourage students to take up sports, while educating them about the benefits engaging in such physical activities.

Through this, she is hoping that students will be able to be busily involved in a positive activity thus reducing negative behaviours.  

“I want people to know that sport is not only about fun and play, it can also open many doors and allow you to travel and experience new things. From my experience I know it has kept me out of trouble and I want to share this with others,” explained Stefannie.

Aside from her love of sports the young lady who describes herself as a rather shy but caring and humble person says she also values her family, especially her grandparents whom she has grown up with, as well as her aunt who she describes as her role model.

“I have a lot of admiration for her [Stefannie's aunt], she has a good job, takes care of her family. She is independent and caring. This is what I want for myself,” she told SNA.

Be positive to achieve good results

Having only recently graduated from the school of Business Studies and Accounting Stefannie is currently focussing more on the Miss Seychelles pageant while she awaits to join the world of work.

“It’s tough to be on the job market when you are fresh out of school, because of the lack of experience. However, I’m hardworking and optimistic. I know my luck will soon change as we all have to start somewhere.”

In future, Stefannie has hopes of doing further studies and career-wise she ambitiously wants to be a financial controller and to become an independent individual so that she may provide for her family.

The aspiring beauty queen believes in careful planning and positivity to get through stressful situations and to be able to have a balance in life no matter what activities one is engaged in.

“If you wake up with a bad attitude, not wanting to go to school or work then it will be 10 times harder. It’s important to remain positive and the rest will just fall into place” she said.

In her spare time when she is not busy drawing, Stefannie does enjoy a good book preferably by her best author Daniel Steel. Listenening to music as well as dancing which is a talent she has chosen to showcase in the talent segment of the Miss Seychelles beauty pageant, are also some of her favourite things to do.

Always set targets

For the 1.62m tall young lady, each and every one of the 13 girls participating in this year’s Miss Seychelles…Another World beauty pageant, have something special to offer but she is confident that something unique will get noticed in her.

Her advice to everyone is to always set targets and focus on achieving them.

“It is important to be true to yourself and not to do things that go against your moral values.” 

The 2015 Miss Seychelles...Another World beauty pageant will be held at the Ephelia Constance Resort at Port Launay in the westernmost part of the main Seychelles island of Mahé on Saturday May 30.

The lucky winner will represent the Indian Ocean island nation at the 65th Miss World beauty pageant later this year.