This interview was conducted via Zoom on Wednesday, May 1, 2024 at 12:00 PM EST. Amanda van Wezel will compete in Miss Grand Netherlands 2024 on July 21, 2024. Follow Amanda on her journey to the crown via her Instagram account @amandavanwezel
2:28 – Amanda enters the chat room
3:33 – Rafa says that Amanda stands out from the rest of the contestants
4:01 – Amanda confirms the date of the finals of MG Netherlands 2024
5:10 – To those who are not familiar with you, please tell us a little about yourself (where you came from, family, education).
6:30 – Amanda comes from a small town
6:56 – Netherlands is a flat country; Amanda bikes
7:32 – How did you get interested in pageants?
8:56 – What were some of the challenges you had to face before joining a pageant?
10:39 – How would your friends describe you in three adjectives.
11:17 – Why do you think that you are the best candidate for the Miss Grand Netherlands 2024 crown?
12:33 – What do most people think about you is false, but it’s actually true?
(Amanda’s connection freezes for a few minutes)
13:23 Rafa reads viewers comments
16:19 – What do you think is your purpose in life?
17:54 – What do you like to do for fun?
18:53 – Is there something fun that people do but you don’t want to try it?
19:56 – Rafa read’s a comment from Lenka Vomocil who wants to join in the chat
20:38 – Dutch people are raised to be simple and honest.
21:58 – Name three things that you would never do.
23:25 – If there were no rules in your life for one day and you could be outrageous, what would you do?
24:22 – Which characteristics do you think you inherited from our parents?
25:32 – How many siblings do you have? Is your sister also a pageant girl?
26:29 – What is your most embarrassing moment and how did you handle it?
28:38 – What is your definition of beauty?
29:41 – If you could be great at one thing, what would it be and why?
30:51 – Ashley Brown. MG Noord-Holland has a fear of spiders like Amanda; Rafa gives an advice to the two girls on how to overcome the fear of spiders
32:29 – Do you have any hidden talent?
33:46 – What would you do if you were the opposite sex for a month?
34:21 – What habit of yours do people think is annoying?
35:11 – What do you bring with you everywhere you go?
37:17 – What belief do you have that most people disagree with?
38:28 – The root of all evil is the lack of money
39:17 – If you could teach a new class in school, what would it be and why?
41:00 – Rafa reads a comment from Michael Den Noutzen
41:33 – What makes you sad?
41:58 – What makes you happy?
43:17 – GAME #1 – THIS OR THAT
Christmas or New Year’s Day
Morning person or night owl
Perfect teeth or perfect hair
Travel alone or travel with friends
Tik Tok or YouTube
Morning shower or evening shower
Lipstick or lip gloss
48:45 – GAME #2 – FAVORITES
Color
Flower
Drink
Holiday (Temu shopping app)
Music
Word
55:00 – GAME #3- WOULD YOU RATHER…
Have a golden voice or a silver tongue?
Always be 10 minutes late or always be 20 minutes early?
Have the ability to talk to animals or become an animal?
Be the first person to explore a planet or be the inventor of a drug that cures a deadly disease?
Lose all your money and valuables or all the pictures you have ever taken? (Depression and mental illness)
1:03:13 – Amanda’s cats
1:05:19 – Her preparation for the pageant
1:07:11 – How high are your heels? Rafa ordered his own pair. lol. He says he cannot do the “Melissa” turn.
1:10:14 – Michael says we need to see Amanda walk in sneakers; Rafa says Michael should walk in heels. lol
1:11:58 – Amanda’s message to her followers in English and Dutch
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e hello everybody Welcome to critical Beauty good morning good afternoon good evening wherever you are today I have an amazing guest her name is Amanda van wesel she’s Miss Grand gelderland 2024 and she’s competing in this Grand Netherlands 2024 we can’t wait to meet her I know is going to be an amazing interview so if you have any questions for Amanda please feel free to jot them in the chat box below and we are going to read the comments and the questions back to her so she can respond so welcome to my channel if you’re new Please Subscribe and click the Bell icon below so you can get instant notification for the next video so we are just waiting for aand to get it in okay where is she yeah so how’s everybody doing I hope everybody’s doing fine let see um I believe there are 16 contestants competing in Miss Grand Netherlands and um I’m not sure about the finals if you if you know exactly of the finals I think it’s going to be in June so but we’re just waiting for Amanda to confirm everything oh okay here she is let’s admit her hey hi hi I can’t see you darling um now in three two one your SHO there you are oh my God I love that dress thank you so much I just had to wear it how many birds did you kill none not a bird feeder I’m just kidding I’m just kidding you you look gorgeous thank you you know it’s funny because the first time I saw your um social media account I wasn’t exactly sure what how to feel about you I hear it a lot you know because as you know a lot of people tend to believe everything they see on on Instagram on social media and whatever but when once you get to know the person like face to face at least in our case you know digitally or virually uh everything changes your perception changes true you know what I mean so yeah I totally understand and I think what I like about you is because you stand out from the other you stand out from the other contestants because you’re you have a very interesting personality and I want to and I want to know more about the real Amanda thank you I really love hearing this thank you so much well see be before I came in um a friend of mine was asking when the finals of Miss Grand Netherlands is going to be can you the date please um it will be 21 of July oh July okay I thought it was yes oh okay okay yeah we just recently he it like yesterday so you have two months two more months to compare yes oh my God now are you excited absolutely I am I am so excited I am so glad to be in this traj with Robin and ston it’s just absolutely amazing and still unbelievable so there are 16 contestants correct yes okay so each contestant represents a specific Province or region in yes um we have 12 provinces uh in the Netherlands um and we have six 16 candidates um and they told us they were so many good um people on the casting day that they couldn’t choose so they chose some extra oh okay wonderful now um um okay well at least we know a little about you but to those to those other people out there watching who do not know you or who know very little about you please tell us a little bit more about yourself your family your background and all that wonderful things Amanda go I will my name is Amanda V basil I’m 25 years old and I live in the Netherlands in a very small village called Fel dril and most people won’t know Fel dril because it’s so so small but SOS may be more familiar I am uh raised with two parents Two Loving parents still together um a one big happy family um I really love them and I really really love them supporting me um what you can make me Enthusiast about is any kind of water sports I really really like the water and um yeah what more should I tell about myself how many people are there in your in this town you said it’s a small town right we have uh 18 million people in the Netherlands and in them boss I honestly don’t