Chanique Rabe wears a design from Tuyet Le’s new collection on the 11th birthday cover of Harper’s Bazaar Vietnam.
Miss Supranational 2021, Chanique Rabe, was born on 17 March 1997. The Namibian beauty pageant titleholder is also a model and fashion designer. She is the first representative from Namibia to win the Miss Supranational title. Let’s have a chat with her.
Harper’s Bazaar: Dear Chanique Rabe, you are from Windhoek, the capital of Namibia. Can you tell us something about life in your home country?
CHANIQUE RABE: Namibia’s population is only 2.5 million but home to 11 different ethnic groups, languages, and cultures. I live just outside the city on a farm where I am surrounded by wildlife all the time. If I’m lucky, a giraffe might come to stick his head by my window asking for snacks! My favorite part of Namibia is a small coastal town called Swakopmund. This is where the scorching Namib Desert, the oldest desert in the world, and the icy Atlantic ocean collide. It’s therefore seen as a natural wonder of the world!
Harper’s Bazaar: You taught sewing skills to underprivileged youth in Namibia, didn’t you?
CHANIQUE RABE: In the midst of the beautiful Northern part of Namibia are various villages. Different tribes live without running water and electricity. Being a fashion designer, I have found my passion in teaching sewing skills to underprivileged youth. With help from African Monarch Lodges, we opened a Sewing School. I have written a curriculum and taught it to the ladies from the villages. These ladies then teach sewing skills to the teenagers. These children now have a skill that they can use for the rest of their lives.
Harper’s Bazaar: Can you name some luxury fashion brands that have your heart?
CHANIQUE RABE: Louis Vuitton and Gucci. I’ve recently visited the Dior museum in Paris. The trip gave me a newfound respect and love for Dior – from their sustainable fabrics and work ethics to inclusivity, skilled artisans, and traditional craftsmanship.
Harper’s Bazaar: Being Miss Supranational 2021, what is one piece of advice for pageant girls who just started to join beauty contests?
CHANIQUE RABE: Competing in a pageant requires more work and determination than what most people would imagine. I always believe that when you do something you are passionate about, your hard work might feel less like work. It’s important to prepare yourself so that when you get there you can put everything aside and just have fun.
Harper’s Bazaar: What are your plans for the future?
CHANIQUE RABE: As I am a fashion designer and make-up artist, I am excited to live out my creativity by focusing on growing and expanding my sewing schools, as mentioned above, as well as my fashion brand. I believe in taking on every single opportunity that comes my way. Right now, I have some exciting opportunities in South Africa, which I would share with you in a soon-to-come time.
Talent: Chanique Rabe Miss Supranational 2021
Photographer: Harris Le
Stylist: Chau Phan
Outfits: Tuyet Le
Makeup: Ghy Dat Le
Hair: Vincent Tran
Producer: Cory Couture Productions with Leading Media
Location: Floating Market in Thailand
Harper’s Bazaar Vietnam
