Mélange Travel & Lifestyle Magazine January 2019 | Page 28

I am most proud that I became comfortable expressing myself on stage. I was quite accustomed to playing supporting roles in performances, and to muster up the courage to step into the spotlight and be scrutinized by the crowd and an impressive panel of judges was mortifying to me at first. It made me so nervous that I began to second guess my decision to enter the pageant. When I started looking at it as a learning opportunity, I decided that I couldn’t pass it up. About some of the things she hopes to accomplish during her reign. I hope to start a foundation centered around mental health advocacy. The narrative surrounding mental health in the West Indian context seems to be one of avoidance, filled with stigma, almost taboo. Mental wellbeing is an inextricable part of an individual’s health and should be given as much importance as physical health. I would like to be part of a solution that creates an environment where people feel empowered to stand up and take charge of their mental wellbeing or that of their loved ones, without having to worry about discriminatory reactions from the public. About the other face of Mikeela, her academic side. I love reading and have been doing so for as long as I’ve known myself. It made me a very curious child and I fell in love with learning. I would describe myself as a lifelong student. I was awarded a scholarship and studied psychology and linguistics at Trent University, in Peterborough, Canada. I am nearing the end of study at the postgraduate level in the UK. I have an interest in the link between physiological and psychological processes and how this allows us to identify or manage issues related to mental wellbeing. It pushes us to take a more holistic approach to health care. I hope to continue research in this area in the Caribbean. Academics overlaps with a lot of my personal interests, so studying linguistics was borne out of a love I have for languages, and my experience as a secondary school French and Spanish teacher. It allowed me to test my creativity as a writer and helped to inform a lot of the spoken word I wrote and performed. About her other interests. I enjoy the performing arts in general – the All-ah-Wee Young Theatre Players was a great outlet for this. There was no single focus in this group… we all participated in drama, dance, poetry and singing. I also did backing vocals with my friends’ band, 12th Avenue over this past summer. While in Canada, I became actively involved in the Trent African and Caribbean Student Union, often participating in dance and other types of performances for cultural exhibition shows like Afrobana. I was able to learn a lot about the cultures of various African countries through this group, even learning traditional and contemporary elements of different types of African dance. About Anguilla, post- hurricane. Anguilla is well on its way to thriving once again. The collective resilience of its people is clearly shown in their swiftness and willingness to adapt to the changes brought about by the hurricane. Several schools were completely relocated to allow for complete reconstruction and the single secondary school was able to implement a shift system to meet the needs of all high- schoolers on island. Despite this, performance at the regional exit exams (CSEC) was commendable. Several Photo Credit: @j.austinpro (Jonathan Gumbs) Anguillians and Anguilla lovers abroad also organized for aid to be sent to the island to supplement school supplies and even went so far as to donate generators! There was swift regional and international response and aid in restoring power to the entire island within 3 months of the storm. Ports of entry were also up and running fairly quickly post-Irma. Following a slightly delayed re-opening of the tourism sector, Anguilla was voted the #1 destination in the Caribbean by Travel and Leisure Magazine . . . in 2017 and 2018! About her all-time favourite thing to do on the island. Visit Little Bay! It is a breathtaking alcove accessible by boat, a swim over from nearby Crocus Bay or by a rather exciting climb down a cliff side (my favorite method). It’s the perfect place for adventurous, yet peaceful moments. Watching the sunset from atop the cliff is my favorite part.