know but in Fel dril I think maybe we get up to a thousand a thousand okay that is a small town yes yes it’s basically yeah it’s basically a village correct yes yeah yes right so are there like many uh tulips and windmills around no not in Fel but it does is the Netherlands is familiar for his tulips we have Cen Hof as we call it um which is absolutely amazing to take pictures for example but also just to walk around because you walk into a field of such colorful uh tulips which is absolutely breathtaking um but here in my Village we more likely see uh Flatlands okay yeah because Netherlands is a very flat country you don’t you don’t have mountains bills correct not really no so that’s why everybody bikes do you bike yes of course I bike I do bik electric and this explains why there are so many thin people in the Netherlands because moves yeah they’re all very fit they all have very strong legs and whatnot uh so yeah and I’m sure you have a great butt too right because but that’s wonderful now um is this your first time competing in pageants how did you get interested in pageants um okay um it’s not my first time competing in a pageant my first time was Miss Wellness Beauty Belgium um which was absolutely amazing but at the time I just got diagnosed with a chronical disease um so I couldn’t finish the pageant um and that always sticked to me like I really really want to succeed on a pageant so a few years later when I was a bit stronger and a bit more yeah like myself I competed in Miss beauty of nor prant um which really showed me who I am and who I want to be and really open up my eyes that there is a market for small people like me in the modeling world in the pageant World um so that’s where my story continued and actually I didn’t really think I would join another pageant um and then Miss Grant came on my pet and I was like immediately enthusiastic um because I got the invite for the casting and I talked to the people behind it Robin and ston and they are such kind and loving and caring people is it’s Indescribable um and that’s when I knew I’m gonna do this and now I’m here so this is your first time competing in the grand system Miss Grand system corre okay now um you know it’s not very easy to uh to join a pageant did you have any challenges uh that you fa before joining this pageant where absolutely um um in my last pageant I was really comparing myself to the other finalist which is of course killing for your self love um and I have now decided not to focus too much on the other consistencies even though I am really a a supporter of uh a family feeling a team spirit I really want us to all be a family a grand family and um therefore I’m not comparing myself as one of the competitions but I’m trying to see like how good are the girls doing how how great are they are do they maybe need any help or I I’m more that kind of a person so um that switch in my brain is really making me enjoy this pageant more because yeah I think I think you’re fit to compete in this pageant because you’re very artistic you’re you’re very uh you’re very bubbly I can I can sense that and I think that’s one of the main characteristics that they’re looking for a Miss Grand Netherlands or Miss Grand International winner somebody who’s always very approachable and I think you are very approachable and I hear it a l very friendly well that that’s wonderful now Amanda I think I think every Dutch person has at least three or four or many good friends right because Dutch people are very very friendly and very polite that’s why you know I love Dutch people myself so how would let’s say your friends or your family describe you in three words yeah this is such a hard question um but when people talk about me I always hear that I’m very kind and helpful um and I’m very open uh approachable just like you said so I really like you saying that word uh about me in just a few minutes um so those are the three words that that really describe me kind helpful and approachable three important qualities of any beauty pageant Queen should have all right absolutely remember that okay now um here is a good question why do you think that you are the best candidate for Miss Grand Netherlands be honest yeah okay I find this always a hard question because um I’m I’m very hard at putting myself first I always think of other people um and I think that that maybe is and should be the reason why I could be the Miss Grand Netherlands um because I’m not just in it for me although I try to self-develop I also try to um make a bigger platform to inspire more people and to become more of an idol to other people and it sounds really idolised but the very few people that have met me and are surrounding me really helped me and I can help them and I just can enjoy more of that okay that’s that’s um you know what because um it’s very yeah that question is very hard and I think that’s one of the one of the questions that a lot of pageant girls do not prepare to answer uh but when when you think of it you know it is it is a job being a Miss Grand Netherlands or Miss Grand International is a real job you know because you’re representing your country and you’re promoting Dutch culture you know to the world you know great now here’s a good question what do most people think about you that is false but it’s actually true is a little bit slow because um you’re stuck okay that’s fine did you did you hear my question okay she’s she’s a little Frozen okay oh we’re back again okay all right uh you’re still a little bit Frozen though okay fine did you hear my last question yeah okay so what do most people think of you as false but it’s actually true so while we’re waiting for Amanda to show up show up uh reading some of the comments here uh whatever Chanel okay just reading some of the comments just before you came back we have a a fan whatever channel is saying Big Love from Tunisia hi whatever Channel how are you I love you so much oh thank you you are so gorgeous I love you is it I’m gorgeous or is Amanda gorgeous actually both of us are gorgeous okay both so yeah and we have our good friend um Lena Lena darling yes you finally you finally um saw me we we we’re doing a live Zoom so um if you have any questions for Amanda please feel free to um ask her but for for for for the time being she’s uh having some diffic technical difficulties with a live stream so I don’t know what’s happening okay is it much better now are you back okay so she still cannot um hear me yes whatever Channel thank you so much for your compliments I’m so uh I’m so honored um you know uh for you as as a follower so again guys if you haven’t followed this Channel Please Subscribe now and also subscribe the uh uh uh the Bell icon okay so were you able to hopefully I’m this time again for real I can hear you yeah sometimes the connection could be very bad so going back to my question what do most people think about you is false but it’s actually true well what I hear a lot when people meet me is they always say I thought you were way taller than you are because I’m actually 160 so that’s very small as a model as a Miss how tall are you 160 yeah what is that in uh English 60 cmers and in inches I really don’t know I should have to look that up oh okay so you’re so so so you’re petite yes it’s funny because you know in your pictures you look tall you look you kind of look tall you know I Google is uh 62 inch so that’s that what so that’s like what five feet and two