Chantel Daniel is an ambitious, vibrant and enthusiastic 24 year old, whose energy and passion to succeed stems from growing up in Tottenham, London, in a loving St Lucian family whose lifestyle was dictated by scarcities and personal challenges.
Raised by a single mother, along with four of her other siblings, Chantel has always maintained very happy and loving memories as a child and was never without food, warmth, laughter and love, despite their financial circumstances.
Despite coming from a large supportive family, Chantel was a rebellious teenager and left home at a young age in the pursuit of greater things. This decision led to a range of life experiences that were traumatic for Chantel as she battled depression, homelessness and poverty which put her in situations in which she was the victim of physical violence and rape.
Throughout all of this, Chantel has had the determination to stay in education and fulfil her academic capabilities and is currently a part-qualified accountant.
This dedication to education and the belief that no goal is unattainable, is what attracted Chantel to Miss Black Britain. Combining the chance to be a strong role model for Black women not just around Britain but around the globe, and most importantly she relished the idea of being able to support and highlight Plan UK’s campaign ‘Because I am a Girl’, which is the charitable initiative supported by Miss Black Britain. ‘Because I am a Girl’ highlights the importance of education for girls in developing countries, to give them a better opportunity in life, and the chance to continue their education past primary school age.
Chantel wants to win Miss Black Britain to become a role model to all people - men and women alike - in creating a social enterprise that embraces people of all backgrounds and ideas. Her main aim being to highlight to others, especially young girls, the value of respecting education and acknowledging that it is an avenue to a better life – not just in developing countries, but here in the UK as well. The first step towards cultivating life ambition is to have a positive self image and a pride in yourself and your heritage and working through the things that cannot be changed – something Miss Black Britain aims to achieve, by showcasing, celebrating and embracing black beauty and the diversity of it – something that isn’t recognised as widely as it could be in mainstream media, so is an important for young Black women to feel they have an avenue to express themselves and celebrate their heritage.
The Simone Williams fashion label has been up and running since the summer of 2004 and is based in Hoxton, London. It is a label keen to support and encourage women from all backgrounds to achieve the very best in life. By creating a one-off piece for Chantel Daniel the label hopes to encourage more young women to go for what they want in life and to recognise their true beauty within.
Notes to editor
Chantel Daniel is currently living in Enfield, EN3 - the county of Middlesex
To assist vote for her in her efforts, make sure that you text: MISSBB(
To see her in the live final, alongside the 49 other beautiful contestants, an amazing star-studded cast – host and judging panel – with a suitably celebrity-filled audience, visit www.missblackbritain.co.uk for more details on the Plan UK, the charity and the event to be held at the Mermaid Theatre on Saturday 14th November, 2009.
