Dominika van Santen Alix (born
July 15,
1983 in Venezuela) is a
multifaceted Venezuelan who is a model, professional dancer and
beauty contestant of mixed Dutch and Venezuelan ancestry.
Growing up
in Maracaibo
, Van Santen graduated with a Bachelor's Degree in
Communication (Film, Radio and Television). She has also
been studying Classical Ballet for 14 years.
Modeling career
At the age of 17, Van Santen commenced her modeling career, 'when
her father saw an article in the paper regarding a beauty contest
and insisted that Dominika enter the competition. Dominika was a
little reluctant at first, but eventually gave into her father’s
request, entering the competition and ended up winning the beauty
contest; and her blossoming young modeling career has taken off
ever since that serendipitous moment. Over the last 5 years
following that fortuitous event Dominika’s career has been
comprised with an eclectic group of challenging assignments ranging
from basic catalogue bookings to international modeling overseas'
(
Andrew Rudder for
Pulp Magazine), Van Santen began to model for
some young fashion magazines and doing commercials for small
businesses as well as runways for local designers, with the
acceptance of her family, who supported her at all times.
The
fashion designer Nidal Nouaihed
invited her to compete in the 2005 Miss
Venezuela pageant, representing Peninsula Goajira
. Van Santen went unplaced in the contest, won
by Jictzad Viña of Sucre
state,
despite being a favorite to place into the semifinals.
On
November 15, 2005, she won the Top Model of the World title, in
Humen
, China,
between 68 candidates.
After the beauty pageant she was offered numerous modeling gigs
with local and international companies like Pepsi, Philips,
Infonet, and Diesel Clothing among others.
She has appeared on
magazine covers like EME, Facetas and Tendencia in
Venezuela and fashion campaigns like Gallo in Guatemala
. Also, appeared in an editorial &
Interview for
Maxim magazine
(Holland) in November 2006.
Top Model of the World
Van Santen
was selected by World Beauty
Organization to represent Margarita Island
- Venezuela
at Top Model of
the World 2005 held in Humen, China
. She
was the second Venezuelan to win the competition, after
Jacqueline Aguilera in 1995.
As the reigning
Top Model of the
World, Van Santen travelled the world to participate in show
models.
As
of October 2006, Van Santen visited several countries including
The United
States
, The
Netherlands
, Spain
, and her
home country of Venezuela.
Van Santen
crowned her successor Natália Guimarães from Brazil
during the
2006 Top Model of the World
pageant finale in February 2007, which was held in Kunming
, China.
See also
External links
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