inches 52 or something like that I have no idea sure well I live in America so we use the English system not the Metro System I should looked I’ll send it to you so I think it’s probably like five feet to but you know what it doesn’t matter it doesn’t matter because I think um the new Miss Grand Thailand is is also petite I think she’s like 52 53 just like you yeah she wasn’t the all either no so I think it’s yeah I think it’s I think they’re looking for somebody who has a lot of good great personality know like you and who’s also very appro that that’s what that’s all what counts okay so I’m glad now um now here’s a good question very serious one Amanda we all have a purpose in life what is your purpose in life I think that my purpose in life is um as I said before to inspire other people um I have had a really rough past I’ve been through terrible things and I’ve known depression I’ve known Suicidal Thoughts um but I got back stronger and I got truly happy and I am more than thankful that I have held on so long to achieve what I have been achieving right now and I really really want to tell everyone out there in the world everyone who’s listening everyone who’s not feeling well everything is going to be all right and that is really what I stand for and what I want to bring to other people as well in a big platform as to my small and loving family I I’m so grateful for everything that I have um and I really hope that I can save and inspire people to become kind of like me to become truly happy that’s that’s a great purpose in life I think with all with with so much sadness and and darkness in the world I think the world could always use a little light and and a little positive energy and I think you you exemplify that energy you’re you’re always been very cheerful and and very positive and very calm you know it’s it’s very Dutch yeah true very very Dutch now what do you like to do what do you like to do for fun Amanda anything anything you can think of is what I like you can make Enthusiast for literally everything um but if I had to choose my own activity I would do SUB yoga that is um on a sub and literally do yoga poses which is so peaceful um being all in the water and I seal um which is also very satisfying are you a party girl do you like to go to nightclubbing or dancing really no no I am I totally see that’s shocking because I’ve always again you know when I see your images oh my God she’s like a party girl no actually not instead I I barely drink alcoholic drinks and if I have one sip I could feel already a little bit tipsy so I rather not drink at all and that makes me less of a party girl which probably ties into my next question which is um if there is something fun that people do but you don’t want to try it what would that be drinking literally nothing yeah maybe but honestly yeah okay that’s a fair one because if someone would invite me to a drinking game I’d say no okay but I think that’s really the only thing but it’s I also believe that it’s not very good for your mental health to join drinking games so you don’t have any vices you don’t smoke do you smoke um I used to smoke um and I tried uh quitting so I’ve been quitting for two years and recently I started again um so that’s currently my only addiction and I’m not very proud of it yeah I think I think which is understandable because I think some people uh they tend to smoke when they feel nervous when they want to you know relax their mind I think you know there’s so many ways for other people to you know to relax themselves and I think for some it’s it’s smoking or you know drinking whatever yeah okay reading some of the comments uh Lena our good my good friend l she actually knows uh Melissa btim Miss Grand Netherlands oh how great yeah she is absolutely amazing yeah Melissa is is amazing I hope she’s watching so anyway Lanka wants l wants to join us join an interview because I think she has some questions and you need to meet Lanka but so we’re gonna let Lena in uh into the uh meeting after okay after we finish all your your questions and interviews so just wait a few more minutes Lan um whatever Channel says your guest Amanda is so sweet and I feel she is honest too you know what yes I agree thank you so much yeah I think um maybe maybe because it’s part of the way you were raised or maybe it’s it’s part of the Dutch culture Dutch people in general are raised to be just simple and honest and and truthful about themselves yeah it is absolutely true and I 100% agree and besides that we uh are very um well in our um uh policy of caretaking so we have the possibility to be open and to speak open about kind of everything I mean where some people used to not be able to talk about financial problems or mental health problems because there was a big stigma on it um right now that is not so much happening anymore in the Netherlands and we are evolving in that to be more open to that and I think that for everyone’s mental health Inland that was the best thing that could happen because imagine you be in such financial problems that would bring a whole lot of stress and nobody ever got any better from any stress exactly I totally agree yeah and it’s always a good thing that there’s always a lot of people out there who are willing to help and to reach out you know helping hand to you which is great now um okay here’s a good question Amanda name three things that you would never ever do even if they paid you a lot of money I would never ever turn my back on my friends not for a hundred million dollars I would never ever tell anyone he’s not compatible or not able to do anything in that sort of way so um I’m more motivating person like everyone can do anything they want I I believe that strongly as long as you’re willing work hard for it and the third one is I would never ever do a drinking game not for any kind of money well you know that’s that’s only logical okay so that’s fair that’s good all right so people out there you heard Amanda those three things that she would never ever do even even if you paid her good money okay wait wait not even not even like posing nude for for Playboy or anything like that no no I actually been invited to Deads and I was like do I want that is that an image I want to create also with with the idea of inspiring other people and my answer is very strongly though okay all right thank you for your honesty we appreciate it welcome always honest here now here’s a good question um if there were no rules in your life just for one day and you could be totally outrageous What would you do yeah well the funny thing about that is that I really live by the rules um because when uh in my puberty I I really didn’t live by the rules um and I noticed that those rules are really making me stronger um and a better person but if there weren’t any rules I’d still be doing what I do right now but I totally hack the national TV um to tell my story okay and hope that we are are going to reach more and more people and and hacking the TV is illegal so I count so you never hacked TV no not yet okay but there’s there’s always there’s always a possibility someday okay yeah who knows now um okay talk about your family and your parents which characteristics do you think you inherited from your parents well actually I have two specific things of both of them because my mom is very emotional loving kind careful and my dad is very strong and powerful and can do whatever he wants without getting too