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"Rosemary was a joy to work with, exuding beauty, confidence and professionalism. As one of the faces of Sleek, her image has been used worldwide and is heading a successful Sleek Campaign
in Ghana for the country's 50th Independence Anniversary. Rosemary is an ideal candidate and spokesperson for any brand/cause; she has proven this in the past and no doubt will continue to prove this in the future..."
UGPulse Promo
Taniqua Bennett
International Marketing Manager, Sleek Cosmetics
In the beauty pageant industry, few beauty queens are remembered for their active involvement in charity work. Even fewer are able to market themselves as brands. Yet Rosemary Chileshe, Miss Zambia 2007 has achieved that. In the wake of Oluchi and Liya Kibede, her face is slowly gaining recognition in the fashion and modelling industry. She is the face of Sleek Cosmetics, the face of Mother Africa Fashion Label, and was the cover girl for MIMI Magazine's
April 2006 spread.
Rosemary Chileshe.
In 2003 Chileshe, a commercial property surveyor, was crowned Miss Zambia UK. She then represented Zambia in 2004 at the Miss World Pageant and continued to represent her country as well in the 2007 Miss Universe pageant. Her commitment towards charity work through organizations such as the Red Cross, UNICEF, House of Hope and many more organisations has made her gain recognition and win awards such as the GAB Award (Gathering of Africa's Best) in recognition of her HIV/AIDS charity work. Rosemary is officially the second person after Nelson Mandela from the southern region of Africa to win this award. Together with Zambian fashion Designer Carl Ellis, she co-founded the ROC Foundation, a charity aimed at raising HIV/AIDS awareness. She has started community schools in Zambia as well.
Rosemary receives the GAB Award.
Chileshe is such an amazing amalgam of things, that one wonders how she has the time for everything. She has so many multi-faceted dimensions; she is a property surveyor, an award winner, a beauty queen, a fashion model (runway and print), a motivational speaker, a Sunday school teacher, a choir member and a charity founder. I had the chance to meet her in early September at the Miss East Africa UK Pageant in London, UK where I was one of the judges.
Rosemary Chileshe.
Jane: Alright Rosemary,
I read your profile and you are a busy woman. You are a Miss Zambia Universe 2007, you are a model, sing, excel in charity work and represent your country Zambia well. In
short, you are a role model for many African women...
Rosemary:
Thank you.
You and Carl Ellis, a fashion designer, are the founders of The "R.O.C Foundation" charity, which aims to raise awareness of HIV/AIDS. How did you two meet?
Carl and I met at the Miss Commonwealth Beauty Contest in June 2006. Incidentally, he is Zambian just like me. Through our initial meeting, we realised that we had so many similarities. We both shared areas in life that seemed to fit in together, almost like a jigsaw. For example, he is fashion designer and I am a model. On top of that, we both had the passion and drive to work together for the good of our country. Shortly after, the prospect of Miss Universe came up and we took it from there.
You are also the face of the Mother Africa Fashion Label by Carl Ellis. How did that come about?
From brainstorming a few ideas, we were both inspired by each other's drive and our ideas of "the next big thing" grew from there. The concept of Mother Africa came up with three fundamental ingredients. Myself as the model, Carl Ellis as the designer and the fact that we are both from Zambia. He thought, "why not launch a label centred on you?" Shortly after, the possibility of Miss Universe came up. The rest was history as they say. Everything fell into place, more ideas were coming through and the potential for cross selling was evident. I became the appointed delegate for Zambia; Carl became the appointed National Director for Zambia in this year's Miss Universe. The Mother Africa Fashion Label became fully fledged as a fashion umbrella, thereby sponsoring my whole wardrobe and the label called A Rose for Zambia was born. Do you see the connection?
Yes I do.
The whole partnership would not have worked, had we not been the two people in this specific partnership. I call it a blessing from God, which happened in this time. With his blessing, everything is structured to evolve.
Rosemary models for the Mother Africa Fashion Label.
Tell me more about your HIV/AIDS charity work, specifically about The "R.O.C Foundation.
