WoW: Stephanie Duval's package of delight, thoughtfulness and ambitions

• Stephanie Duval

It is often said that good things come in small packages, but rarely are delightful, thoughtful; and ambitious packages talked about.

Yet this is precisely what best describes our WoW (Woman of the Week) pick for this week.

The name of Stephanie Olivia Duval is already heard beyond the shores of Seychelles and her ambitions lie well beyond them too.

The recent candidate for Miss World Mauritius said of her: “Stephanie’s support and expert guidance were incredibly insightful and helpful! Although we couldn’t have catwalk coaching due to the distance, Stephanie went above and beyond to provide mental coaching and was always there to calm my nerves for the competition.

“Thanks to Stephanie and her academy, Liv Beauty, I was able to represent Mauritius on a global stage and secure a spot among the top 12 contestants at Miss World! I am forever grateful for Stephanie’s dedication and support over the years”.

LIV BEAUTY ACADEMY

Liv Beauty Academy just celebrated its 2nd anniversary on the 12th of March this year, while Stephanie also recently celebrated her 35th birthday..

Stephanie takes on the story from here: “LBA provides styling, beauty pageantry, and modeling coaching services. The reason was simple: it was a personal experience of mine that really inspired me to open this business.

In 2016, I participated in the Miss Universal Petite pageant in Florida. With no prior knowledge of an international pageant's expectations and preparation, I realized the importance of having a mentor or coach to guide me.

“While it was a great experience, I believe I would have benefited greatly from proper preparation. The plan is to equip all clients with tools that will boost their confidence, enabling them to pursue their audacious goals unapologetically and with grace”.

“I attended Mont Fleuri primary and secondary school, and then pursued studies in Telecommunications at the Seychelles Institute of Technology (SIT). Later, I ventured into Sports Management studies.

MISS REGATTA 2007

At 18, during my second year at SIT, I won Miss Regatta 2007, igniting my passion for modeling, pageantry, and styling. Growing up in a sports-oriented family, my mother has worked for the National Olympic Committee for over two decades. This upbringing led me to volunteer early on with various sports organizations.

Since 2015, I’ve been a member of SWASA (Seychelles Women And Sports Association) an NGO that advocates for women and girls in the sporting space.

I have also been facilitating sports values training for about 15 years to athletes, coaches and PE teachers alike. 

Additionally, I work part-time as a Sports Journalist, aligning my love for sports with my curiosity.

ABOUT HER PASSIONS

And what about your passions and what keeps you motivated?

Stephanie replied: “I would describe myself as someone who is not afraid of taking risks and embracing new experiences. 

“Spiritually, I've reached a point of acceptance regarding life and death. It may seem strange, but I found freedom in letting go of my fear of death and acknowledging its inevitability.

“I have a keen interest in documentaries and podcasts, with podcasts being my favorite. I've been listening to them for about a decade, and they've guided me on a journey of personal development, from the power of journaling to creating vision boards and learning from inspiring mentors.

I have a deep appreciation for various forms of art, whether it's a moving poem inspired by real events or the captivating performances of drama and contemporary dance.

“While I don't consider myself naturally talented, I excel in bringing others' ideas to fruition. Along the way, I've honed skills such as public speaking and NGO project management. 

“My proudest accomplishment so far is quitting smoking after a 15-year habit. Starting at 18, I smoked 3 to 5 cigarettes a day, sometimes doubling or tripling that on weekends. I'm grateful to have overcome this habit and embraced a healthier lifestyle”.

Family-wise she says she is quite close to her mother and stepfather, her mother being a very patient and courageous woman, adding “one day when I have my own children I hope to become a mother like her. On the other hand, my stepfather is the hardest working person I know. 

DREAMS FOR THE AFRICAN CONTINENT

What could such a woman possibly have as an ambition? The answer surprised us.

“My ambition is very high. I am someone who dreams of a prosperous and progressive African continent.

“I know it's cliché, but I believe every child, woman, and man should live in a world where they can access basic human living conditions, education and health care with the opportunity to experience peace in its highest form.

“I'm not sure what role I can play to make this a reality, but I certainly would love a seat at the table that discusses this possibility.

“If the universe allows, I will continue to grow and help others along the way who wish to be part of this journey.

HIGH PERFORMERS’ MINDS

“At some point, I'd like to be involved in the research of high performers' minds. 

Stephanie recently completed a one-year Commonwealth Sports Women’s Leadership programme, offered by the Commonwealth Sports.

This comprehensive initiative aims to support and empower women from the Commonwealth on their personal development journeys towards becoming influential leaders and agents of change in the field of sports.

The programme was conducted entirely online, and all participants were paired with high-calibre international mentors. As a result of this programme, she is currently working on an independent documentary highlighting the realities faced by athletes from small developing countries and the challenges they encounter within the international sports community.

The documentary has sparked discussions about the potential use of virtual reality (VR) to aid our athletes. This project would greatly benefit from the collaboration of researchers and international universities, as it has the potential to be a game changer for athletes from small nations and those who lack access to quality training and preparations.

•  An appreciative Miss Mauritius