emotionally attached um and I think I have a perfect mix of that um in the meanwhile I created that um that I am with my emotional part I can be very helpful to other people I can understand other people and I’m willing to listen to other people where I can also distance myself from the emotion it brings to me so it doesn’t overwhelm me uh like it used to um also my mom is very caring and my dad is very supportive and I got a good mix of both of that sport you mean athletic yes yes okay because I think supportive is is a European term in America we use the word athletic yeah so atic you’re so you’re a good combination of both of your mother and your father yes I believe so that’s wonderful how many brothers do you have or sisters do you have I have one older sister and she’s absolutely amazing um she is graduated from college she got a great uh job she has a beautiful house and she is really doing well and I’m really looking up to her is she a pageant girl like you no not at all actually my sister and I are definitely not alike and not even the smallest bit because I’m always the beauty kind and she was always like the sportive kind and even though I do work out um sorry athletic kind uh even though I do work out um she is a fitness instructor she’s an AO therapist um so she’s really really warmed into that and I’m more like do my hair do my makeup so no she’s not really you’re very girly girl you’re like a girly girly type yes that’s good that’s good um okay he’s a fun question Amanda what is your most embarrassing moment and how did you handle it okay okay well once I had a photo shoot and there were some familiar Dutch people and um one of them um was wemar torra and he is very handsome he’s like absolutely georgeous to look at don’t judge your book by discover but some people just are and um I shook his hand and I completely forgot my name so I was like hi and then later on I was like okay okay pick yourself up pick your up hi I’m um Manda it was so awkward and then I was like oh I’m sorry you’re so hot I get nervous from you and then I tried to Own It by I’m sorry and really nice to meet you it’s lovely to have you here so I tried to make it work but it was totally embarrassing uh are you still are you like still talking to each other are you still in connection with each other not yeah kind of but yeah we had one shoe together for something we call head perfect pla the perfect picture here in the Netherlands right so so I don’t know what he looks like so you have to send me a picture of him okay I will I will I can judge for myself you’ll love it I would be I would be embarrassed too because I’ve seen i’ I’ve seen like uh like if you if you get Star Struck you know you you you can’t talk because you’re so you just admire the beauty yeah yeah it’s overwhelming sometimes in front of you like woo where did you come from you’re like you’re like a god you’re a goddess you know come on I don’t deserve you let me bow and worship you yes yes you know it right that’s hilarious I love it okay talking about beauty what do you think is is your definition of beauty I have one word for that and that one word is kindness okay that’s and I I really try to tell all my followers on Instagram on Tik Tok that kindness is Beauty and you’ll see that quote a lot on my page I totally totally agree you can be the most beautiful uh person physically in the world but if you treat somebody um in a cruel in a cruel fashion in a cruel way all of a sudden all that beauty disappears you know yeah people think sorry you’re ugly okay so yeah kindness is so important because again there’s so much cruelty in this world that we could always use some kindness people okay so please please be kind and please subscribe to my channel if you haven’t done so yeah I totally agree to if you didn’t do it right yet now the please I don’t know where the button is but somewhere here um okay here’s a good question if you could be great at one thing what would it be and why in other words if you wish for for a superpower what superpower would you like to have and why oh that one is really hard but I think that would be motivating other people to do things that they are afraid of because in in my in my journey towards the happiness the true happiness um I held back on so many things that I really wanted to do but I was afraid to do like joining pageants um but I fought my bear as we said in the Netherlands and um and sometimes the beer wins and then I tried and it’s a pet toward watchs yeah your anle and and the pet you follow is also a part of it and you should definitely enjoy it so if there’s one thing I would really really want to do is that you know you know one of your competitors is Ashley right Ashley Brown Miss Grand n yes yes but what Ashley Ashley being like her yes she uh she turned 20 I think yeah yesterday yeah she turned she she’s her bir yeah so when I when I interviewed her she told me that she has a fear of spiders are you afraid of spiders yes so yes I was I was gonna I was gonna ask you maybe you can help Ashley to overcome her fear of spiders but since you also fear spiders I don’t think you can help I I I don’t really know maybe that’s the superpower I need to to make her help come over there afraid spiders so um but honestly if we do it together maybe we’ll get over it so Ashley if you’re watching it’s a challenge there you go well one good I think one good practice is you can both uh you can both uh put your hands in a Jar full of spiders and just let let your hands sit there for like for like two minutes no we’re talking about nonpoisonous okay spiders that that don’t bite you know friendly spiders maybe something I would really not do for any kind of money it’s that that one okay it’s like a challenge you know what I mean a real challenge let’s do it let’s do it for the Miss Grand Netherlands finals okay oh my God this is going to happen I’m gonna blame it all on you okay I take full responsibility okay I’m fine that wonderful okay here’s a good question do you have any um hidden talent I know I think there’s there’s a talent competition no it’s an optional Talent competition in this Grand Netherlands I think do you have any Talent we um we have the grand voice which is for singing talents and um if there’s one talent I do not have it’s singing um but I think my talent is that I can do a lot because I do photo photography I do makeup I do styling um I teach other people I I’m I do um I cut people’s hair I am U um I don’t know what English word is uh your haist okay um so Skin Therapy I’m there okay um so I’m I’m very all around but I’m not specifically good at one thing but I’m okay in many things okay all right that’s good enough well you know it’s not really a uh um a man competition the talent so I think only the girls who want to perform you know they they can perform good here’s a good question Amanda what would you do if you were the opposite sex for one month yeah listen think of the many things you can do as a man for one month no I think I would not really do any much different than I would do when I was a woman because I don’t really believe in um placing Yourself by a gender um so everything I’m doing right now if I keep the personality for that I would still be all me but in a male body okay good enough fair question all right now we all have habits some are annoying what habit of yours do people find annoying Amanda okay um do do you have a moment yes I actually have um this