00:00 Athalia Samuel is experienced, having been in the pageant industry for years.
00:05 She represented Trinidad and Tobago on the Miss World stage in 2012.
00:10 Tonight, we engage her via Zoom on the Miss Grand International TT Controversial Results,
00:16 where Venezuelan national Milady Maturano has been selected to represent the Twin Island
00:21 at the International Pageant in Vietnam in October.
00:25 To be transparent to members of the public, at the time of this interview,
00:29 you should know that TV6 News has submitted several questions to Stolen Productions Ltd,
00:35 the local pageant directors of Miss Grand International.
00:39 We are seeking to clarify eligibility, the criteria, and other matters concerning the representative for TNT.
00:47 These questions were submitted on Tuesday night and we are still awaiting a response.
00:52 Opinions are split, with some people hailing Maturano as a fitting representative
00:57 and others criticizing the move in varying degrees.
01:01 How do you feel about what is being called historical in having a foreigner represent this country?
01:06 It's never an easy thing to say having a foreigner.
01:11 Even when you say it, it sounds a bit much.
01:14 But we have seen over the years one or two delegates who have casted for Trinidad and Tobago,
01:21 like having a parent or both parents being Trinbogonian and let's say they were born in New York,
01:27 they were born in other countries.
01:29 So it's not a new thing seeing someone being born somewhere else and taking part.
01:34 Look at René Bagondin, we have had even our Tajani Rémi, we have had one or two persons,
01:40 we have Giselle Leroy and her parents of both Trinbogonian and Venezuelan descent.
01:45 However, it is not the same when it comes to this delegate.
01:49 From the pageants you have competed in previously, was nationality or citizenship a criteria that had to be met?
01:57 Actually, yes. You must be born from the said country or your parents must be from the said country that you are representing.
02:07 Oh no, Miss Universe is open for any age.
02:09 I could say I want to go for USA and try to compete for Miss USA or try to compete for Miss Canada
02:15 or all of these big countries. You just can't do it because it's not a thing to do.
02:21 Although she's born and bred in TNT, Samuel recalls the backlash she got when she was handpicked to represent the country in 2012.
02:29 It was a last minute rush to send up a delegate for the pageant and readiness was a factor.
02:34 You got every backlash in the world coming just because you're from Laventille.
02:39 You can't speak well, you're not beautiful. These are the things that would, you know, out here all the time and penetrating me.
02:46 And when I'm thinking of myself, I'm from here. But then we have someone who is not even a national of Trinidad and Tobago
02:53 and they're being praised of course of some of the men. When I hear something like that, it breaks my heart.
02:59 Young ladies, I have to coach all the time and say, you know, it's not rigged.
03:03 It's, you know, go to the show cast, you know, with somebody, it's a dream.
03:06 How important is it that the pageant directors unambiguously break their silence?
03:12 I think the directors should be more of an understance with trying to help people understand what they're seeing rather than being,
03:21 it sounds like even seeing the press release they wrote, it came across as we're going to do what we want and we don't care what you have to say.
03:28 And I think that is really harsh and brash.
03:31 Even if it's a new rule that is allowed, we have so many young ladies who have been trying so hard for all these years.
03:38 Please allow them to, you know, step into the delight of becoming that national who wants to represent Trinidad and Tobago.
03:47 In part two of this interview, you'll hear more of Miss Samuel's thoughts on this entire Miss Grand International TT debacle.
03:55 [ Silence ]
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