HIV/AIDS is an issue affecting all of us although it is more highlighted and spoken of where Africa is concerned. The ROC Foundation (Charity aimed at raising HIV/AIDS Awareness) was a brainchild of both Carl and I. With our shared passion for bringing our motherland Zambia on the HIV/AIDS awareness map, we thought, why not? We have supported other charities. I have a GAB - Gathering of Africa's Best Award in that honour. We still aim to continue to support other charities. One of The ROC Foundation's aim for the year is to be the driver behind delivering financial and any other need to other existing charities that may not have a lot of financial backing, with the initial focal point being in Zambia. There are many charities like that. The work already started shortly after Miss Universe. In June 2007, both Carl and I took a trip back home in search of that beneficiary charity. Keep updated on - www.therocfoundation.com
Tell me more about the Kalingalinga HIV/AIDS orphanage in Lusaka, Zambia. Uganda has/had a serious problem of many Aids orphans. Does Zambia have the same problem?
I believe the majority of countries in Africa need continued assistance in reducing the number of AIDS Orphans. Kalingalinga Orphanage centre, which houses HIV/AIDS Orphans and chaired by Mama Kankasa was a charity adopted during my reign as Miss Zambia UK.
I have noticed that you are very dedicated towards charities that are especially children-based. You hosted the 'Staying Alive for Zambia: Inspire a Child', a fundraising event in aid of HIV/AIDS orphans, which was your version of Live Aid. You also laid the Foundation Stone with Zambia's First Lady (Mrs Maureen Mwanawasa) to commence the construction of the House of Hope for AIDS orphans. What is your special connection to the African child?
The African child, like any child is special. I am an African child as well as a Sunday school teacher who deals with and loves children. Children are very vulnerable. It takes a "one of a kind" personality to interact with a child at their level, yet simultaneously at your own level so that you are able to form connections and be a learning platform for one other. Education as we know it is a fundamental process for all of us and in all of that, understanding is key. It is my passion to set children on the right path at an earlier age; after all, they are our future leaders of tomorrow!
Do you have children of your own?
Not yet, some day I will do, when everything is set in motion, by God's grace.
Rosemary Chileshe.
Now on to your modelling. In 2004, you were selected to represent Zambia at the Miss World 2004 Pageant in China. What was that experience like?
The experience was one of a kind! To get a full picture of how that was, please read the interview conducted after Miss World on my Links Page - www.rosemarychileshe.com. In summary, it was a fantastic opportunity to visit, experience and embrace China, all in one setting. The girls were amazing and I bonded with the majority of them. I had the rare opportunity of sharing that stage with Lionel Richie as he sang "You are once, twice, three times a lady." That does not happen every day. I also got the opportunity to be driven in my own sports cars. It was a different world all together.
Talking about Lionel Richie, you also had a chance to appear with him on the front page of the Miss World website and you were always among the top 10 contestants selected for special appearances. I know you did not win that but you certainly made an impact. What do you think set you apart?
Lionel Richie had a saying in which girls, hence countries he wanted to spend extra time with away from the other 107 girls. He chose 10 girls (me being one of them) - amazing. It was an opportunity to sell Zambia even more. With regard to other impact made, I believe my down to earth personality won the hearts of many and my humbleness set me apart. I did not need to say I am the most beautiful one. Beauty is from within. You only see it when it shines through.
Rosemary is a co-founder of the R.O.C. Foundation.
You were also the representative for Zambia at this years Miss Universe in Mexico. What tenacity I must say! How did that go?
Miss Universe was yet another amazing experience. I am a go-getter, I do not believe in "I will do this and then that, it's all words" theory. I am a doer and believe in actions. From having done Miss World in 2004, I gave myself a disciplined goal; that the next beauty pageant I would do would be Miss Universe. In my eyes, that is how the hierarchy should be. The opportunity came up shortly after Miss World. Unfortunately, I was not ready for it. I needed to reflect on what I had learnt at Miss World and what I could do differently at the next hurdle and most importantly, I needed it to be the right time, God's time. In May 2007, that was my time. Unlike my preparation for Miss World, I had a driving hand in how I would get ready for Miss Universe. I spent a lot of time and efforts, together with Carl Ellis of Mother Africa to get us where we needed to be. The girls were amazing and Mr Donald Trump was lovely. I am in contact with the majority of the girls; do not be surprised if you see some of us doing a "uniting front campaign"!
You also entered the Face of Sleek 2005 Model Search and you are now their spokesperson. How did that happen?
Rosemary is the face of Sleek Cosmetics.
Sleek cosmetics were running a model search in 2005. They got all the girls they needed from that however they were still searching for that final piece to their puzzle. I came in at a later stage. My photos were submitted and everything went from there. I did the campaign with two other girls to represent different shades, etc. One of them was Noella Coursaris (the Congolese model), she has done pretty well for herself. I see a lot of her drive within myself.