kind of tick that I always sing wherever I go only I cannot sing so that’s quite annoying to the people around me and I talk to uh through movies a lot um which is also quite annoying okay all right uh that’s good all right so so what okay here’s a good question what do you bring with you everywhere you go besides a cell phone because a lot of people would say cell phone besides a cell phone what you what my cards your cards no kidding now actually it’s it’s something I literally carry always around me and most people who have seen my page have seen it but I have a tattoo here and um um this has a really really beautiful story and this is something that will always keep on reminding me of that no matter where I’m at and no matter where I’m into but this tattoo um is for a friend of mine who has unfortunately killed himself and um he at that time he set a tattoo in a music note to um to our friendship and I was like 14 15 maybe and my parents wouldn’t let me so I did it myself I set a music note myself and like two years ago I got a touch up and I added um the flowers the gladi gladio um and that stands for strong and um powerful and and conquering anything actually um so this tattoo is something I bring with me it has a really hard story but it keeps on inspiring me so whenever I’m in a hard situation I’ll grab my tattoo and everything’s going to be fine you know what that is that is very very touching um because what what was your friend’s name [ __ ] Dutch yeah yeah yeah um yeah I mean I think I think if he would be very honored that you have that little symbol reminding him every day wherever you go so I think that’s that’s very beautiful uh I’m really really really very tired now more than proud of me than anything right now I can imagine I can imagine now on a serious note we all have different beliefs you know we don’t always agree with each other what belief do you have that most people disagree with and you always have fights with with these people yeah of course I mean there is a political team for a reason of course but I strongly believe that in no way money can make you happy um and many people disagree because they say yeah money makes easy if you have enough money you can buy anything you want you don’t have to think about it but imagine you have all the money in the world but money doesn’t have any wor anymore so you would not be able to buy um your food with money um but you have to be kind or loving or buy it with compliments on my behalf um money isn’t worth that much and I do also believe that money can make you very unhappy because Financial stress is really really tough to deal with um so it can make you unhappy but I believe that it most of the time makes you unhappy instead of happy I in a way it’s true because um somebody there I don’t know who said it but there’s a saying that the the root of all evil is the lack of money so that’s why there’s so much uh bad things going on in this world because a lot of people you know don’t have money so they would do all these yeah I think that people who have a lot of money also misus their their power um so either way it’s not really in balance and it’s not really um positive influence on on the kindness we want to see in the world yeah exactly I mean money money is money is practical when you need it like through emergency or the basic needs like food uh house car Essence whatever stuff for the most part if you misuse it then it’s not good okay no true I totally agree I totally agree with you now here’s a good question Amanda now if you could teach a new class in school what class would it be and why self-compassion self compassion yes loving many people heard about the the theory theory about self-compassion but um it’s really beautiful it it literally means treat yourself like you would treat a friend um for example if your boyfriend if the boyfriend of your friend breaks up with her um she you will tell her that that it’s okay and he’s not worth you and you’re way better than him you would tell all those kind of nice things to cheer up but if the boyfriend breaks up with you you’re like oh and and I’m not good enough for him and I’m not worthy of him so it’s not fair to treat yourself like that um and you should treat yourself like a friend because there are enough people out there treating you like the animal of the enemy um so you should always be your own friend and I really wish yeah would you I 100% 100% agree because if you can’t love yourself nobody else will you know you can’t you really can’t uh help other people if you yourself have not helped yourself so you need to take first of your mental health of your emotional physical health and then once you’re strong and fit then you can go ahead and help others yes I like that I like that self-compassion a new course being taught by Professor Amanda van wesle at the University of Amsterdam okay T is free it’s for everybody okay I love it do you know Michael Dan udon yes yes I do hi Michael he said that you will bring Coca-Cola wherever you go hi Michael you’re right there it is Coca-Cola so is is that is that a regular Coca-Cola is the real thing we all love Coke Michael all right there you go um that’s funny oh here’s another serious question what makes you sad I think it makes me sad when other people are sad um because I very intensely know what it feels like to be sad and um also lonely other older people sitting by theirselves makes me sad because I think like nobody wants to be lonely um so those are the two things that come up with me right now and what makes you happy very much makes me happy I um do my depression I’ve tried I’ve learned to love every small thing so I was really into the negative part and when I switched it around I Started Loving small things like cuddling my Kat or the sun is shining or our flower is really beautiful outside or a plant growing a little or or a smile from a stranger that’s why I actually always SM to stranger or say hi um just because I I really like that kind of positivity um so there are many many things that make me happy and very small things too is that top that you’re wearing making you happy now yes that’s funny all right that ends the question and answer portion of this interview now Amanda we’re gonna play games I like them okay do you okay yes as long as it doesn’t involve alcohol no alcohol no no smoking no smoking either no tobacco okay no marijuana either okay this is a clean CH no no against the drugs all right game number one is called this or that so I mentioned two things and you just tell me whatever you prefer okay Christmas or New Year’s Day I live for Christmas why I find it the Most Wonderful Time of the Year where families come together you always get up in this big fight with your family and eventually everything WIS comes out well and I just really love that it’s so hardw and by the way the Dutch um actually created Santa Claus say Nichol St ncaus did you know that I didn’t know Santa CL the modern day version of Santa Claus you know the big uh fat jolly bearded white guy with a red with a red jacket was actually modeled after St Nicholas St Nicholas oh yeah I do know St Nicholas but I didn’t know it was an Evol evolving of that yeah so thank you for the Dutch had it not been for the Dutch people they would not have Santa Claus okay yeah another reason why we should be Miss Grand Netherlands and Miss Grand exactly now morning person or night owl can I um maybe go in between a