Hungary is not really a country that you have to watch for at Miss World. But remember when they pulled surprises at Miss Universe 2006 and 2008? Well, Jazmin Dammak, Miss Hungary Universe 2008 and Miss Universe 2008 semi-finalist, is the first runner-up of Szilvia Freire, Miss Hungary World 2008. It is logical then to think that Szilvia can equally make a splash at Miss World and surprise us all. A wee bit of scrutiny will allow us to examine Szilvia and her chances. She has strong African connections since her father is from Mozambique making her unique among the ranks of Hungarian beauties. Will she eventually triumph in the continent that she holds dear to her heart?
Please describe yourself, where you grew up and your hobbies.
I was born into a multicultural family. My mother is Hungarian; my father is from Mozambique with Portuguese parents. Until the age of 9, I lived in this African country where I go back every year, since my father and my two half-sisters still live there. At present I live in Hungary, in Budapest independently, but family is very important for me – I speak and meet my mum, stepfather (who I look on as a father), my two other sisters and my grandparents on daily basis.
I would describe myself as a diverse person, who is very interested and open to the world. I like to study, I already have an economist diploma and now I am working on attaining the second one. I fluently speak three languages: Hungarian, English and Portuguese and understand French a little. I am very social and I need people’s company and attention, and aside from that the love for animals is also a characteristic of mine. The positive attitude, patience and tolerance that I gained can be attributed to the various places I lived through my life and it has always help me on my way. I am the type of person, who is not saddened by negative criticisms, but I learn from them and this way I try to get closer to my aims. I always go for them!
I really find pleasure in painting on canvas. My favorite themes are the African savannas and animals. My other passion is texas hold’em poker, naturally, just as a hobby. I love nature; I am fascinated by beautiful landscapes. I have high respect to different cultures, thus I love traveling, making excursions and meeting new people.
Sports are an everyday activity for me. I put much emphasis on healthy lifestyle, which can protect both appearance and soul.
What is your fashion style?
I like clothes, but I would not say that I follow only one trend. I believe that one has to wear the appropriate item of clothing on the appropriate part of the body to look good. I prefer usually the feminine, more classic items, but, of course, I will not appear in full make-up and high heels in an Eastern party. I also like the more comfortable jeans and T-shirt combination as well. I wear this if I just have a walk or go shopping. But when I am presented as a beauty queen, I always show my best in perfect make-up, dresses and high heel shoes. I like vivid colors, peculiar materials, textiles and I consider accessories also important.
Can you share to us your beauty secret?
I pay attention on my meals, I train myself, do sports, I drink 2-3 litres of water each day and I take some vitamin C next to it. Besides, I am usually very cheerful. It hardly changes, so I smile a lot.
How were you selected as Miss Hungary World? Describe the selection process.
The process for finding Miss World Hungary consists of several steps. In the first step, 600 girls were chosen out of 2000 candidates, who registered via internet with photos and their biodata. The 600 were called to appear in front of the 6-member jury, who chose 80 from them for an interview. Then 23 where chosen to go to a 2-week-long preparation camp, at the end of which only 21 girls remained. We had to say goodbye to 2 candidates there, who the jury found the least appropriate for the queen position. The final was held with a fascinating and spectacular TV show, with a new jury, who gave scores in 3 different categories: swimwear, evening gown, and after these, the 5 ‘best’ finalists had to answer the jury’s questions live, in the TV show. I am very proud to be the winner. It is one of my biggest dreams that came true.
What qualities do you think that will enable you to win the Miss World 2008 crown?
I am very social and sympathetic; I make connections easily with other people. My diverse knowledge in foreign languages and my childhood life, which I could spend -thanks to my parents - in several parts of the world are also some of my edge. Life has taught me patience and tolerance. Besides, my secure family background has taught me respect and how to strive for my aims. I am a positive person, who is very self-confident and has an independent mind.
What is the most interesting or unique experience that has happened to you?
I help the work of NEM ADOM FEL Foundation, whose mission is to make the disabled and handicapped people be accepted in the society, integrate them and help their welfare. In November with their partners and those who they work for, the Foundation will have a palatial charity concert in one of Hungary’s biggest concert arenas to collect money for Transylvanian orphans. I find the phenomenon exemplary and exceptional that people who also need help and support to succeed in the society help their healthy fellow-beings to make their life better. Lately, the most unique and interesting experience for me was to meet the society of disabled and handicapped people and learn how precious and loving individuals they are, who are absolutely able to produce valuable work and give lots of love and joy to everyone around. I would like this message to reach to lots and lots of people in the world, because if these people can give huge and endless amount of love to others, why couldn’t we, the healthy ones, give just as much as well?
What would you say to some people who think that beauty pageants are outdated?
They have this opinion, because they do not know how these pageants work. In many people’s mind there is a very simple picture about these events, where beautiful, but bit “weak-headed” girls speak about world-peace. At present, other values have also come to the front, the personality of the girls is very important too, they have to be able to speak in front of even a large audience, and they need to be intelligent. Not to mention the motto of Miss World Organization: “Beauty with purpose”, according to which it is among the Queen’s duties to help the needy and to fight for good aims. Beauty pageants are not outdated, they are very topical indeed. On one hand, beauty never goes out of fashion, all times have their idols and trends and beauty is a thing people have always cared for. On the other hand, just as I have mentioned, pageants do not search for empty beauty, but look for the inner values, harmony, which became an effective tool to reach grand and charitable aims.
How would you describe Hungary to the rest of Miss World 2008 delegates?
When Hungary is mentioned, everyone thinks of the goulash soup and Puskas Öcsi, but there are hundreds of other reasons to see our country. Hungary has long and very interesting historical past, thus there are many sights in the country. We have many wonderful spas, thermal pools, rich wine-countries, fascinating barren plateaus, where the remains of our horse-riding past can be seen. UNESCO has declared 8 points of Hungary part of the World Heritage, which is a huge number considering the size of our country. I live in the heart of the Capital, Budapest, besides the River Danube, which runs through the centre of the city. This is such a vivid place to live with diverse opportunities for the youth to go out and also with lots of significant and fascinating sights to see, such as the Buda-Castle, the House of Parliament, which is just along the opposite side of the river, St Stephan's Basilica and the Synagogue in Dohány Street, which is the second biggest shul [synagogue] in the whole world.
Finally, I would like to say a few words about the people: I think Hungary is the country of creative people! Did you know that Hungarian scientists have invented Vitamin C, matches, ball-point pen, helicopter, motor trains, contact lens, sight remedial glasses, color TV, milk sterilization, jet engine, glass concrete, analogous computers, Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel…and I could list them endlessly.
What is your motto in life?
The motto that suits me the best: Venture the impossible to reach the possible. By Hermann Hesse.
Lastly, a message to the web visitors of Missosology.Org….
It was great honor for me to fulfill your request and it was my pleasure to answer your questions. I would like these interviews to be widely read and I hope that other people will see how diverse and interesting girls the representatives of Miss World are. They all deserve attention. I am grateful of all enquirers who would like to know more about me and I definitely hope to have raised your interest towards my beloved country. Hungary is the place everyone should see! [Smiles]
Special Thanks to Rother Anett of Magyarország Szépe Kft for facilitating the interview and for providing us the beautiful photos of Szilvia.
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