A shoulder to cry on: Miss Seychelles contestant Anais Nourrice shows concern for grieving children

Miss Seychelles Another World Contestant 9: Anais Nourrice. (Michel Toule-Thilatier/Miss Seychelles - National Pageant-Facebook)

(Seychelles News Agency) - Getting over the pain of losing a parent is not easy without the proper support, says a Miss Seychelles contestant who has experienced such grief.

Anais Nourrice, who comes from a family of three, lost her mother when she was 12.

“It was not easy and my dad had to seek help to get us through, which unfortunately we did not receive,” Nourrice said to SNA.

“This is why I want to use this opportunity, through the pageant to try and help young people who are going through the same situation.”

‘Psychological support for grieving children in Seychelles,’ is the title of her beauty with a purpose project – a key element of the Miss Seychelles pageant, which concludes Saturday.

The objective is to set up a support group that will offer counselling as well as spiritual and physical activities to help bring back the joy into the lives of bereaved children.

Nourrice, 18, was encouraged to join the pageant by friends.

“I recognise the fact that the pageant would be a great opportunity to gain some added experience, therefore I have decided to try my luck.”

The resident of Roche Caiman, a central district of Mahé, is in her final year studying wellness and spa at the tourism academy and hopes to obtain a scholarship to do further studies.

Nourrice says she enjoys music, watching TV and spending time with her younger brother. Drawing and sweating it out on a basketball court or doing athletics are two of her favourite sports -- although she had to leave them aside to focus more on her studies.

A strong believer in the need to move on and achieve success, the motto she stands on is: “never give up in life and always move on because if you don’t you will never discover new beginnings.”

For Nourrice, winning the coveted crown would be the ideal opportunity to push through with her community fulfilment project to bring comfort to grieving children and a chance to promote Seychelles in a positive light on the international scene.

Miss Seychelles Another World 2016 will be crowned on Saturday, marking the start of a one-year challenge for the grand winner as she becomes an ambassador for the country, starting with her participation in the Miss World pageant later in the year.

Editor’s Note: Twelve contestants are taking part in the 2016 Miss Seychelles Another World pageant. The crowning ceremony will take place on Saturday May 28. SNA is writing feature stories on each participant in the order they appear as contestants up to the crowning night.