middle a midday person midday person I guess okay I’m a midday person so you’re okay so you’re you’re both you’re both a morning person I’m like a late morning person and a early late late person does that count it I guess I guess it counts but uh from from a mental perspective what time of the day do you think your mind works best 3 o’clock in the morning or in the afternoon in the afternoon in the afternoon okay all right which was what three and a half hours ago I think in Amsterdam yes so right now your your mind is kind of slowing down a bit a little bit but we’ll make it work just kidding perfect teeth or perfect hair hair I’ll keep my mouth shut just leave my hair the way it is all right travel alone or travel with friends I’m not really much of a girl who likes to be alone so please take all my friends with me okay Tik Tok or YouTube I’m a 90s girl so I’m gonna have to say YouTube so you don’t have a Tik Tok Channel I do have it um I just don’t understand it you don’t you know what I it’s funny you mention it because I I didn’t start Tik Tok until about like four months ago and I had to learn by myself and I thought well I had like I had some questions about about the app because I know I know it’s owned by by China and I heard I heard I heard that uh the Chinese use it as a spy wear to spy on people so I was like really oh my yeah they take all your private information and all that stuff yeah I work by the government and I am not allowed to use Tik Tok on my work phone so maybe that’s why oh okay that’s also in some us governments it’s not allowed so maybe maybe maybe it is could be true but I like it anyway it’s fun yeah true would you prefer a morning shower or an evening shower morning because I don’t like to go to bed with my hair wet and my hair routine after I shower is extremely long it takes me like 30 to 45 minutes um and usually in the evening I just want to go to bed well you can still take an evening shower but all you have to do is wear a shower cap true very true you win yeah but morning shower to me I prefer morning shower too because it just it just really you know wakes up your body your wakes up your your entire system yeah indeed especially especially cold morning shower cold shower is good for you yes you can’t wake me up for that but I know it’s better lipstick or lip gloss liquid lipstick you like liquid lipstick are you wearing are you wearing one now yes okay you like it what color is it is like uh pinkish is like a bit nude a bit nude nude yeah you know I I always say less is more so that’s good it’s not too much but I I actually also like your your picture here in your profile right there oh this one I like I like this picture yeah yeah me too actually I was pretty surprised when it came out and it was a very spontan picture so it wasn’t at all so I really liked and the other one you know the the other one uh you look very serious so you have a good combination of serious and not serious so that’s good I do cool I was trained game number two tell me okay tell me your favorites Amanda what is your favorite color red red yes Coca-Cola red Coca-Cola red there you go there you go Michael Coca-Cola red yes what is your favorite flower uh the Gladius what just gladium oh okay wait wait I’m gonna search it up um is is that an annual or a perennial does it grow every year or do you have to plant it every um you have to plant it every year Gladius in English so it’s an annual how do what do you spell it gladiolus G gladiolas oh they’re beautiful I love glas yeah I I planted them before yeah they’re one they’re beautiful now what is your favorite drink guess three times Coca-Cola Coca-Cola Coca-Cola yes but if talking alcoholic then it’s a controlan okay well you know what there are um there are now non-alcoholic drinks and and many of them yeah like for me personally I like uh fruit drinks like non-alcoholic wine you know that are fruity I mean they’re very try yes I drink alcohol free most of the time because I do like an alcohol free champagne or a mocktail as we say that um but I mostly don’t like the alcohol or the influence of alcohol so it’s a perfect in between there you go there you go now what is your favorite h holiday as in like winter or summer or like country uh actually no oh yeah I totally forgot because in Europe the word holiday means vacation but here in America it means New Year’s for of July Halloween Christmas Christmas very simple very simple indeed so Christmas I also like Christmas because uh everybody feels happy and everybody feels loved you know Christmas yeah it’s just hard warming I love it and I’m looking forward to it already oh my God Christmas today’s May it’s only seven months away Christmas oh my God time flies yes yes this go really I’m ready I’m I’m ready actually I’m ready to do my Christmas my early Christmas shopping yeah me too talk talk about shopping I discovered uh teu TM yes oh my god let’s talk about shopping okay and saving a lot of money oh my okay how many you own Amanda I am so obsessed with this app I am I I order I order things every day my God I’m gonna go bankrupt I totally understand you it is that I’m really trying to save up for a house because I don’t know if you know the house markets in the Netherlands but it’s Dr IC um so we have to pay off our debts for our studio loans um therefore I cannot shop as much as I youp and it’s very hard it is very very hard and not only that I like Teemu because if you don’t like something that they delivered you can always get a refund and they don’t ask you any questions and they give you credit you’re they’re very very kind and that’s this one came from it from Teo oo I love it I love it gorgeous you know what maybe maybe I should get my own and and our on our next interview together I’m we’re we’re gonna wear both we’re gonna wear both okay so we’re gonna look like twins shoulders look at this oh it goes the shoulders to shoulders yeah oh God right that is so funky no that’s not gonna be your costume is it no no it is not but I’m gonna take a 100,000 pict in it so you’ll see it all right looking forward to that now what is your favorite music well actually people describe my music as very depressing but I find it very inspiring um so I listen to very slow music my favorite song everyone who’s listening look it up bre by rhus um and and everyone is going to run away now because I’m going to sing a little it goes like bri release it all and it is absolutely amazing and that’s is the kind of genre with when I’m alone I listen to that and if I’m with other people I listen to 2,000 music of zeros music okay all right so uh but do you like dance music true yeah I can listen to any kind of music uh but if it’s my choice it would be the slow you some anything that that that relaxes you that relaxes your mind okay good now what is your favorite word can it be tree what Coca-Cola Coca-Cola Coca-Cola no actually yes you can but I found gr as well those are three amazing words yes you can yeah there the quote I live by and you can find it anywhere on my page as well as kindness is beauty um and those three words get me through anything even through this interview all right those are I never thought about that but yeah you’re you’re you’re you’re right everybody yes you can okay put it put it on your uh on your refrigerator door put it on your door and your window everywhere on your mirrors everywhere yes you can let it be your affirmation every day okay good