In the world of beauty pageants, few stories are as inspiring as that of Akyssana Da Veiga, the reigning Miss Cabo Verde International. At 25 years old, Akyssana has made a name for herself as a journalist, singer, model, and a beacon of inspiration for young women across her country and beyond. In an exclusive interview with VoyagesAfriq, she shares her journey, the challenges she has overcome, and her vision for the future.
Akyssana’s journey into the world of pageantry began when she was just 15 years old. “When I was 15, it was a dream,” she recalls. “I participated in my first ever contest and I won. But, I always dream big.” In 2022, she entered the Miss Cabo Verde International competition but did not win, finishing as a runner-up. However, she remained motivated by an inner voice reminding her that perseverance was key. Her resilience paid off when she competed again the following year and won, earning the honor of representing Cabo Verde at Miss International in Japan where she won both Miss Embassador of Tourism, and Miss International Africa. There, she was further recognized as Miss Africa International and secured a top placement in the competition.
For Akyssana, participating in international pageants has been a transformative experience. She trained in the Philippines to perfect her catwalk and had the opportunity to meet 71 contestants from all over the world in Miss International, compared to the 23 she met at Miss Cabo Verde. Despite the differences, she emphasizes that both experiences taught her valuable lessons. “Everything happens for a reason and I’ve learned to be more calm, to speak louder too. Now I am not afraid of my voice because I’ve learned that my voice can help people, so in these two contests I’ve learned that I can be able to be the voice for those who are often unheard and also to be the light for those in the shadows.”
She also highlights that pageantry is more than just about beauty. “It’s not only about your ‘pretty face’, it’s about your intellect, it’s about how you worry about a social cause and how often you are there for people. Pageants continue to teach me that life is a school – every day you learn something.”
Akyssana is also an advocate for inclusion and believes that pageantry should be accessible to all women, regardless of age. Reflecting on the recent change in Miss France’s eligibility rules, which allowed Angélique Angarni-Filopon to compete, she says, “I think it’s amazing because when it comes to achieving your dreams or to do something you want, age is just a number. That’s what we should always have on our minds. Age is just, and it will forever be, just a number – when you really want to do something. – She gives other girls a little hope, girls that really want to be a Miss, which inclusion is also in the path of Miss International or in any Miss that you ever participate in, like in Miss France. So, what she did is amazing.”
Beyond her title, Akyssana is committed to empowering young people, especially girls in Cabo Verde. “In Cabo Verde, every girl that talks to me and sees me as a role of inspiration, because of my inclusion because I am there for anyone, to give some advice, to tell them how it is to be a Miss, what is the path I have, and everything that happens in this world because it is not easy.
But if we put in our mind that nothing is easy, you have to always fight to achieve what you really want.” She finds fulfillment in receiving messages from young fans who express admiration and aspire to follow in her footsteps. “Girls see me as their role model. They see me as their inspiration, and there are plenty of them sending me messages saying ‘When I grow up I want to be like you,’ ‘I am your biggest fan.'”
Her advocacy extends beyond pageantry. She is dedicated to social causes and uplifting others. “It’s about loving yourself the way you are and empowering young people. I want to be an inspiration in the right way, not just for girls but also for men.”
When asked which monument she would choose to be, Akyssana’s answer is poetic and reflective of her island roots. “A beach? Is a beach considered a monument? I want to be as large and as beautiful as the ocean, so I can be open to everyone, receiving everyone in my place that is my heart. I am addicted to the ocean, so if I could be anything, I would choose to be an ocean. I’m a girl from an island!”
To her fans and supporters, Akyssana expressed deep gratitude. “To all my followers and fans, first things first, to thank everyone that is always there for me, that is always supporting. And the message that I’m always sending, and I will send it again, is you should really believe in yourself. You should think you’re enough for everything you do, and people should accept you the way you are, because there is no better you than the “you” that you are. So, always believe in yourself, be kind, and be grateful. Thank God every day for being alive because we know that anything is possible. And if you’re still able to be alive, you’re still able to fight for another day. Be resilient, be kind, and always be grateful for what you have.”
Akyssana Da Veiga’s journey shows that perseverance, self-belief, and the power of dreams can lead to reaching your goals. As she continues to break barriers and uplift others, she is a representation for Cabo Verde in the international stage, in the world of pageantry and beyond
