-DK - “Hey, Good morning Nasma, how you doing?”
NM - “Good, Hi, how are you?”
DK - “Please correct and excuse my ignorance but is it Nasma with an S or Nazma with a Z?”
NM - “S.”
DK - “I see it spelt both ways.”
NM - “Yeah well I think in Trinidad everyone takes it upon themselves to spell things how they want”
DK - “So lets start with Ms Universe 2002. Why did you enter Ms Trinidad & Tobago 2002 in the first place?”
NM - “I have been asking myself that question. A really good friend of mine Ashton Bally, who is the official hair stylist to the T & T girls right now, last year and this year, approached me a couple of years ago to see if I was interested. Back then I said no not really because I was doing my degree at the time and I had a lot other things I wanted to accomplish. So when I graduated he asked me again and I said well why not. So we sent in the application not really thinking of anything because I was in management training with FCB at the time and I had my career on stream and then they called me for the first interview so I said ok. I went in for the interview casually, and then they called me back for the second interview, so I said ok no problem. Then they called me and said your in the twelve so I was like ‘oh my god’. So it just basically went step by step.
DK - “What did you study at university?”
NM - “I double majored in chemistry and management”
DK – “So were you good at chemistry and the sciences at school – white lab coats and stuff, a mad professor?”
NM - “Well, I think I never really knew what I wanted to do and because the academic system in Trinidad and Tobago is so rigid, you have to know what you need to do. You can’t really take that much time off. So I did sciences and A-levels at Naparima Girls. And then I decided why not, with Chemistry and management you have the chance to double major. I think that part of my life is dedicated to my parents. I have a BSc so they’re happy now.”
DK – “Would you like to get back into science in any way again after all this or not really?”
NM – “Well actually because of the double majoring in management, and I’m a management trainee right now, I would still like to persue my career as a management trainee but in downstream industry, probably with an oil company or a chemical company. But not really in the labs but rather in upper administration.”
DK – “Back to the Miss T & T, what’s it like being in the spotlight, seeing yourself in the papers everyday? Being called a diva in the ‘Wire’, what’s that like?”
NM - “Well initially it s like ‘oh my god’ your in the paper and you clip everything out and your very excited, but as time goes along my mother would call me and say your in the paper and I would say ok, how do I look? And she’d say you look good. Being in the public eye especially in Trinidad and Tobago is very very difficult. I think if you’re not open to criticism and you can’t take criticism gracefully you’re going to have a problem. There are two faces, there’s one where people say your popular now, and you’re celebrity. I don’t think so, because now if I don’t have to go out I’d rather not. If I don’t have something to do, or a meeting somewhere I prefer to stay home and relax with my friends or watch movies and do quiet things because when you are in public everyone’s eyes are on you and they are constantly looking at every little thing you do. And I mean that’s a hard standard to live up to for anybody – for anyone 24-7.”
DK – “Is your dad possessive at all for the fact you’re heralded for your good looks in the paper?”
NM – “My father is a very open individual. He very religious but also he’s always encouraged us to follow a dream. Very very supportive. But above everything else he knew this is something I want to do and he always told us do things tactfully and with good taste, and I think to take that with you for anything you do is important.”
DK – “So, do you have a boyfriend right now and has Ms T & T had an affect on your relationship?”
NM – “I don’t get into personal issues, that’s an NP, no personals.”
DK – “Really, I had some good NPs for you”
NM – (Laughs)
DK – “Did you have a big party on winning?”
NM – “Of course, I had a family celebration and friends, but mostly family. My family threw a huge dinner. I’m very close to my family.”
DK – “Where’s your hometown?”
NM – “Princess Town”
DK – “Did you have the party there?”
NM – “Well actually the Princess Town regional corporation did a huge huge luncheon and a motorcade and that kind of thing. Then my family did something. I mean it was really fun and interesting.”
DK – “How was Carnival for you this year?”
NM – “Fantastic.”
DK – “Did you enjoy the Islandevents costume?”
NM – “Of course. I think the idea of having a backpack was different and interesting. But the people who played in Islandevents made that section. Forget the costume, forget everything else, the people that played in that section were fun and I think apart from just being fun they are the type of people who can have a good time with anyone. It was like a whole big family jumping up. People who I didn’t know came up and were ‘how you going?’ And they made me very comfortable because I was a little bit worried about going out to play.”
DK – “Did that affect your enjoyment the fact that the cameras were so on you?”
NM – “Actually it was fun though. I was in and out, in and out. The cameras were complaining they couldn’t find me.”
DK – “What’s it like working with big companies like CCN and international designers like Peter Elias?
What do you learn?”
NM – “Peter is fabulous. Peter has a passion for pageantry, that if more people in Trinidad and Tobago had we would be in the top ten every year. Were getting there slowly but surely. The organisation CCN has done a wonderful job in putting together a training format that at the end of the day all the young ladies develop. There’s no longer tuck your tummy in and walk and smile. (Laughs.) We go through a lot of rigorous training, the interview segment is extremely important it’s almost a third of your final mark. Six minutes long. The judges give you the questions, the typical sort of questions, who do you look up to, who are your heroes? What exciting things have you done in your life?”
