TIA SEALY IS MORE than a pretty face and a nice body. The 24-year-old mum of daughter Nala, three years old, has had to face some stumbling blocks in life to get where she is now. The 2015 Banks Calendar Girl, a past student of the Ursuline Convent, said when she got pregnant at 21 years old, one of her lifelong dreams was dashed.
“I wanted to enter Miss Barbados World and then found out I was pregnant and because of the rules of the pageant I could not enter.”
Another disappointment was the disapproval of her parents about her pregnancy. “They both were disappointed but my mum (Gina Sealy) more so than my dad (John Sealy) . . . . My mum got over it quicker than he did.”
Tia said that while she had to put some of her plans on hold she is proud of being a mum.
“I used to dance in Louise Woodvine, Dancin’ Africa and Dance Strides. I was even into theatre and had a one-liner part in Keeping Up With The Jones movie,” she said laughing.
Tia is no stranger to pageants or modelling. At age 16 she entered and won Miss Barbados International. The Banks Calendar Girl, though, was a dream of hers.
“I have always wanted to enter it. I realised it gave you exposure and it was a good brand to represent.”
Tia had her work cut out as she still had the baby weight from Nala’s birth.
“I knew my goal and stuck to it. With the help of Doddy Dodson as my personal trainer I went to the gym Mondays to Friday, after work and from 8 p.m. till 11 p.m., I trained. Along with my diet I got to the weight I wanted. I wanted to win so I put in the work.”
A special part of the competition that is still dear to Tia’s heart is the charity she was assigned. For the first time in the 20 years of the Banks Calendar Girl contest, a charity was assigned to the final eight, and Tia was given Thelma Vaughan Memorial Home.
‘I am still involved in the charity. I visited them recently and they were so happy to see me. I have always liked the idea of giving back.”
During the competition, Tia found out that the home needed two laptops. With a written proposal, the former employee at Starcom Network went to Trans Tech.
The company was so impressed they gave her three laptops and she also raised $4 900 for the home to help with therapy.
“My mum was also instrumental in helping me raise the funds. She owns her own company so I had her expertise in that area.”
Speaking of her mum, she said she has strong women in her family and they all share a close bond.
“My mum and grandmothers dote on Nala and she is a daddy’s girl too. Getting pregnant was a small stumbling block but I am back on my feet.”
To young ladies she says, “Getting pregnant changes you a lot. More responsibilities. A lot of things I had to put on back-burner but that doesn’t stop you from being successful and going after different dreams. Know your goals. Nothing in life is easy. Try to blank out negativity.”
She says even though Nala is only three years old she has been instilling good values in her.
“I always tell her to walk with her head high and always remember reputation goes a long way. I tell her carry yourself with pride.”
Tia said if Nala wanted to enter pageants she wouldn’t say no.
“My mum wasn’t into modelling but she never discouraged me from my dreams.”
Tia says her family has her back at every turn.
“My mum is a strong lady, very genuine and giving and I would love to have all those values. My brother is my bodyguard and a great person. I am hoping to end up with a man that possesses the same qualities as my brother. My dad always pushes me, even when I don’t want to. My grandmother is my biggest fan. They are always there to even help out with Nala.”
Tia said when she wanted to enter the Banks Calendar Girl competition she was told it was a low class contest, beneath her.
“I think that was because of the fiasco with the swimsuits at the one before I entered. But I said that one blemish cannot spoil the whole thing.”
Tia said when she entered she had her swimsuit done by Lucine, a spin-off of a design of one worn by Bajan superstar Rihanna.
“It was conservative, yet sexy,” she said.
On the night of the semi-finals she was virtually unknown, with a small group of friends shouting her name.
“Because of my complexion I stood out,” said the girl from Newton, Christ Church. “Many people thought I was white from overseas, but I am 100 per cent Barbadian and proud of it.”
Tia said when she made the final 8 she was excited and was happy when she heard the crowd screaming her name. She wasn’t nervous at the finals, even with the question and answer segment. “I was used to it.”
The hospitality representative at Sandals Resort said she can’t describe how she felt when she won the title.
“It was overwhelming. I was very happy. To be on the iconic poster is a dream come through.”
Tia, the brand ambassador for the beer for a year, shot the calendar at Bathsheba and said during the hour-and-a-half shoot, a bus passed with some schoolchildren.
“The bus turned around and came back and the children pushed their heads through the windows and screamed out, Tia, Tia, Tia,” she said laughing, noting that she was surprised they knew her seeing their young ages.
Tia hopes her story is inspiring to other young women: “Never say never. Try to leave a powerful and positive footprint.”