Lee-Ann Goddard - From poverty to royalty

Carolina Village, Couva may not be on a list of the well-known places in TT, but it was where Miss TT UK Lee-Ann Goddard called home for well over a decade before moving to the UK to live with her father after the death of her mother.

"It is always nice to remember where you come from," the 30-year-old told WMN. For although she is the holder of the prestigious Carivog International title and founder of an organisation that focuses on empowering women, Goddard said the lessons that prepared her to blossom into the woman she is today were all taught in her modest home in Carolina Village.

"We were very poor but mom always inspired me. She would said 'just because you were born poor doesn't mean you have to stay poor'. Mom died when I was 17 and I had to go live with my father." It was a tough time because she had to get used to living with a father she didn't know well, and he, living with a teenage daughter. "My life could have taken a different turn. I could have gotten pregnant or involved in things I shouldn't have, but I didn't. I made the best of the situation."

As Miss TT UK, Goddard is a TT ambassador to the UK and the world, and her duties involve a lot of travel. "I love to travel so that is a plus for me." Since winning the title on September 29, 2018 at the Polish Centre in London, Goddard has been to several places in Africa, Europe and the US. "I attended various events where TT is represented, I support a number of charities and pageants, I was part of Race for Life in London, and I was in Nigeria for Carnival on December 23, 2018. It was the first Imo Carnival and it was amazing. The costumes and everything else were inspiring," Goddard gushed. "Being Miss TT UK is exciting. Just being able to influence other young people and to help keep TT on the map."

She is currently in TT for a few days as part of her contractual obligations to Carivog International, along with Carivog artistic director Valerie Alleyne-Noreiga. And she is ecstatic to be home to spend a little time with loved ones. "It is a very packed schedule, but I have been afforded some time to visit family and friends."

She arrived in TT last Sunday and her itinerary in Trinidad includes meetings with President Paula-Mae Weekes, Sports and Youth Affairs Minister Shamfa Cudjoe, and Community Development, Culture and the Arts Minister Nyan Gadsby-Dolly, as well as a tour of Angostura, the national library, and an interview on Synergy TV. In Tobago, she is scheduled to meet with Secretary of Tourism, Culture and Transportation Nadine Stewart-Phillips and go on a tour of the island.

Goddard has adopted the Laventille-based NGO, Kids in Need of Direction (KIND) as her charity. "I help with raising funds for KIND," she explained, adding that while in TT she would visit the NGO's office to help with whatever project its members are currently working on.

Pageantry aside, Goddard said her life is about being the best version of herself daily. She holds a degree in management studies with an emphasis in marketing, a certificate in project management and is co-founder of Klassi Ltd and Klassi Bodyz.

"My dad and I run Klassi Ltd," a software and technology company, "And I run Klassi Bodyz, a motivational lifestyle brand for women of all ages. The idea is to help young women with a sense of identity, and for more mature women, we discuss real issues in a safe environment. We also have our own Klassi Bodyz clothing line that includes T-shirts, hoodies and vests."

The certified fitness instructor said the pageant and the title offer her a platform to interact with and influence other young women in a positive way. "It is all about women empowerment and finding your purpose and what makes you happy. People helped me and I want to give back by helping other young women."

For information on Lee-Ann Goddard and her work visit her Facebook page Ms Trinidad and Tobago UK 2108 Lee-Ann Goddard, or Klassi_bodyz and Klassi_official on Instagram.