We are all unique so what would you say is something that makes you standout from the other contestants ?
To be honest, I believe that all of the delegates in this competition are confidently beautiful in their own way. I think the trait that sets me apart from the other ladies is my innate quality to be balanced, committed and empathetic. Miss Universe is not just a competition, it’s an extension of who a delegate is as a person. One has the opportunity to meet people from all walks of life, and you have the opportunity to empower others to be the best version of themselves – especially young women, with whom I work closely in a professional capacity both as a medical student and fashion entrepreneur.
What qualities should a woman have to represent an entire nation?
For anyone to be a national representative, they must undoubtedly be a patriot. Representing a nation such as Trinidad and Tobago is a particularly special honour because of our diverse culture that is known around the world, largely due to our world-renowned Carnival celebrations. Our National Anthem states that “Here every creed and race find an equal place”, and I believe that those words are extremely powerful and particularly telling of how our citizens value and appreciate each other through the lens of multiculturalism. We are a land of many peoples, many religions and many cultures, and I am proud to be the woman that I am today because of the values of discipline, tolerance and production that my family, community and country has instilled in me.
Social media seems to play a major role in pageantry nowadays. Do you think this is advantageous to you? Why or why not?
Social media has become a very necessary tool to communicate meaningfully with other people, particularly in the pageant community. I consider myself fortunate to live in an era where technology and culture are able to connect on several levels. Platforms such as Instagram and Facebook as excellent marketing tools in pageant circles, because as a delegate, it allows people to get to know who Yvonne Clarke truly is, and why I am best suited to represent our country as Miss Universe Trinidad and Tobago 2017. With that being said, I also recognize that social media has its challenges, and I can definitely identify with the importance of using online platforms responsibly. There’s a lot that social media cannot replace, and that includes one’s ability to emotionally connect person-to-person. From The Philippines to Venezuela and everywhere in between, I really enjoy meeting new people both online and offline, and social media has thankfully made that possible - the world is a lot closer than ever before.
Thanks to the beautiful Yvonne for the interview. Pageants News wishes you all the very best for Miss Universe Trinidad & Tobago pageant.