A wild card entrant to the Finals of the World Supermodel scheduled to be held in Vietnam on September 30, 2018 is hoping to make it big on the international stage.
She received her ‘World Supermodel Asia Pacific’ title at a glittering ceremony held on Saturday, July 7, 2018, at Naumi Hotel in Auckland.
Shaayal Gounden, who has been featured in Indian Newslink on more than one occasion (she was our Model of the Fortnight in our June 1, 2014 and November 15, 2017 issues) said that she feels extremely privileged to be representing not only her home country but also Fiji, her native country and those of the Asia Pacific.
Resilient and Resourceful
Describing the Asia Pacific region as ‘beautiful, exciting and filled with hopes and dreams,’ she said that it is also a region which has the strength to overcome and unite in times of difficulty.
“That is I chose to partake in the World Supermodel Competition. Winning the Title will help me create an influential platform to support charities close to my heart (such as ‘Make A wish Foundation’ and other little-known philanthropic organisation,” she said.
According to Shaayal, the Asia Pacific is a region where culture echoes, tradition speaks, beauty mesmerises and diversity delights.
“I am extremely proud to represent Asia Pacific Region,” she said.
Profession and Passion
Born and raised in Auckland, Shaayal earned her Bachelor’s degree in Applied Management with a Double Major in Event and Tourism Management.
While her passion for Event and Tourism Management encouraged the establishment of her own businesses, her love for show business led to the launch of ‘Auckland’s Top Model,’ a professional company to promote pageants, with Co-Director Shabeena Shaheen.
She is also Co-Director of Global Flight Centre New Zealand Limited.
Awards and Titles
Participating in pageants and winning titles is not new to Shaayal.
She was crowned ‘Miss Pre-Teen New Zealand’ when she was just 12 years old, and thereafter won other titles including ‘Miss Auckland 2014’, ‘Miss World New Zealand Beauty with a Mission 2014,’ 2014’ and the current title of ‘World Super Model Asia Pacific.’
Her hobbies include dancing, socialising with friends, catching up with family, shopping with her mother and most important of all, enjoying precious moments with her husband Yusuf and doting over her daughter Ariana.