Anya Ayoung-Chee (born 1981) is the winner of Miss Trinidad and Tobago Universe 2008 and was a contestant in the Miss Universe 2008 pageant.
Anya Ayoung-Chee | |
|---|---|
| File:Misstnt.jpg Anya at the Miss Universe 2008 Pageant | |
| Born | Anya Ayoung-Chee 1981 (age 42–43) |
| Height | 1.70 m (5 ft 7 in) |
| Beauty pageant titleholder | |
| Title | Miss Trinidad and Tobago Universe 2008 |
| Hair color | Black |
| Eye color | Brown |
| Major competition(s) | Miss Trinidad and Tobago Universe 2008 (winner) Miss Universe 2008 |
Early life
Anya Ayoung-Chee was born in Port-of-Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, the only daughter in a family of eight. From an early age she pursued classical ballet training. However it was during her attendance at all girls secondary school St. Joseph's Convent (Port of Spain) that she became passionate about art and design. She continued her education in London and New York, gaining experience in Graphic and Interior Design.
Miss Trinidad and Tobago Universe 2008
Ayoung-Chee was one of numerous young women competed for the Miss Trinidad and Tobago Universe title, after the country did not send a delegate to the 2007 Miss Universe Competition. On that night Gabrielle Walcott also won the Miss Trinidad and Tobago World 2008 title (simultaneously contested), and together they began training for their respective competitions.
Trinidad and Tobago have had two Miss Universe winners: 1977 and 1998). Ayoung-Chee is the second title holder in the franchise's 44-year history to be of Chinese descent, the first being Stephanie Lee Pack in 1974. When asked “Is your Asian heritage an issue since you represent a country with an overwhelming African and Indian heritage?” by missology.org Anya replied, “Trinidad & Tobago is unique in its ethnic make-up because it is a country with people of all races. I am of mixed origin, mainly Chinese, Indian and Caucasian, and although my particular mixture is a minority, I represent the unusual combination of ethnicities that defines us as a people”.
On November 8, 2009 La Toya Woods was crowned the new Miss Trinidad and Tobago Universe, making Ayoung-Chee the longest reigning Miss Trinidad and Tobago Universe, following Kenisha Thom (Miss Trinidad and Tobago Universe 2006).
Charity work and social groups
Since 2003, Ayoung-Chee has been a member of the TallMan Foundation which was established by her family for the empowerment of young people in underprivileged areas.
In 2008 the United Nations Association of Trinidad and Tobago (UNATT) asked both Anya and Gabrielle Walcott to be spokeswomen and champions for the group. They both served during their reigns as Miss T&T, and continue as members of UNATT, the NGO arm of the United Nations which aims to advocate the United Nations and the Millennium Development Goals.
Project Runway Season 9
Anya is currently listed as one of the 20 Semi Finalist in the upcoming season 9 of Project Runway,[1] a subject of some contention, as she claimed that she only learned to sew four months before the competition began.[2]
References
This article includes a list of references, related reading, or external links, but its sources remain unclear because it lacks inline citations. (November 2009) |
- ^ Project Runway names semi finalists; 2011. Retrieved July 13, 2011.
- ^ Zaino, Nick (25 July 2011). "Heidi Klum, Michael Kors and Nina Garcia Preview the 'Project Runway' Premiere". AOL TV. Retrieved 25 July 2011.
- MissUniverse.com - delegates 2008
- Miss Trinidad and Tobago Universe 2008 Anya Ayoung-Chee :: Missosology Beauty Talks (interview)
- www.CTNTWORLD.com | Miss Trinidad & Tobago 2008 - WELCOME
- Youth of the United Nations
- Anya Ayoung-Chee Facebook page
- Anya Ayoung-Chee tops People's Choice poll. - Trinibeat
- Miss Universe Sex Tape Guy - TMZ