one game number three all right Amanda would you rather have a golden voice or a silver tongue a golden voice because a silver tongue seems a bit weird do you know what a silver tongue is I don’t think I believe the the meaning of a silver tongue is somebody I think some a silver tongue is somebody a person who you know what um I’m confused I think somebody who who who is always very uh witty in a way but not but not in a in a good way somebody who’s sarcastic somebody who could be very sarcastic then definitely a golden voice yeah because a golden voice is somebody who can probably sing or who is very eloquent who can speak wisely yeah good choice good choice Amanda would you rather always be 10 minutes late or always 20 minutes early 20 minutes early because coming too late is in any kind of way Uno okay i’ rather away 10 minutes in my car and then show up that’s a less wors good one Amanda would you rather have the ability to talk to animals or become an animal oh I would rather talk to animals because I think they are more intelligent than we believe they are I totally 100% agree okay not only that but animals can survive the planet without humans yes correct absolutely whereas humans we’re very destructive we’re like the worst creatures on Earth okay kind of all right Amanda would you rather have or would you rather be the first person to explore a planet or be the inventor of a drug that cures a deadly disease I would be the inventor of a drug cure deadly diseases because I believe in Saving Lives bravo bravo Crown her now yes Stephen Rin if you’re watching there you go you know what it’s funny because there’s so many diseases in this world there’s so many diseases so many absolutely and you know what I mean cancer is just one of them and then you know we still we still have not conquered cancer and there’s so AI is very Advanced right now and believe strongly that AI is g to find way to cure cancer and maybe many more of of chronical diseases that are hard to live with or even deadly so so in that way I find AI a positive te good all right people one of those that’s why it’s so important to stress the importance of science medicine technology uh you know uh and Humanities you know to be able to find solutions to all these world’s diseases and stuff we still have a long way to go but for the time being try to live a healthy lifestyle okay and happy and order stuff from Teemu yes you can it’ll make you happy all right Amanda would you rather lose all your money and valuables or all the pictures that you have ever taken I would rather lose all my money because my pictures are everything to me good answer because you cannot replace good memories no they are way more B than any kind of dollar you can think of exactly because not only that because all the things that we see I always you know tell people you know what all the things that you see they’re all Illusions because one of these days they’re all gonna disappear yes okay but of course there’s certain things in life that stay forever like memories of your childhood you I’m sure you have a lot of good memories when you were a child when you were growing up well I actually um from the age uh of when I was born till 15 many memories of mine are blank dueing my depression um because everything got so negative and porn away that I can hardly remember anything from the past um only if it takes pictures so pictures are the reason why I still remember things happened and it’s really bizarre to notice and I’ve spoken to a lot of people people about it who also struggled with depression or suicidal thoughts and they all said the same and that is shocking and and quite heartwarming at the same time because I know I’m alone in this so and if if you’re out there listening and hearing this and knowing that that could go on it’s okay I totally agree not only that because um you know it’s there’s earlier during the interview uh we talked about the AA of of being able to reach out and to help other people especially those who are suffering from depression or me or any type of mental uh mental illness now I know the Netherlands is a very small country and um how is is a suicide rate high in the Netherlands um recently since the Corona virus it has gone up way higher actually and I I really really find it hard to see also we have some Pol iCal problems which makes it quite hard um to to to live happily um like for example the housing market here is is undoable um and the politics are working very hard on it but we have way too many houses too short and um people like me we we live with our parents which is fine which is loving we have parents we can stay with but we are also down to fly out and then spread our wings and grow alive and maybe now at 32 you get the luck of a house well a house is actually a necessary need um so once you’re ready it it could would be better if there were more places to it um and I’ve seen the rates and numbers going up by that a lot and it’s a really shameful to see yes so is is the government doing anything about to to diminish that problem yeah they’re trying really hard the only problem is like um how do you speak about depression how do you believe that you’ll ever get out of a depression um I’ve had several uh suicidal people around me two of them I unfortunately lost and um it is so crazy how they could make you feel like they are all right uh while they completely aren’t and and are actually at at the depth of your life and I I don’t know how you can open up to that uh only by exampling that that there is light at the end of the tunnel and that you can actually be truly happy um so yeah they’re trying a lot and there are a lot of places where you can go to or call to or anything um but it’s it’s not enough yet yes that’s why in a way it’s so important to maintain uh a close relationship with your with your family with your friends you know create create a a network of people who are actually positive and stay away from people who are destructive people people who are people who mean bad nothing be bad to you or what oh I just saw your a cat in the background what is the cat’s name oh I have two cats you have two cats one was named by my sister and she is called v um which means white in Dutch and the other is Hope guess who pick that was me and they’re actually same way yes please show them to the world to the whole world you want to see cats look at her oh my God so that’s what’s her name again um this is V vcha okay oh my D how old is she um she is seven years old oh okay so she’s she’s like a teenager yeah she can drink alcohol she can drink alcohol oh my God that’s 18 plus right so so she she sleeps in your bed yes okay what about the other c yeah we don’t really like we used to live my partner and I used to live together um but we had to move back to my parents since it wasn’t financially uh capable anymore and um the cats moved with us but they are super afraid of the dog because there’s also a dog here dog but they don’t really go along together so they needed a safe space and the only other room was this so let’s give them a safe space well you know what I have a dog I cannot live I cannot see myself living alone without a dog we all need pets in our lives because pets pets make our lives happier better too yes absolutely you know and they never judge you no well cats do cats do okay well cats do judge that’s why I prefer dogs to cats yeah all right so um well so the finals from his