Anya Ayoung-Chee
Encyclopedia
Anya Ayoung-Chee is Miss Trinidad and Tobago Universe
2008 and was a contestant in the Miss Universe 2008
pageant, and also the winner of Project Runway
's ninth season
in 2011.
but moved to Trinidad
at the age of two, she therefore holds dual Trinidadian and American
citizenship. She is 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.
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).
television show Project Runway
. Despite learning to sew a few months before the show began, she placed in at least the top three of most of the challenges, and eventually won the competition on October 27th 2011. Through winning the competition, Anya earned $100,00 from L'Oreal
Paris to begin her own line, Pilar. Not only that, she also was featured in a fashion spread in Marie Claire
and received a $50,000 technology suite by Hp and Intel for the chance to design and sell merchandise, as well as a parthership with Piperlime.com. If that wasn't enough, Anya was voted the fan favorite for a Twitter contest and received another 10 grand.
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.
Miss Trinidad and Tobago Universe
The Miss Trinidad and Tobago Universe beauty pageant has been held annually since 1963 a year after its independence from the United Kingdom. The contest is meant to select a suitable delegate from both islands to compete in the Miss Universe pageant....
2008 and was a contestant in the Miss Universe 2008
Miss Universe 2008
Miss Universe 2008, the 57th Miss Universe pageant, was held at the Crown Convention Center in the Diamond Bay Resort, Nha Trang, Vietnam on July 14, 2008...
pageant, and also the winner of Project Runway
Project Runway
Project Runway is an American reality television series on Lifetime Television, previously on the Bravo network, which focuses on fashion design and is hosted by model Heidi Klum. The contestants compete with each other to create the best clothes and are restricted in time, materials and theme...
's ninth season
Project Runway (season 9)
Project Runway Season 9 is the ninth season of the television show Project Runway. The season began airing on July 28, 2011 and features 20 designers who hope to become "the next great American designer."...
in 2011.
Early life
Anya Ayoung-Chee was born to Trinidadian parents in New York CityNew York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
but moved to Trinidad
Trinidad and Tobago
Trinidad and Tobago officially the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago is an archipelagic state in the southern Caribbean, lying just off the coast of northeastern Venezuela and south of Grenada in the Lesser Antilles...
at the age of two, she therefore holds dual Trinidadian and American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
citizenship. She is 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
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
and New York
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, gaining experience in Graphic and Interior Design.
Beauty pageants
Ayoung-Chee was one of numerous young women who competed for the Miss Trinidad and Tobago Universe title, after the country did not send a delegate to the 2007 Miss UniverseMiss Universe 2007
Miss Universe 2007, the 56th Miss Universe pageant, took place on May 28, 2007 at the National Auditorium in Mexico City, Mexico. 77 delegates competed for the title. Riyo Mori of Japan was crowned the winner of the title by Zuleyka Rivera of Puerto Rico....
Competition. On that night Gabrielle Walcott
Gabrielle Walcott
Gabrielle “Gabby” Walcott is a beauty pageant titleholder who won Miss Trinidad and Tobago World 2008 and placed as the 2nd runner-up in Miss World 2008, and is currently the titleholder of Miss Trinidad and Tobago Universe 2011. She represented Trinidad and Tobago at the Miss Universe 2011...
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
Miss Universe 1977
Miss Universe 1977, the 26th annual Miss Universe pageant was held at the National Theater, in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic on July 16, 1977. 24-year-old Janelle Commissiong earned Trinidad & Tobago its first Miss Universe crown as well as becoming the first black woman to win the title...
and 1998
Miss Universe 1998
Miss Universe 1998, the 47th Miss Universe pageant was held at Stan Sheriff Arena, Honolulu, Hawaii, USA on May 12, 1998. Brook Lee, Miss Universe 1997, of the USA crowned Wendy Fitzwilliam of Trinidad and Tobago as Miss Universe 1998...
). Ayoung-Chee is the second title holder in the franchise's 44-year history to be of Chinese descent
Chinese Trinidadian
Chinese Trinidadian and Tobagonian are Trinidadians and Tobagonians 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
La Toya Woods
La Toya Woods is the winner of the Miss Trinidad and Tobago Universe 2010 pageant and was a contestant in the Miss Universe 2010 pageant in Las Vegas, USA...
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).
Fashion
Anya was a contestant on Season 9 of the AmericanUnited States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
television show Project Runway
Project Runway
Project Runway is an American reality television series on Lifetime Television, previously on the Bravo network, which focuses on fashion design and is hosted by model Heidi Klum. The contestants compete with each other to create the best clothes and are restricted in time, materials and theme...
. Despite learning to sew a few months before the show began, she placed in at least the top three of most of the challenges, and eventually won the competition on October 27th 2011. Through winning the competition, Anya earned $100,00 from L'Oreal
L'Oréal
The L'Oréal Group is the world's largest cosmetics and beauty company. With its registered office in Paris and head office in the Paris suburb of Clichy, Hauts-de-Seine, France, it has developed activities in the field of cosmetics...
Paris to begin her own line, Pilar. Not only that, she also was featured in a fashion spread in Marie Claire
Marie Claire
Marie Claire is a monthly women's magazine first published in France but also distributed in other countries with editions specific to them and in their languages. While each country shares its own special voice with its audience, the United States edition focuses on women around the world and...
and received a $50,000 technology suite by Hp and Intel for the chance to design and sell merchandise, as well as a parthership with Piperlime.com. If that wasn't enough, Anya was voted the fan favorite for a Twitter contest and received another 10 grand.
Philanthropy
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
Gabrielle Walcott
Gabrielle “Gabby” Walcott is a beauty pageant titleholder who won Miss Trinidad and Tobago World 2008 and placed as the 2nd runner-up in Miss World 2008, and is currently the titleholder of Miss Trinidad and Tobago Universe 2011. She represented Trinidad and Tobago at the Miss Universe 2011...
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
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
and the Millennium Development Goals.
External links
- 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 tops People's Choice poll. - Trinibeat
- http://metro.co.tt/news/anya-overwhelmed-support