Did you know that our own Miss Costa Rica Sims 2010 Nisa Constantine is a boating enthusiast? I sure didn't. But she rattled off the names of the boats she owns like a pro.

"The marina in Costa Rica was what got me interested. That and all this open water we have. I have the Ellison Moray, an Apolon speedboat, the Juli Gothly Costa Rica Ad Astra, the Gothly JG44, and I have two Flying Fizzes; the 1.0 and the 2.0 and I have my eye on a couple of Trudeaus. LOL"

Nisa would classify herself as a beginner but she's taking sailing lessons has a goal to move to an island parcel here in Costa Rica surrounded by open water with room for a little marina. "I want to really get good and try the SL America's Cup. I just moved from the rainforest back to the beach right on the open water."

Sailing aside, this beauty was on Second Life for eight months before venturing into the world of fashion. "I was probably the best dressed noob you'll ever see! Redgrave Skin, Moody Shoes and I lived in LeeZu LOL! I was also the PA to the CEO of Black Soul Rhythms Radio and eventually a DJ for that station with my own weekly show." Nisa hosts her own show Saturdays from 5 to 7 pm slt and is renowned for her DJ skills. From radio to fashion seems a bit of a leap.

"I had a friend who designed clothes and owned a clothing store. She needed a model for her store vendors. She thought I was pretty so she asked me. All I had to do was hop on a pose-stand so I said 'Why not?' Then she asked me to walk in her fashion show and I was clueless! So I did some research and asked around and signed up for classes at SuperElite. I learned what I needed to learn so I didn't make a fool of myself on that runway. And clueless, lucky me had Mimmi Boa, the previous MVW, as one of my instructors."

Though the show was a success and Nisa really enjoyed the experience, her real life listeners were calling and she found her radio show more popular than ever so she returned to focus on that. It wasn't long though before she was roped back into the industry.

"I met a model named Lifing Krasner who also taught at an academy. She took me under her wing and taught me everything she knew. She thought I had what it took and she encouraged me to at least try. I walked in the academy's grad show and Mallory Luke, then the owner of Opium was in the audience. Now Opium wasn't hiring at the time, but she sent me an IM and told me she wanted me to join her agency. I wasn't so clueless that I didn't recognize that opportunity so I took it.

"A week or 2 later I was chatting with Gian and he suggested that I enter the Miss Costa Rica Sims pageant. He told me it would be fun and I didn't need to be a professional model. So I wrote up my entry, attached a couple of photos and sent it in never thinking I would win."

But win she did. When her name was called, Nisa was astounded.

"I tell you I almost died when they announced my name. I was so nervous! I just wanted to get through the pageant, praying that the lag didn't win, praying my prims would attach and my poses would work. I knew I wasn't going to win - there were some beautiful women competing and they were seasoned models, not noobs like me LOL.

"I remember them calling Flo's [Florentine Rau] name as the 1st runner up and I'm waiting for them to announce Imani as the winner and I'm in IM's with my SL sister making plans to find a party. I was sitting in bed with my oldest daughter half watching a movie when she started screaming! I asked her if she had lost her mind and she's yelling 'Nisa won! Nisa won!' I almost passed out. First thing that went through my mind was 'OMG!! I have to do MVW!' It took everything in me not to IM Gian and tell him they made a mistake!"

Even though initially she was jazzed to be entered into MVW 2010, the reality of it hit her quick. "I was TERRIFIED! I didn't even know who Frolic Mills was until the CR Pageant. [We won't hold this against her, right guys?] Once I found out I thought he'd take one look at me and buzz Gian and tell him he better go back to the drawing board!"

Surrounded by 23 finalists, some of the most beautiful and experienced models in Second Life, Nisa kept her grace as the top ten finalists were called for MVW 2010. She made the top ten.

"I didn't believe it during the pageant. Devine had to send me an IM saying 'Girl get your butt out here! They called your name!'"

With a solid support system behind her, Nisa accomplished more than she thought she ever would. "I had my best friend in SL/RL in my corner. iwan told me everyday 'Nisa, look at yourself through my eyes...see what I see and you'll do great.' I stayed in Gian's IM's and he was true to form 'Nisa, you'll be just fine.' I always believe in giving 100% and doing my absolute best at everything but I was out of my element. I had actually won the privelege of representing THE Costa Rica Sims so I had to bring my A game. I just didn't think I had one. Mallory Luke and Lifing Krasner both gave me a good talking to and I got my act together."

"Looking back now I don't think it was a mistake any longer. I may not have been an accomplished, seasoned model but I'm intelligent, very observant, a fast learner and I did receive excellent training. I went out there and I did my best and I worked very hard. Most importantly I stayed true to myself. So I think that's the way to approach any goal you're working towards. Even if you're like me and find yourself working towards something without a clue how you got there. Even now I still have my moments. When Gian told me I was being honored I was like 'Why?' I'm thinking about past honorees and I haven't done anything even close to what they have."

Ever so humble. But Nisa has not missed the big picture. She's learned to believe in herself and how to share that knowledge with others who may find themselves in the same place. In thinking of inspiring people there were many but one in particular she really wanted to thank.

"Her name is Marjorie Dibou and she's the CEO of Black Soul Rhythms Radio. I met her here in Second Life. She wanted to start a radio station, just a hobby because she loves music so she came to SL because she had heard how music friendly it was. Word got out and people started to listen when they weren't logged in. Long story short, BSR is now on iTunes, is sought after by independent music artists and streamed literally all over the world. And I am happy to say that I am a part of that. Hip Hop Fundamentals with DJ Nisa!"

FUN FACTS!

Chairwoman of the Board of the Costa Rica Sims Ladies Society

Her advice for the next winner of Miss Costa Rica Sims 2011 who will then compete in the Miss Virtual World 2011 pageant: "The MVW pageant is very demanding. My advice to her would be to remain true to herself, stay grounded and keep her true friends close - those friends who knew her before she became Miss CRS and aren't impressed with titles and crowns."

Some of her favorite designers the design teams at Armidi and Lelutka, Joy Fellini, Cynthia Ultsch and the Cynful Team, CK Winx, Sunami Beck, Ivy Graves, Sissy Pessoa, LeeZu Baxter and Monica Outlander. Believe me this list could go on and on and on and on...

While Nisa still considers herself an "accidental model," since she found herself in the middle of the Second Life fashion world quite by accident. Her goals will be to continue to educate herself, hone her skills and decide what, "(if anything) I would like to do in the fashion world in the future."

Some of her favorite fashion websites are Elie Tahari, Martin + Osa, Tory Burch, Banana Republic, Via Spiga and Alexander Wang. She also has subscriptions to Vogue, Elle, Harper's Bazaar, Lucky and Marie Claire. "Of course I am always on the Costa Rica Sims website and I do love the Maniera website and I subscribe to the RSS feed."

Whats the best way to find out more about Nisa? "Contact me and ask. I'm very friendly and approachable and not at all pretentious. I don't know that I have any "work" to speak of. I just do what I enjoy :-)"

Well all your family at Costa Rica sims wish you all the best. Love and happiness and success forever! If you want to listen to Nisa's show Hip Hop Fundamentals you can find the stream off the website here: http://www.blacksoulrhythms.com/

And don't forget we will be joining together next Sunday at 12 noon SLT at The Influentials party to honor Nisa's achievements. So get your most fashionable duds on and be ready for your close-up!

Have a beautiful day!

Takeshi

[Fun Facts credit: Liane Maertens]

[Photos courtesy of Nisa Constantine]