I know that Iman is one of your role models in the fashion and modelling world.
Nevertheless, who are your other role models?
My role models are endless. Our heavenly father is the first; the lord Jesus is my shaper, my family, my friends, my partner and everyone who crosses my path because everything happens for a reason. I always learn something from everyone. There is always a lesson to take from everything - whether positive or negative, at the end of the day, it is what you take out of something or a given situation.
I noticed that you have made many television appearances as well. Are you headed towards the movie industry too?
Movies? Absolutely. I have a script in mind, with the right contact and when I am ready to give more time to it, it will be a definite done deal. Rosemary Chileshe is a brand. Keep a close eye on her.
You also sing for your choir. Any plans to take that to a higher level?
I sing soprano at the New Apostolic Church, I absolutely love it and I praise God for such a blessing. The feeling you get from singing hymns is outstanding. My next level is to be in the orchestra. At the beginning of the year, I signed up for the North West. However, I had to pull out with so much travel for Miss Universe as well in promoting my charity back home in Zambia. In God's time, I will get back to that place again.
You were at the Miss East Africa UK pageant where we met. Have you ever visited East Africa? Any plans to do charity work there, perhaps with Miss East Africa UK, Maureen Nyakaira?
I have not actually been to East Africa, however I long to pay it a visit one day. I have heard such great stories about it, from having done Miss Universe 2007 in Mexico, I made a great friend in Miss Tanzania Universe - Flaviana Matata and I also have a great friend in the current Miss Kenya UK - Carolina Nyakila. As far as charity work, in collaboration with my charity "The ROC Foundation", work will be done with Miss East Africa UK. The possibilities are endless.
Any advice for young girls aspiring to become beauty queens?
I am actually advising quite a number of beauty queens/models on a daily basis. It is amazing how many queries I get via my website - www.rosemarychileshe.com. My one key point to give is - Never be blinded with the thought that wearing a crown gives you instant fame. It does not. You shape the crown into what it becomes. During your reign, you give it the meaning it bears to onlookers - you never change as a person. If you are a driven person, you will continue to be, with or without a crown. If at the end of the crown you end up hidden or stop doing the work you promised or showed to want to do during your contest, then you never really desired to be anything more than just be famous. Overall, always remain focused and never lose sight of your goals.
I always ask this because the guys will want to know. Are you single?
Automatically, this answer could be started with "unfortunately I am not single", but then that would give an indication that I am not fulfilled in my current situation. I am not single, I have a long term, loving partner and I thank God for him.
If you could invite five people that you admire, dead or alive, to dinner who would they be?
1) The lord Jesus Christ, it would be an amazing experience to be in his presence, to be blessed with his teachings,
2) My late Aunt Doreen, she was such as inspirational woman, always taught me to lead life with such high class that she knew I was destined to have, but am reassured she is pleased with how I am progressing
3) Nelson Mandela because he has continued to live for what he believes in and was prepared to suffer the consequences,
4) Maya Angelou - having read her contribution in "Black Women Writers", she is a woman of such inspiration, having dinner with her and listening to her powerful words would take me to another level in my life and finally but not least
5) Michael Jackson; who would not want to meet him? Such talent, beyond words. In my eyes, he will always be Michael.
Rosemary Chileshe.
What books are you reading at the moment?
My preference is varied, something for every occasion. Right now, I am reading a novel by Clare Naylor and Mimi Hare called "The First Assistant." It talks about Hollywood, the whole red carpet, launch parties scenario. Religiously, I have just finished reading "The First Chapters of Life" by a blessed American writer Daryl Worcester. I feel so honoured that he sent it out to me, having come across me via my website. His books talks about how we should place God as the leader in our lives. Both books are very inspirational in their own credibility.
What is next for you?
With the seeds already "planted" in my charity, fashion, property etc. My initial plan is to bring the ROC Foundation to the focal point. Together with Carl Ellis, we are "pencilling in", upcoming fundraising events and campaigns in collaboration with celebrities in their own right, worldwide. I will also be doing a "Kate Moss" working on my label under the Mother Africa Fashion Umbrella, stay tuned.
For more information on Rosemary Chileshe, please go to
http://www.rosemarychileshe.com/profile.php
www.therocfoundation.com
Rosemary To be at Buckingham Palace today - 12 NOVEMBER 2007.
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