I’m aglow. Here’s hoping all enjoyed an incredible Thanksgiving holiday with family and friends; or at least had as good a time as legally allowed by your state or country this weekend. Today’s interview is with Chalice Carling’s favorite finalist!

Miss United Kingdom, Ella Quinsette

Ella: I’m a very down to earth, caring person that will help anyone with anything if it’s within my capabilities and I love to do so. I am kind and have a good sense of humor. I love fashion and am in my element when styling outfits. I love to mix and match clothes from various designers to achieve the look I want. I like to rise to any challenges set.

Kate: How do you spend your time in SL, any hobbies?
Ella: I usually spend my free time shopping, I am a true shopaholic. I also like to visit new places in Second Life. There are so many beautiful sims. I find it very relaxing going roaming about exploring. I also love to go dancing with friends. Lately I have wanted to learn more about SL photography. It is something I would love to learn more about. Other than that I spend a lot of time styling outfits. I also love all of my jobs in SL they rarely feel like work as I usually have great fun.
Kate: I bet working for Lion is very interesting. (I love the dollhouse and forbidden skins, btw)
Ella: Working for Lion is amazing, she is sooo much fun, but what I love most about Lion is that she’s honest and genuine and very approachable, she’s always thinking of ways to involve her members and listens to their choices, and usually incorporates their ideas into her future plans. She’s crazy and maybe I am wrong for saying that, lol, but normal is boring and I adore her, she knows this. I am also a huge fan of her work. I love all of her skins, each new skin series gets better and better. She truly amazes me.
Kate: Ha, she shocked me… I was dithering over what skin to buy and she came to me and dropped three on me, lol. That was my introduction to Lion.
Ella: Yes, nearly everyone I speak to says Lion has given them skins. lol I keep telling her you’re too kind to run a business lol but she’s fantastic and I think it’s nice she’s generous to everyone.
Kate: I see that you are involved in model education! It must be fun to interact with the new eager, fresh faces.
Ella: Yes, that is one of my favorite jobs, I love seeing the students come all fresh faced, nervous and eager to learn, and then watching them blossom throughout the two week course we run. Finally seeing them in their graduation show is always such a proud moment for me and the other instructors. It’s great when they love to keep in touch and you see how their career grows, there is no feeling quite like it and what I love more is sometimes they teach me too, you’re never too old to learn new tricks. I’m so very proud of all our graduates.
Kate: I find I have to slightly tune how I walk every time SL issues a new client. And it seems like someone is always innovating with poses and AO’s… and now there are several different client viewers…how do you keep up?
Ella: I have exactly the same problems, for shows I always revert back to the main Second Life Viewer; I find that I have the least problems with that, though lately SL seems to be getting laggier than ever before. I use different client viewers for different reasons for example the Emerald Viewer has some beautiful sky options which are fantastic for photography and it has the added feature of having double attachment points which can be really handy and as I say I use the main client viewer for shows. I love going pose shopping, there are so many different pose creators available now and it’s nice to have a wide variety to suit all my needs for photography or runway. I love that everything is always evolving and I am looking forward to the future of AO’s, poses, walks etc. I keep up to date with all the latest places to shop, through friends and groups I am in, everyone is always so helpful to one another.
Kate: Yes… it keeps modeling exciting! Lovely picture in your Lionskin profile picture!

Ella: Yes it does keep modeling exciting. Awww thank you! My good friend Amerique took it Actually that picture was my Miss Virtual World application photo
Kate: So… with the grand finale only a short time away… are you ready? Are you excited? What are your thoughts?
Ella: I am sooo excited, but also very nervous, I know it’s a huge event. I am not ready for it yet no, I still have a few things to prepare, and my fabulous designers are still working their magic from some of my ideas. I can’t wait to see what they come up.  I remember last years finalist and all the amazing clothes that the designers had made, it blew my mind I can’t wait to see what all the designers come up with this year for everyone. I will definitely be going shopping the day after the finals lol. I never thought for a moment I would be up there this year with such an amazing group of models, who each in their own right deserve to win I am so glad I am not a judge lol. I would also like to wish each of them the best of luck.
Kate: Well, this year, you ladies have taken it to a completely new level. It amazes me how hard you all are working on this!
Ella: Everyone has truly amazed me and the challenges this year have really been something for us all too really rises to the challenge. Everyone is so helpful to one another even though it’s a contest it rarely feels like it. It’s been great fun. I love it.
Kate: So is there anything we missed…. anything you would like to speak to before we close?
Ella: I would just like to take the chance to say thank you to the judges for choosing me as a finalist and also to everyone that has helped, supported and  encouraged me before, and during this contest it really means the world to me. So thank you. Thank you to you too Kate for this fantastic opportunity to talk with you and let people know more about me.
Kate: Oh! You are very welcome!!!! One last question…
Ella: Sure ask away
Kate: Any advice you would give an applicant to MVW next year?
Ella: Yes, my main advice would be to never give up. I applied to MVW in 2008 and did not even make it to pre-finals stage, but this was something I dreamed of and with the support of my friends I tried again and amazingly I was chosen as a finalist. So yes my main advice is never give up, if you want something bad enough give it all you have and then a little bit more. Dreams can come true.

The Grand Finals for the Miss Virtual World will be held at the Patch Thibaud Auditorium on December 19, Saturday. See you there!

Kate Stockholm is a senior staff writer for Best of Second Life Magazine, a retired SL Mentor and a Miss Virtual World Organization executive. She was last year’s Miss Sweden and winner of Miss Congeniality.