Influencer Chantal Wiertz
Interview July 2021
Could you share with us some information of your family life?
I was born in the Netherlands and my family moved to Curaçao 10 years ago. My dad passed away 13 years ago and my mom decided to come and live here with us. I have two younger brothers that now live in the Netherlands and I have one older sister living in Curaçao.
How supportive were your parents in letting you become whom you are right now?
My parents especially my mother, were super important because my mom was always there for me when I needed it and she always told me that there is a solution for everything. I am understanding now more of the things she taught me, now that I am older and am understanding life better. I am glad of the space she is giving to me and gave me.
Anything else of your family life?
I am not married and I have no children. My family is very close to each other, especially after my father passed away and my sister and I are best friends. I talked daily with all my siblings. And as I have said, I have a special bond with my mom. And regarding my brothers the distance doesn’t change anything, we are truly a team. One of my brothers is in the marines and the other is in the army.
Could you share something of you eductional background and your experiences?
I went to High school and didn’t finish it, as I was always really focused or not at all, so my grades have been up and down and the last year I dropped out. I am now back at school and really curious about what this school year will bring to me. But school education, doesn’t define me, it does make things easier, so I don’t recommend anyone to drop out, but if it isn’t for you, it is not for you.
We have known you to be Miss Universe Curaçao and you participated in the Miss Universe contest of late. How this all started?
I started modeling when I was 10 years old. After that, when I was about 14 years old, a modeling agency started helping me to get jobs and this could be anywhere in the world, in any country. So through this modeling agency, I visited China, Singapore, Japan, Miami, Sint Martin to name a few.
In 2019 I decided to participate in this Miss Universe Beauty Pageant contest in Curaçao, because I wanted to show people that women can be beautiful, but also smart. And I am smart and intelligent. I didn’t win the contest, but I became the first runner-up and became the Miss Universe Curaçao 2020. I participate in the Miss Universe International contest 2021 representing Curaçao and the way this happened was rather funny, as I was called and told that this year (2020) there wouldn’t be a Miss Universe contest in Curaçao and they asked me if I wanted to represent Curaçao in the Miss Universe International contest 2021.
I didn’t hesitate a lot to agree, but then after I had said yes, I started feeling scared and awkward yes after 10 minutes or so, but I did it anyway and in hindsight, I feel grateful for the opportunity I was offered and the lessons I learned during the preparation and participation in this International Beauty Pageant Contest.
What are the lessons you learned from participating in this International Beauty Pageant contest?
struggled with a lot of emotions, and I felt ashamed sharing emotions at first. I learned to deal with emotions thanks to the opportunity I got to be coached by Soul Garden Curaçao, Haydee Hermans. I was taught to deal with my emotions much better and accepted being myself. I learned that there is nothing wrong with being myself.
Any emotion I feel, be it shame or any other emotion I might feel, is telling me something and by going through this coaching process, basically, step by step it builds me up, to accept myself for who I am. I now have much higher self-confidence and I master my emotions better.
What were some of the take aways to participating at the Miss Universe International Pageant contest?
Participating during those ten days was something else, it was an amazing experience and I went through this all just by being myself “no matter what”. There were representatives of 74 countries in an era of a ranging world pandemic, with the scrutiny of all the mass press. Under these circumstances, we were all united and that was a very empowering experience.
What is your BIG WHY or driving motivation to be whom you are right now?
I don’t ask myself “WHY”, I ask myself “WHY not do it”. I am deliberately planning to take a step to go to a bigger virtual platform with Equine. Even though I am close to the end of my 2021 Miss Universe Curaçao reign, my presence and promotion of Equine, will not end. It is what I am doing, as I have a message that I want to bring out with my platform. I will work to create even more substance and continue to share my core message. Equine is a form of Assisted Therapy using horses as a therapy.
What are your plans for the coming years and when do you consider that you have been successful in your personal and business/professional life, let us say 5 years from now?
It is all about a mindset. With a goal in mind, you go for it with dedication and discipline.
My goal is the ranch with our 6 horses. We have the ranch as a family, that is my mom, sister, and myself. We have our horses for the children and offer equine horse therapy. I will be working for myself and my family. If you built something like that and work on it with dedication, you will attract more people to come to Curaçao and visit the ranch I believe.
