Naturally Grounded and Focused: A conversation with a Queen
A woman of undeniable passion and discipline, Mariam Habach won the crown of Miss Venezuela in 2015 and has yet to stop moving. Whether it is sharing her authentic life with her followers online or finishing her studies, this global beauty always has her eyes on the prize — and with a consistent path, regardless of all the acquired expectations, Habach will never not fight for what she wants.
Photographer & Art Director: Antonio Ajam | Model: Mariam Habach | Stylist: Charlie Rincon-Rodriguez | Hair & Makeup: Luigi Chamorro
Dress: Club L London
Venezuela often makes headlines for less than ideal reasons. While it may be true that the country is facing extreme difficulties, there is still beauty and hope amongst its shores and countrymen. Not only does the country boast divine natural sites like Angel Falls and Parque Nacional Morrocoy, but there is a wealth of culture and pride that adds to the country’s allure. An example of that is each year Venezuela has a strong nominee representing the country at Miss Universe. With mesmerizing green eyes and porcelain blonde locks, Mariam Habach represented Venezuela in the world’s most prestigious pageant in 2016. Her exposure on the global stage launched her modeling career and propelled her move to the United States. Trading one beach for another, Habach now resides in vibrant Miami where she continues to model.
Habach’s 2015 Miss Venezuela win was distinguished by the gorgeous gowns she competed in. The role model stunned judges and viewers in her Reina Encantada del Mar gown, loosely translated to ‘enchanted queen of the ocean’, designed by Nidal Nouaihed, who is known for his pageant-worthy extravagance. Inspired by the ocean goddess Yemaya, Habach’s look flooded the stage with over 120 meters of organza and hundreds of pearls and crystals which served to mimic the powerful elegance of the ocean. Habach, of Syrian and Italian heritage, from Lara, Venezuela, was later crowned by her predecessor Mariana Jiménez while donning a beautiful snow white, long sleeved evening gown that was carefully decorated with geometric square and rectangle rhinestones along the outer edges. The off-the-shoulder neckline gave a nod to Habach’s personal style of classical silhouettes, but the gown was fitting of a modern pageant queen as it was a two-piece ensemble.
Habach has always had her eyes on the crown jewel of Tierra de Garcia. The now title holder has been participating in beauty competitions her entire life and modeling since the age of five. Watching former contestants as a young girl, Habach was inspired to follow in their footsteps and drawn to the power and responsibility of a national reign. “It is all about the responsibility that comes with wearing the crown on your head and the name of your country on your chest,” shares Habach. “[It is] not easy, but you have to know how to carry it so that everything is as positive as possible.”
Skirt: ASOS Design | Hat: Jacquemus
Now a descendant of the reigning title holders, Habach is thrilled about how the pageant scene is evolving. Especially seeing more natural looks across the circuit, which is something that she advocates for through her social media. She is also proud to witness more diverse contestants having the opportunity to have their moment in the spotlight. To her, pageants used to be all about cookie-cutter perfection with one contestant mirroring the next and one winner resembling another, but now the industry has grown and created more opportunities for all young women. “Pageants are giving more people a chance to enter into the industry and fulfill their dreams. Perfection isn’t the goal [anymore], it is now realness,” shares Habach. Her advice for the next girl who wants to wear the crown? “Enjoy what you do and fight for what you want.”
Much like the changes taking place in the pageant industry, Habach tries to remain as authentic and real as she can through her social media platforms. Scrolling through her Instagram feed, her followers are able to see the beauty queen and her life through Habach’s eyes. Her page is approachable because her posts are not overly curated or heavily edited. Her feed is filled with incredibly enviable photos of her experiences, but aside from her professional photos — which are to die for — the posts she shares are of her everyday life. Habach is intentional to balance her off-screen and on-screen life, believing that your social media should parallel your real-world experiences. On the other hand, she is fully aware that social media’s purpose is to show glimpses of your life and not the entire thing. “It is very important to have emotional balance and tranquility. That [should] always be your life goal and we should all strive for that,” encourages Habach.
Dress: A Design
“Enjoy what you do and fight for what you want.”
Unlike other beauty queens, Habach is a queen that promotes realness and that is what makes her 1.1 million followers connect with her. Like Princess Diana, she wears the crown, but remains grounded and connected to her audience. A real woman’s insta queen — yet another title she can add to her resume. “I only share my day to day without filters and au naturale, so people identify with me,” shares Habach. She champions people being true to themselves and hopes that her online efforts help others feel comfortable in their own skin as well.
The tenacious former pageant queen climbed her way to the top and was able to use that platform to launch her career into the fashion industry in her own right. Winning the competition blew open the doors for her to start modeling. With each experience more memorable than the last, from parades to photographs, Habach has a catalogue in her mind of each experience and they all hold a special place in her heart. Every day as a model and a title holder brings new and exciting opportunities to her life, yet she somehow makes her hectic lifestyle seem effortless. “I always try to lead a normal life, somewhere between doing my thing, studying, and working to always improve myself. Being a model, influencer, and former beauty queen are all just highlights on the reel of my life,” shares the influencer. Having sacrificed a lot to be in the position she is now, Habach remains ever grateful for her experiences, but she does have plans to make modeling more of a hobby in the future and turn her attention to the next mountain she wants to climb — finishing her studies.
Top: Zara
Naturally, fashion has always been an important aspect of Habach’s life. Describing her personal style as classic and elegant, the former beauty queen tends to play it safe and prefers to stay in her own fashion lane. Leaning towards neutral colors, more often of darker shades, Habach is intentional to stay away from bold prints. “Very rarely do I dare to change or dress differently or leave my comfort zone,” states the title holder. When she does take risks, it is rare and only under the most necessary conditions. Black pants and silk, strappy tops that are as effortlessly beautiful during the day as they are at night are her tried and true outfits of choice. However, she is known to to splurge on an accessory or two. Like most of us, jewelry, shoes, and purses are her guilty pleasure. Keeping her makeup styling just as minimal as her outfit choices, a good concealer, a swipe of mascara, and a nude lip is all she needs to feel confident to take on the day. Although, she does love to accentuate her striking green eyes, so she will take any opportunity to make them standout.
Habach is handling the heaviness of the pandemic by keeping her mind's eye on her next goal. This year the beauty queen plans to trade in her tiara for a graduating cap and gown. Deciding on her next professions, we can expect her next title to be DMD (Doctor of Medicine in Dentistry) or LPC (Licensed Professional Counselor). Either, being a perfectly natural fit for a beauty queen who wants every person to feel as beautiful as she does, inside and out. Aside from her pending graduation, Habach is riding the pandemic waves the best way she knows how — in the moment, but focused on her goals. “Let’s not be impatient with what we want,” concludes Habach, “patience is good, but sometimes we plan, and it is useless because there are better plans for us. We should live day to day, enjoying the surroundings and appreciating the little things. Family will always be our strength and we should always embrace and take care of our loved ones. Let’s fight for our dreams.”
“Patience is good, but sometimes we plan, and it is useless because there are better plans for us!”