Today I present to you dear readers the final of our Costa Rica Sims January Influential’s interviews. Let me introduce to you Louise McWinnie- Roundel who represented the Czech Republic in the 2011 Miss Virtual World Pageant. Louise placed as 1st runner up in the pageant and it’s easy to understand why when you see how beautiful and stylish she is.  Wearing many hats career wise in SL some of them include cStar Skins Publicist and Marketing Manager, RADAR Magazine Fashion Director, and Miss Virtual World Academy instructor. Despite such a busy schedule Louise took time to answer a few questions and let us get a glimpse at her life in SL, and I would like to thank her for that. Louise is just as wonderful and gracious as all of our honorees this month and I know you will enjoy getting to know her as much as I have.

What was it about Costa Rica Sims that made you want to create your home here?

I had been to Costa Rica several times, shopping, surfing, going to fashion events or just visiting friends, but it never crossed my mind living there, and I thought it was impossible because it felt like looking for a spot at the beach to lay down a towel on the perfect summer day. So, one day, a friend who lives in Costa Rica decided to give me a grand tour, apart from what I had already done and it completely blew my mind. All the possibilities that Costa Rica had to offer just made me want to move in, and guess what? I looked for empty spots and bam! The perfect spot came up! I knew I just had to be there so…I took my husband’s hand, sat him down and said “how about if we move to Costa Rica”, showed him the plot and he was also sold! We have been really happy there and the thought of leaving doesn’t even cross our minds once.

If someone asked you about Costa Rica Sims and what it was like to live here what would you tell them?

I would tell them that it’s absolutely fantastic. Being super connected to the environment and wildlife organizations in real life like I am, and also being a former surfer, Costa Rica is the perfect to be at, it’s a place where awareness meets fabulous and luxurious beaches, where a greater community reaches out to people and the environment, actively helping! And let’s not forget the fabulous parties and events! There might not be a paradise on earth but Costa Rica comes real close to being paradise in SL.

So much was involved in participating in the MVW pageant, what would you like to share about the experience?

All I can say about being in the MVW pageant is that it was one of the best experiences in my whole SL life. It’s something that started a long time ago and when we got to the final day, I believe I speak for everyone, we all felt “is it over already? But we just got started”. It was a huge challenge and it certainly raised the bar but you know what? I would do it all over again if I could, I can’t but I will be helping other girls who want to be in the pageant, I’ll help and encourage them to try their hardest because it was definitely super rewarding. Anyone who loves fashion and challenges should try it. Certainly life changing!

Did you ever have those panic moments of “What have I got myself into!?!” during the MVW competition and what caused it?

Most certainly! The first one was on the very first audition, when I tped backstage and saw all those big model names! I IMed my husband (boyfriend at the time) and said “Ok honey I’m going home, look at all these names!” he just said “you are a name just like any other name; just try your best” (thank you Barney!). That was the big one, but of course throughout the competition we all think “what am I doing? Am I really good enough for this? I really don’t want to look like a fool”. In the end, I just took in a deep breath, held my head up high and thought “you are just like everybody else, do your best”, so it helped me be calmer, but it didn’t stop me from being super dizzy because my heart rate went insane when they announced the top 5! But I survived! I was really proud of myself for not giving up, that was my main goal, to enter and go through with it till the end.

You are truly a busy woman in SL working as a publicist and marketing mgr for a major skin line, magazine fashion director, modeling and modeling instructor, not to mention participating in MVW, how do you balance it all?

I’m a really hyper person in any reality I live in; I just need to be doing a million things to function properly. I have to thank the person who invented the personal organizer, it’s the best thing in the world (I need 1, my Palm, and 2 Google calendars!). The key to being able to do all those things is always being organized, being extremely aware of your deadlines and knowing your schedule, if you do that, then you can do pretty much as many things as you want. I would be extremely bored if I wasn’t doing a million things at the same time, hyper active people raise your hands please.

You have a Journey Log for MVW contest in your profile do you journal your RL and SL experiences?

Ah! My  journal, Well, it was a way I had to show my friends and family that even though I was extremely busy and didn’t have time to go party with them or just hang out, that I was doing well, and what I was doing. Like sending postcards so that people know you are ok, kind of thing. It started like that but then it turned out to be a place where I will be posting pictures I have been taking with my MVW friends (we get together and do several activities).

Choose one for each: Best moment in SL and Worst/Most Embarrassing moment in SL?

Best moment in SL…Even though MVW got me super happy, I’d have to say that the best moment was when Barney and I found out that we were in love. Yes, I am sappy, and I won’t hide it! I’m a proud wife and he is definitely the best thing SL has ever given me.

The most embarrassing moment…good question! Ah! It was when I went to a fashion show, all dressed up (low ARC I’m model friendly) and I start getting IMs “you’re naked”. I swear I just ran home and relogged, went back, people still saw me naked. I used a trick to fix it though but until it was sorted…How embarrassing!

What’s the one thing you would tell anyone interesting in experiencing SL?

I would tell them that they should be patient at first and don’t give up because a lot of people do give up, if they don’t have support and guidance at the very beginning. It’s hard to get adjusted but as soon as you have got the hang of it…a whole new world is just waiting for you to discover it! Hold on tight and enjoy all the possibilities SL has to offer, be who you always dreamed of being, do what you always dreamed of doing. Utopic, completely.

What’s the biggest RL lesson you have learned from SL?

That people will be people, no matter which reality we are living in. Be just as kind in SL as you are in RL, no matter what.

Many thanks to Louise and all the lovely ladies, it has been a real pleasure to get to know each and every one of you.  Congratulations on all your accomplishments and on being our newest Costa Rica Sims Influential’s. Syd <3