DK – “So what about the big competition, what are your aspirations for the 2002 Ms Universe competition? Do you see it as part of a learning curve, what you might want to do afterwards?”
NM – “I think this show, my training, has prepared me more for life than May the 29th. Because I have learned so much, its amazing, and I think I will take that, especially now, all my ex-managers have told me I’m at such an advantage now, ‘people know you and you know people’. And if you want to get into PR or marketing you have the ideal position now in order to do that. But apart from that you learn a lot about yourself. You learn a lot about Trinidadians, and then you learn a lot about how to deal with people’s behaviour. And that is something I don’t think I quite knew until the past couple of months. (Laughs.) You meet all kinds and all I have to say is that it takes all kinds to make up this world and you have to learn to live with every single one of them.”
DK – “When you go to Puerto Rico you are representing the image of Trinidad and Tobago you are an ambassador, is that a pressure, a weight? It’s a bit like being a sportsman.”
NM – “Of course, I played national volleyball, I competed in the region, so I had a basic idea of what it feels like to be an ambassador for your country at that level. But when you’re competing with 80 or so girls that’s another story.”
DK – “Have you met any of the other Miss Universe girls?”
NM – “I met Ms Cayman Islands, she is in Trinidad right now for a couple of days. She is doing some training here. She is really lovely. So I have a friend. Were going to gang up on them when we get there.” (Laughs.)
DK – “That’s good, I was thinking it might be a bit of a lonely experience the Ms Universe event. I mean you’re suddenly thrust into an atmosphere with people you don’t really know, TV cameras in your face?”
NM – “Yeah, but I love people, I love to interact and ease into conversation. So I think I am going to enjoy it. I’m rooming with Ms Philippines, so that should be fun, she is English speaking which makes things a lot easier.”
DK – “How do they decide who you room with?”
NM – “Well they ask you sometimes. I was in NYC last week and I went to the Ms Universe offices and they asked me who I’d like to room with if I had a choice. I decided Ms Puerto Rico or Ms Philippines.”
DK – “So you have your partner in crime?”
NM – “And Ms Australia unfortunately was rooming with Ms Israel. Because she needed a neutral country and you can’t get more neutral than Australia. (Laughs).”
DK – “What words do you most cherish?”
NM – “Well my father is very typical East Indian ‘look after your children’, ‘family man’ orientated, but more than anything else he tells me to just go out there and give them thunder. (Laughs).”
DK – “How many brothers and sisters do you have?”
NM – “I have one older brother whose an engineer and one younger sister”
DK – “Are you into films and stuff, tell us some of your favourites.”
NM – “Well when I have time I like films but right now I don’t have any time?”
DK – “Your favourite beach in Trinidad?
NM – “Mayaro”
DK – “Your favourite cocktail?”
NM – “Well there is a wide variety of favs I couldn’t name just one”
DK – “Could you describe to me your idea of a great day?”
NM – “Waking up in the morning alive, I think that’s as perfect as it gets, healthy and happy. I think something like that depends on what you’re looking for and is different for everyone. For me I love doing different things everyday and enjoying what I do. It doesn’t matter to me if it’s a quite day sleeping or it can be a day busy at work or training. Once I’m enjoying myself and I’m happy then everything else is fine. That’s as perfect as it gets.”
DK – “So when do you leave for Ms Universe?”
NM – “Next week Friday [May 10th]. What happens is we have a chaperone who meets us there off the plane. It doesn’t make sense someone going with you. It’s a lot of fun. Puerto Rico is party town, they just want to take you out every night. You party everywhere then you’re up at six or seven in the morning.”
DK – “So is that 80 stunning women going out together on a Friday night?”
NM – “That’s right, I’m sure you want to be in Puerto Rico (laughs). I can’t wait its going to be a lot of fun. Last years Ms T & T Alexia has given me tips, as last year’s event was in Puerto Rico too. Three weeks of a first class vacation, come on, what more could you ask for. They give you everything you need.”
DK – “So are you having a send off before you go?”
NM – “Well I’m having something with my family and then something small with my friends. Then at the VIP lounge on Friday when I leave I’m going to have some friends and my family and Peter [Elias]. I want to keep it small and quiet.”
DK – “You seem very cool headed, you have a good time and our comfortable with people.”
NM – “Well people come up to me and say are you excited and nervous and I’m like no, but they’re like well I’m nervous for you, and I’m like god you’re driving me crazy, stop it, stop it. If you don’t be yourself you won’t gain anything from this whole experience. And I think people know Ms T & T has developed into something where the young women are very intelligent and there are not just a pretty face and a hot body walking around. It’s now so far from that.”
DK – “In more general terms do you think the role of women in Trinidad and Tobago society has changed over the last twenty years?”
NM – “Yeah women are far more intelligent, they have their own careers in front of them. Sixty percent of the UWI population is now female and I think last year it was even higher. I think slowly but surely things are changing.”
DK – “Well, thanks very much for your time. All the best for the competition, I’m sure you’ll do really well, the judges will love you.”
NM – (Laughs). “Ok enjoy you’re weekend, take care”
