B for brains & beauty
The image of Stephanie Zammit may recall that of Cleopatra. What they have in common is more than just a milk bath - it is their captivating seduction, with wit and beauty in equal measures, that makes one Queen of the Nile, the other Malta's Beauty Queen
October 12, 20074 min read
At 175 cm and 60 kg, Stephanie Zammit, holder of this year's Miss World Malta title, is the definition of a good body. Not the anorexic-model type, but the healthy, jaw-dropping kind which leaves one wondering what she allows in her system to look so attractive.
A few sentences into the conversation, it is reassuring to note that Malta's ambassador for beauty is no bimbo. Far from it. An English teacher by profession, she is articulate with the right word always at hand. Good-natured for as long as her boundaries are not crossed, she is a sweet talker of no nonsense. She possesses a natural and elegant poise, with effortless movements which are firm, confident and, above all, captivating. She also has a refreshingly good sense of humour. She says part of this is natural, the rest she has learnt - particularly being intimate with the person she has in front of her. "I seek to bond with the audience by establishing a comfortable eye contact. I feel it is so important to be present in whatever you are doing; whether it is just having a private conversation, walking down a catwalk or looking into a camera," she says.
One wonders what advances come her way from the teenage boys she teaches at St Benedict's College in Kirkop. "Business is business. It is my conscious decision to be serious in the classroom. When I am teaching, I represent a profession which merits full respect. A smile too many can be easily misinterpreted by a teenager; unless you're clear with where the line is drawn, they take you over. It is so important to assert your authority - funnily enough, young people need to know where the parameters are to feel secure."
In three weeks' time, the 22-year-old from Zejtun will be travelling, alone, to China to join the other 119 contestants from all over the world, vying for the coveted Miss World title. In the five weeks she will be spending there she hopes to share her room with a girl she can relate to, saying she could do without any envy for which she has zero tolerance. As she already feels the pressure of the role she is playing, she feels it takes a certain maturity to manage it, which makes her thankful to be her age. "In this environment, you get all kind of attitudes; unless you are self-sufficient, it is very easy to become unhinged," she says.
From the look of it, Stephanie is not easily undone. She's got the right mix of confidence and humbleness for which she thanks her supportive mother and 27-year-old boyfriend of five years, Demise, who has been unconditionally and consistently encouraging her to carve her space in a world which is important to her.
Her modelling experience, relatively young when one considers she only started three years ago, has also helped her come a long way. "Designer, and friend, Fiona Maria Vella helped me a lot - she has not only initiated me on the runway, she passed me a number of tools which I then personalised and made my own to feel comfortable with." She later joined Modelle International, with Sue Rossi and Claudia Calleja.
"You also get to learn tricks which you pick along the way, like looking in the mirror and realising that certain expressions flatter and suit your personality; others are definitely no-go. You also get to gauge how to pronounce your walk according to your dress - whether it is fun and jolly, or contained and classic. Grace is something which helps when you're born with it but it is also an attribute you learn..."
Body works
What does it take to have a body that screams, "Look at me"? Stephanie's answer is a simple one: "I do not deny myself of any food but I am careful about quantity and quality. I drink lots of water and go slow on carbs; I do not eat bars of chocolate but I allow myself my square share; I am also blessed in the salads department as I just love raw veg, which makes my food intake less of a compromise. I have to admit that in the last two years I have become more conscious of the public eye therefore I am more careful about what I ingest and how I look.
"I am required to be a full-time model with a full-time job which is not exactly related to the field - so my gym time had to give way to prepare lesson plans which take a considerable amount of time."
• Ms Zammit has been holder of the Miss World Malta title since June. She is sponsored by Remington, professionals in state-of-the art hair products. The photo shoot was held at the Myoka Spa, Radisson Golden Sands.
A few sentences into the conversation, it is reassuring to note that Malta's ambassador for beauty is no bimbo. Far from it. An English teacher by profession, she is articulate with the right word always at hand. Good-natured for as long as her boundaries are not crossed, she is a sweet talker of no nonsense. She possesses a natural and elegant poise, with effortless movements which are firm, confident and, above all, captivating. She also has a refreshingly good sense of humour. She says part of this is natural, the rest she has learnt - particularly being intimate with the person she has in front of her. "I seek to bond with the audience by establishing a comfortable eye contact. I feel it is so important to be present in whatever you are doing; whether it is just having a private conversation, walking down a catwalk or looking into a camera," she says.
One wonders what advances come her way from the teenage boys she teaches at St Benedict's College in Kirkop. "Business is business. It is my conscious decision to be serious in the classroom. When I am teaching, I represent a profession which merits full respect. A smile too many can be easily misinterpreted by a teenager; unless you're clear with where the line is drawn, they take you over. It is so important to assert your authority - funnily enough, young people need to know where the parameters are to feel secure."
In three weeks' time, the 22-year-old from Zejtun will be travelling, alone, to China to join the other 119 contestants from all over the world, vying for the coveted Miss World title. In the five weeks she will be spending there she hopes to share her room with a girl she can relate to, saying she could do without any envy for which she has zero tolerance. As she already feels the pressure of the role she is playing, she feels it takes a certain maturity to manage it, which makes her thankful to be her age. "In this environment, you get all kind of attitudes; unless you are self-sufficient, it is very easy to become unhinged," she says.
From the look of it, Stephanie is not easily undone. She's got the right mix of confidence and humbleness for which she thanks her supportive mother and 27-year-old boyfriend of five years, Demise, who has been unconditionally and consistently encouraging her to carve her space in a world which is important to her.
Her modelling experience, relatively young when one considers she only started three years ago, has also helped her come a long way. "Designer, and friend, Fiona Maria Vella helped me a lot - she has not only initiated me on the runway, she passed me a number of tools which I then personalised and made my own to feel comfortable with." She later joined Modelle International, with Sue Rossi and Claudia Calleja.
"You also get to learn tricks which you pick along the way, like looking in the mirror and realising that certain expressions flatter and suit your personality; others are definitely no-go. You also get to gauge how to pronounce your walk according to your dress - whether it is fun and jolly, or contained and classic. Grace is something which helps when you're born with it but it is also an attribute you learn..."
Body works
What does it take to have a body that screams, "Look at me"? Stephanie's answer is a simple one: "I do not deny myself of any food but I am careful about quantity and quality. I drink lots of water and go slow on carbs; I do not eat bars of chocolate but I allow myself my square share; I am also blessed in the salads department as I just love raw veg, which makes my food intake less of a compromise. I have to admit that in the last two years I have become more conscious of the public eye therefore I am more careful about what I ingest and how I look.
"I am required to be a full-time model with a full-time job which is not exactly related to the field - so my gym time had to give way to prepare lesson plans which take a considerable amount of time."
• Ms Zammit has been holder of the Miss World Malta title since June. She is sponsored by Remington, professionals in state-of-the art hair products. The photo shoot was held at the Myoka Spa, Radisson Golden Sands.