FASHION

leading towards exams in order to focus on her studies. Juggling athletics with its intense training,
constant travelling to participate in competitions away from home and studying at Post Secondary,
as well as trying to build a path to an alternate career was causing a tiresome and stressful life for
Joanna. What pushed her to not fully give up was the achievements and milestones she reached as
an athlete, the accomplishments and rewards for her hard work fueled her and motivated her into
going back.
Unfortunately, Joanna retired from her career as a sprinter in 2008 following a persistent leg injury
that was refusing to get better without prolonged rest. “The more I rested to heal my leg, the more
time went by and I was getting older so I decided to stop and found myself never going back. I
didn’t regret my decision as I had accomplished more than enough during my years as a sprinter.
Sure I missed it, but it was time to move on”. And move on she did, into a new career that filled the
void left by retiring from athletics. I’m sure you’d be quick to think she didn’t move too far away, on
the contrary, she did. She left the track and moved on to hair brushes and make up brushes; these
are now Joanna’s trade tools. Having always had a passion for styling hair, Joanna saw it as the
perfect career choice, it’s easy to tell she’s the type of person who lives the life she loves, and loves
the life she lives, by putting her energy and time into things that bring her joy.
SPORTS PERSONALITY
After retiring from athletics, Joanna went to Australia and enrolled into a three year Hairdressing
and Make-Up course in the Melbourne based Sheila Baxter Institute for Hair & Beauty. Upon
graduating, she came back to Seychelles to start her new career. She took her childhood passion
for styling her sisters’ Emma Hoauareau-Motheé and Janice Houareau whenever they had a
special place to go, & turned it into a career! An example of Joanna’s work can be seen on some of
Potpourri’s recent covers where she was the make-up artist for the cover model. Quite impressive
work if I may say so myself. She is truly a multi-talented individual.
Following in her aunt’s footsteps, Gaelle Dubignon
After two years of being a freelance beautician with establishments such as Ste. Anne Resort
and Spa, Marco Pros and Direct Bookings as well as individual clients who are forever loyal to
her, Joanna is currently in the process of acquiring her own salon while she still has one hundred
percent of her time to spare as she has no children yet. When asked about whether she would
like her future sons or daughters to pursue athletics like she did, her answer was “Yes, definitely
yes! I feel that the involvement in sports is a very important aspect of a child’s life; even up to
adolescence as it helps develop you in various ways. It provides you with a sense of responsibility
among other things, this is one of the reasons I’m encouraging my niece Gaelle Dubignon, in the
hopes that she might attain the level I did, maybe even be the one to break my two remaining
records! And keep things in the family”.
After spending half the time talking about work,
I was curious to find out a little more about her
lifestyle, and it was no surprise when I learnt that
Joanna was truly the down to earth person I had
pegged her to be, with a kind heart. Her idea of an
ideal ‘fun-time’ is going to the beach, socialising
with her family and friends, as well as spending
quality time with her boyfriend Hans. Not being
an athlete hasn’t changed much in Joanna as she
is still to this day anti-smoking and anti-alcohol,
which equally means she dislikes people who
abuse the two amongst other drugs. She likes
to keep to herself, in her own world, away from
the constant gossip always going around the
grapevine. She also believes in working hard for
what you want and appreciating what you have.
Although Joanna has stepped out of the athletic
scene, she feels that the youth of today aren’t as
dedicated to the cause, that they let too many
negative distractions into their lives instead of
the good. I couldn’t leave our little tete-a-tete
without asking her if she has any words for the
few aspiring athletes there to keep them on the
right track, her words were: ´To succeed as an
athlete you must first and foremost have the
mindset to do it on your own without others. It all
depends on you as in the end your successes and
achievements are all your own”. So there you have
it, Joanna Houareau, more than just a pretty face,
a role model to all the aspiring female athletes
and aspiring beauticians of Seychelles. From
tracks, to brushes, she made it.