Grand Netherlands is going to be in July 21st which barely two months two months away from now now as far as preparation goes are you all set with your evening gown with your wardrobe with your swimsuit are you all set with that not yet I’m still looking and trying to find the perfect dress because I want a mix of gr and a mix of me even though I do like gr um but I haven’t yet found a perfect dress okay and when it comes to shoes I have a pair of shoes on my eyes but I have too many shoes like this is only half of my shoes um so I’m trying to figure out whether I buy new ones and the answer is yes or use the ones I have but I’d rather buy new ones all right you can always get shoes from Teemo you know that right yeah but evening gowns or any pageant dresses is always uh advisable to get them in person in a nice bouque yeah if I’m sure you have some designer friends who are willing to sponsor you you know for for their dresses right and I think uh there’s a I think there’s a Dutch is it Baroque or company they have beautiful they have beautiful um pieces and jewelry yeah the jewelry is amazing they sponsor uh 12 months of beauty um and the winner gets something of them we’re not sure yet yet what it is but they also make the grounds and everything um and a few weeks ago they had a show and they have pieces oh my God I love it I really want to have all of it it’s amazing it’s just if you haven’t seen it yet look it up it’s amazing so um how high are the heels that you’re going to be wearing I’m looking for 12 CM centim um sure not sure what it is in is it like what six inches maybe like six inches half a foot I know no people help out okay this American is not familiar with the metric system okay we height oh okay so that’s about that’s yeah that’s about two inch platform and a six inch heels all right I believe he I think I think I have a pair I I ordered a pair from Teemu but they’re uh but but the ones that I ordered are are are what they call stripper heels like for hookers and strippers oh yes yes yeah yeah we call themes because then it sound so I’ve been like I’ve been like practicing like wearing them walking but it’s very very hard because they’re so high you can walk on Heels I’m I’m still practicing I can I can I can walk in like 4 inch heels but not six or or higher so that to me a challeng to show me that show all of us will one of these days once I perfected my walk I will upload a video of me walking stripper Hills and I’m going to them okay just kidding so how’s your turn my turns but I I cannot do the Melissa turn when she did the three times in a row it’s incredible like I asked ston and Robin like should I be able to do that um and they luckily said no I’m having troubl doing one so but wait wait a minute you Melissa has her own signature walk you have to have your own signature walk absolutely you you don’t want to cop well you can imitate but you don’t want to copy somebody else’s you just want to stay you and you got to win as you because if else exactly you’re not yeah I you know it’s great it’s great to be able to make all these turns but it’s not necessary all you need to do is stable walk if you don’t feel comfortable uh turning then don’t do it just do a wonderful Glide straight walk and you’ll be fine you know you’ll be fine I’ll take the advice so I can’t wait to watch the Miss Grand Netherlands finals in July 21st and I’m sure it’s going to be amazing show hopefully they’re going to show it live on YouTube or on Instagram at least or Facebook I don’t know it yet but I could ask so is it going to be held in Amsterdam no in F CA very Dutch where’s that okay think Fame is a small age um little downwards from Amsterdam okay all right I look I look up I look it up in the map for me it’s 34 minutes drive that’s all I know Michael Den woodston says you all should see a man to walk in sneakers all right do you have a video do is there a real a video of you walking in sneakers that you want no I don’t think so and Michael if you have it you’re not going to share it you know what Michael we want to see you and Amanda walk together in no Amanda should walk in sneakers and you Michael should walk in heels okay deal yes yes yes that’s a deal Michael if you’re listening we’re gonna do this there you go yeah let’s do it it’s a challenge for you Michael oh I’m gon I’m so gonna write this down this on Instagram well the world the whole world just witnessed so yeah there’s like witnesses to it no way back now take that challenge I want to see you walking heels and Amanda in sneakers yes woohoo all right so I invited Lena to join us but apparently I think she didn’t see my message so I don’t think she won’t be able to make it but anyway so listen uh this has been a fun and and fun and serious and and amazing and wonderful interview all over the and you know again you know I love love Dutch pageant girls I love Dutch beauty queens they never disappoint they always deliver and you’re yeah you’re you’re again you’re just you know you’re another one of them so um Before I Let You Go is there a message that you would like to tell your followers your friends and your family who support you Amanda go yes you can woohoo right it works for everything but if I have to make it a little bit more wider um be true to who you are be yourself be kind um love your surroundings and most important of all love yourself self-compassion that is so important now uh would you like to repeat the same thing in Dutch of course all right you ready and self composting and do it while you’re drinking Coca-Cola okay love yourself listen that sounds very good it actually gave me goosebumps just listening to you talking Dutch oh thank you yeah it’s like weird you know I’d love one of the languages I I’d like to learn one of these days have time oh you should definitely do that but it’s a really hard hard I heard I heard it’s a very it’s a very hard European language good so anyway thank you so much again for uh taking your time I know you’re very busy and you have a lot of things to do and prepare you know for for the final is Grand Netherlands 2024 and uh one once this video is up I’m going to share it with everybody in my on social media on platform and of course people please uh please follow Amanda in her journey to miss Grand Netherlands please follow her on her social on her Instagram account which is Amanda van wesle I’m gonna write it down in the description box so people can follow you so listen have a wonderful evening and if you haven’t had dinner yet much enjoy your dinner thank you or nice day no not yet tomorrow morning there you go um thank you very much for having me here today it it’s been lovely to chat with you and to meet you uh actually because I had no idea besides seeing you online but you are truly a really loving and and kind person and it’s an honor to be here with you ah thank you so much thank you appreciate that all right so have a wonderful evening and sleep very well I know you need some rest okay and uh so we’re GNA chat on Instagram one of these days and you know if you if you need if you need any advice from me let me know and I’d be more than happy to uh uh give them to you okay so thank you again I’m gonna give you the biggest virtual hug and virtual pisses that’s a wonderful night have a wonderful evening people and thank you for joining critical Beauty and we shall see you soon and good luck to our good friend Amanda thank you very much bye take care