Mother of one, Norrisa Anatol (30), is thrilled with her recent TelCell Miss Mature Carnival Queen win. The former Methodist Agogic Centre and St. Maarten Academy student won the crown from a bevy of four other beauties at St. Maarten Festival Village on April 20.
“No words can explain the feeling I have right now knowing that I have won,” Anatol tells Out ‘N About. “It is a great feeling because I promised my fans and supporters I would make them proud and I did just what I promised I would do. And they are extremely proud of me and I am happy with that.”
Anatol is a former RBC Royal Bank staffer and Customer Service Agent. She currently “helps clients in every way possible” where she works as an Administrative Assistant at Carbon Acquisition Group Real Estate Company.
Anatol contested the pageant so that, amongst other things, she could have a better platform to nurture her community involvement. She is a former member of the Rotaract Club, where she served in several positions including President, Vice President and Community Service Director. She said Rotaract gave her a chance to address some of the social ills in the community.
Asked what she thinks gave her the edge on stage, she said, “I was full of confidence; I enjoyed it and was having fun in every segment.”
Anatol started preparing for the pageant since November 2015: “The experience was great. I got to meet four different women who I see as the Fantastic 4: Valeska, Joyceline, Vivianne and Shorella. We were always checking up on each other and helping each other in some way or the other.”
She said sponsorship had been one of the initial challenges encountered, but she noted that many companies eventually came through and supported her. “Practicing was also a bit hectic because I was juggling work and taking care of my son at the same time.”
Now that she is queen, Anatol plans to promote foster homes/families, the elderly and environmental issues.
Anatol is no stranger to pageantry. In 2001, she competed in the Carnival Teen Pageant and placed third runner-up and was named Miss Amity. In 2006, she competed in the Dominica Foundation’s Miss Wob Dwiyet pageant and placed first runner-up and won Best Talent.
She had some advice for other young women who also want to enter pageantry and win the title: “Follow your dreams, believe it and keep positive in everything you do no matter what setbacks or bottlenecks you may encounter along the way.”
Anatol is currently pursuing her Associates Degree in Hospitality Management at the University of St. Martin (USM). She plans to continue her studies at USM to obtain her Master’s in Business Management and aspires to own her business; purchase/build her own home and travel the world.
In her spare time, she enjoys reading, dancing, listening to music, travelling, shopping, socialising, helping people and having fun with family and friends.
She thanks her sponsors, “Team Rissa” and supporters for believing in her. “My journey will be a remarkable one.”