What are the challenges that you are dealing with? And how are you dealing with these different challenges you confront?
Coming back from the pageant contest and being the best version of myself representing Curaçao, now that it’s over, will be a weird feeling. I use to be buried at home and then because of the miss Universe Curaçao work, I was always working, always away from home at times a lot. So I will have more time now.
How do you deal with it?
To be honest and not give up, giving myself space and time, because it’s struggle.
Do you use your inner voice to evaluate when dilemma’s show up? How does that work for you?
Well, as I look back, I can now say that my self-talk tended to be very negative and I tended to be hard on myself. Haydee Hermans from Soul Garden enabled me to change that. I am deeply grateful for that. I now have an uplifting, elevated, healthy relationship with myself. Whenever a situation shows up, I will say, don’t panic, stay calm, and think. When I have my “me-time” for example when I spend time with the children with my horses, I can be who I can be. The children are honest and they never lie.
How are you trying also to keep up with your personal knowledge and skills levels?
Once I am busy working out, I will listen to podcasts. I read whatever there is to read, follow the news as well and my sister and my mom also help me to stay updated on everything.
What are your strengths?
Being dedicated, disciplined, being honest and I like to keep things straight. Honesty is super important in any relationship.
Do you have hobbies or interests that you are also passionate about?
Cooking, baking and spending time with my animals, and spending my time with the children.
If you as Chantal would meet a stranger in the bus (let say in Miami or London) and they would ask you to introduce yourself what would you answer?
Hello my name is Chantal, I am from Curaçao and I am 22 years. I moved to Curaçao 10 years ago and I like to tell them a little bit about Curaçao.
How would you describe Chantal in one word or one sentence?
“I am unique. On my self, for my self”.
“You can celebrate your uniqueness” is my slogan on my platform. See my Instagram and Facebook page.
Whom are the persons that have inspired you the most in your career?
There are so many people that inspired me to do better, so I have not one particular person. I would say my family and some friends. Furthermore some people I met during the pageant contest.
What is a trait that is still work in progress?
Insecurity my inner voice tends to go back to the negative, it is awkward and as I reflect on this, I conclude that I have nothing to be insecure about.
What was a defining moment in your life?
When I realized that is there is only one person, that can let you make it or not and that is yourself. The realization of that insight was a defining moment.
Where do you want to be 10 years from now with your career?
Ten years is a long time, I am not sure. I am just going to focus on myself and what I want, and as I move forward step by step it will become more clearer, figuring out what I want and don’t want, like everybody else is doing.
What would you want your Loved Ones, family, friends and others to say about you let’s say 20 years from now?
They are happy with the person that I am.
What makes you stay optimistic about the future of Curaçao as we are in the middle of a worldwide pandemic, recession and in the middle of growing environmental challenges because of the global warming consquences?
Knowing that we can decide our future, I can choose to be happy. I can decide to let things get to me or not, it’s my choice. Nothing can define me as a person, only me. So I believe with this mindset the future of Curaçao is bright and more people are taking notice of this mindset.
Connect with Chantal Wiertz
– Insta
– Facebook
– Chantal Wiertz – Miss Universe Curaçao 2020
One of the 250 Influencers of Curaçao
Chantal Wiertz is a smart, young, beautiful lady who has grown steeply over the last 2 years. By courageously overcoming the limiting beliefs she held beforehand, she took up the challenge to represent Curaçao in the Miss Universe pageant contest. Her participation in the preparation and participation in the Miss Universe Pageant Contest itself has helped her leap forged. Her increased mastery over her emotions stands out and whatever un elevated emotions come up. Her growth has meant becoming her authentic self, accepting herself as she is. Her life’s slogan is: “Be your authentic self no matter what”. In her plans, her dedication to her continuous development and also to Equine Therapy stands out. Coming from a close-knit family, that is a real team, helps her to stand firmly into whatever the world will bring her. For all these reasons, we love and respect Chantal and consider her one of the 250 influencers of the island representing the healing sector.
Look at the list of the Influencers we have interviewed or reported on, up to now.