| Putting On The “Trix”: Miss China UK and Trixabelle Productions |
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| Culture | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Wednesday, 01 October 2008 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Pamela Yau
When it comes to the story of Miss China UK 2008, it has also been the story of two best friends working together to make their dreams come true in establishing and growing their start-up business. Trixabelle Productions was created by two young British Chinese businesswomen, Fiona Hoang and Andrea Tat, who are currently project managers for Miss China UK representing Trixabelle. With the task at hand they are bringing along their own trademark style and flair to managing the contestants and preparing for the production side of MCUK, all in an effort to showcase the immense talent that the British Chinese community can offer. The MCUK organisation is very much a part of Hoang and Tat’s story starting with the very beginning of their friendship. As fate would have it, it was through their involvement in the 2006 MCUK pageant that had brought these two enterprising young women together. Hoang was competitor in MCUK 2006, and would later go on to become runner-up in the competition and then second runner-up in the Miss China Europe2006, winning the title of Miss Beautiful Body. During the same event, Tat worked backstage at the competition, helping with the production aspects of the pageant. With their paths crossing, Trixabelle Productions was born and Hoang and Tat have been moving straight ahead with their ideas and plans since forming the company in 2006. Trixabelle has differentiated itself from other similar businesses by focusing on presenting events and programs that brings forth cultural awareness through highlighting the creative gifts of young British individuals. Putting on artistic, original, and informative cultural productions is only one side of the business as the company also stresses a charitable mission through its support of the Chinese New Year Trust. The CNY Trust was established as an organization, which helps improve the lives of children in China through the building and restoring of schools as well as raising awareness of social problems in the country. This year the MCUK pageant will donate a portion of its ticket and merchandise sales from the final to the CNY Trust. The trust has also been the beneficiary of funds raised during the MCUK semi-final charity dinner held at China Palace on September 13th. Although both Hoang and Tat had been involved in different aspects of the MCUK pageant in 2006, last year was the first time that Trixabelle Productions was officially involved with the MCUK organisation. In its first pageant, the company was mainly involved with helping with the production side, but now, the girls have really rolled up their sleeves and taken on much more responsibility by becoming organizers for the event. As MCUK project managers, the two young women have been hands-on with the planning of the pageant, from acquiring sponsors to deciding the look of the final night as they work hard towards the ultimate goal of presenting a memorable pageant. Although the MCUK final may only be one night, it has been a demanding task to undertake, requiring a great amount of preparation on the part of everyone involved. “You have to plan two to three months ahead,” Hoang explained. “A lot of work goes into it.” Hoang and Tat also personally manage all of the beauty pageant contestants, which includes choreographing their catwalk performances, selecting their outfits, hair and makeup, as well as looking over the competitors to make sure they are improving and developing as they progress through the competition. “It is quite hard to manage, especially when you have 12 girls together,” Hoang admitted after the semifinal round. However, she is taking this all in stride considering she had been working with the 20 girls before the cut to the Top 12 finalists. They are starting to see their hard work pay off in unexpected and rewarding ways, especially in result of their guidance of the MCUK contestants. Hoang has observed with each successive stage the girls’ confidence has been boosted and the finalists seem even more prepared for what is to come and what will be expected of them. Hoang did not sugarcoat things when she mentioned, “We have a grilling training schedule it will be quite tough for them [Top 12 Finalists]…to be mentally and physically prepared for the final.” Both of the young women are extremely grateful for the help, support, and encouragement that they have been received from the rest of the MCUK team with whom they have been working with to put on a successful grand finale to this year’s pageant. “I think from what we’ve learned I think we’ll be constantly learning,” said Hoang. “We are quite fortunate to have so many professionals on our team to guide us along as well.” Their unreserved ambition and enthusiasm for what they are doing has been infectious and their work ethic and determination have inspired others to believe in them and what they are trying create for this year’s contest. “They feel our passion and so they put their passion into it,” Hoang declared. In working to grow and set up their business, the venture has brought Hoang and Tat even closer together in spite of the ups and downs a start-up business could encounter in its first years. “We’ve worked together for two years now, so we know each other inside out,” Hoang stated. “We’re so close we’re like sisters.” With a bond that is strong and stable, built on friendship and an understanding of each other’s abilities, Hoang and Tat and their company, Trixabelle Productions, should definitely be on people’s “to watch” lists as they seem to be on their way to bigger and even better things in the near future.
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With every mic checked and sequin sewed in place, the curtain is about to go up on the Miss China 2008 United Kingdom Pageant on Sunday October 5th 2008 at the Lyric Theatre in Soho, London. But besides the grand production numbers and sashays down the runway by the beauty pageant contestants, what the public will get to see is the culmination of months of planning by a group of intensely dedicated individuals. Amongst the organisers and project managers is Trixabelle Productions, a production company which is making its mark by showing how youth, grace and tenacity can really get the job done.
