My name is Julia Roquigny, I am 20 and I was born in New Caledonia where I grew up. I have a 15-year old sister. I am Indonesian and jJapanese on my mother's side and French on my father's side. Most of the family on my mother's side live in New Caledonia and most of they family on my father's side live in France. I go visit them regularly.
I am Miss New Caledonia 2015's first runner up and Miss Earth New Caledonia . I have a master in sciences of Life, Earth and Environment.
2. How did you become interested in pageants?
I have been interested in pageants since I can remember! As a little girl I used to watch pageants, most notably Miss New Caledonia and Miss France because we could watch them on TV with my mother and my sister. Every year, I follow those two pageants and most recently I started to pay attention to international beauty pageants thanks to the Internet.
3. How does it feel to represent New Caledonia in Miss Earth 2015?
I feel so honored and proud. It's an incredible opportunity to represent my island at the Miss Earth pageant with 90 other girls. The most important thing is that it is also the very first time that my country is competing at this pageant. I love my island and showcasing it to the world is an immense joy for me
4. Give three adjectives that your family would describe you.
Gentle, approachable, persevering !
5. Tell us about one life-changing experience in your life.
I spent 6 months in Quebec, Canada for my 2nd year at University. This experience was so rich and it taught me a lot. It was the first time I lived abroad on my own, the first time I studied in a foreign country, there were new ways to learn, to study - a new country, a new culture - and I made myself a lot of new friends. I learned how to live and to manage myself on my own and face all the difficulties as a concerned adult.
6. The 16th-century English philosopher and author Francis Bacon once said, "The best part of beauty is that which no picture can express." Do you agree with this statement?
Completely! Francis Bacon is talking about what we would call inner beauty. For me, a person's inner beauty is what will make her or him shine, as well as qualities like a good heart, being attentive to others and having passion within. These are things no picture can express but a picture can catch what the eyes of a beautiful person within can express such as kindness, goodness and wisdom, and this is why I also agree with the saying, "The eyes are the windows to the soul".
7. Name three things that you would never do.
Jump into the void. Eat some animals. Hurt someone
8. Name one of your strengths and one of your weaknesses.
My strength is my integrity and my weakness is my indecisiveness.
9. If you were to make a time capsule to represent life today, what would you put in it?
I would put picture of the people I love because they represent what my life is today, I will also put all my most precious souvenirs. I would also put a plastic bottle and a plastic bag, in the hope that future generation wouldn't know what it is, meaning that we have finally managed to get rid of it. I would also add water in a glass jar as water is life and an important part of us and is becoming rare unfortunately. I would add seeds of organic plants because they create or refine the oxygen we breathe.
Infinite memory! I would love to be able to memorize everything and know everything, the good and the bad.
11. What makes New Caledonia unique compared to the other Pacific islands?
What makes New Caledonia unique compared to the other Pacific Islands is its diversity. Our landscapes, unique biodiversity and it's people. It is a blend of cultures. You can find a mix of ethnicities, communities, a wonderful mix!
12. What do you think is the biggest environmental problem facing New Caledonia and what can you do about it?
The biggest issue we have to deal with is waste management. This has repercussions on many levels, on our fauna, on our flora, on our health, on our ecosystems. As an ambassador to the environment, I work on making my people aware of these environmental issues. I participate in projects with local organisations in New Caledonia. I teach my fellow citizens to be eco-responsible and eco-friendly and just to be a good example.
We have to make people understand that it is easy! People can think that it is difficult because you have to change your habits, that your life is going to be disturbed but it is not! It is a small act for the well-being of the planet and all things living. Every small act counts. We must keep on showing the risks than can happen or in some cases are already happening if we continue to live as we are. We have to show a good example, clean up the mangroves, plant trees, visit schools to teach young kids.
14. What makes you happy?
I love being with people with a positive attitude and with people I love. I am also happy to make people happy. I also get great satisfaction when my hard work is rewarded.
15. Why do you want to be Miss Earth 2015?
The title of Miss Earth is prestigious. Miss Earth representd our Mother Earth, our nourishing planet and allows us to live. Being its ambassador would be an honor and I would dedicate myself 200% in protecting our planet.
Julie's Favorites
Singer/Musician – Norah Jones
Actor - Christian Bale
Actress – Meryl Streep
Color – Blue
Fashion Designer – Elie Saab
Perfume – Alien by Thierry Mugler
Flower – Hibiscus
Writer – Molière
Book – Tristan and Iseult
Movie – The Theory of everything
Quote – In order to be irreplaceable one must always be different, Coco Chanel
Critical Beauty wishes the best of luck to Julia in Miss Earth 2015!
And thank you to Heairii Robinson for facilitating the interview!