Profile
ROSEMARY CHILESHE
INTERNATIONAL RUNWAY SUPERMODEL
Catwalk: Runway: Cosmetics: Commercial: Editorial: Elegant: Promotional
HEIGHT: 5' 11
HAIR: Black
LENGTH: Short & Sassy
EYES: Brown
DRESS: 8/10
BUST: 32B
WAIST: 26
HIPS: 34'
WEIGHT: 9st 0lbs
SHOES: 8
Rosemary is a Commercial Property Surveyor, a profession that has only 10% women. Spiritually, she is a member of the New Apostolic Church. She sings Saprano in the choir and is also a Sunday School Teacher of Children from the ages of 10+.
Currently, Rosemary is working jointly with Carl Ellis - a fashion designer on launching his new clothing line label called "Mother Africa" onto the fashion industry and market. Additionally, both Rosemary and Carl are the founders of The "R.O.C Foundation" charity which aims to raise awareness of HIV/AIDS on a bigger scale with plans already underway for their HIV/AIDS project with an initial start in Zambia.
Rosemary scooped the Miss Zambia UK title in 2003. And her success as a beauty queen and model could have been written in the stars right from the moment she was crowned Miss Zambia UK in 2003, she then went on represent Zambia at Miss World 2004. Since then, there has been no looking back for Rosemary who has been on a non stop ride to stardom and a dedicated charity worker.
In her capacity as Miss Zambia UK title-holder, Rosemary adopted the Kalingalinga HIV/AIDS orphanage in Lusaka, Zambia. The orphanage looks after children whose parents have died of HIV/AIDS and Rosemary's responsibility is to raise funds for the upkeep, schooling and health facilities for the orphans.
In 2004, Rosemary was selected to represent Zambia at the Miss World 2004 Pageant in China. As her charity project for Miss World, Rosemary went back to Zambia to organise and host the 'Staying Alive for Zambia: Inspire a Child', a fundraising event in aid of HIV/AIDS orphans. Staying Alive for Zambia was Rosemary's own version of LiveAid.
Staying Alive for Zambia involved the participation of all Zambians across the globe. The event was run in three phases starting with a 'Telethon' where Zambians and other well wishers would interact with Rosemary by telephoning into a television programme to pledge money and leave a message of goodwill for the HIV/AIDS orphans. The second phase involved people phoning into a radio programme, with those living abroad joining in the event in an on-line programme via the internet. To crown it all, Rosemary hosted a Staying Alive for Zambia Concert, in which all the top Zambian music artistes performed to raise funds for HIV/AIDS.
In the same year, Rosemary laid the Foundation Stone with Zambia's First Lady (Mrs Maureen Mwanawasa) to commence the construction of the House of Hope - a boarding house, class rooms and clinic to provide the HIV/AIDS orphans registered at her adopted charity with a home of their own, an education and access to health facilities.
During her reign as Miss Zambia UK, Rosemary has opened a community school in Zambia's tourist capital, Livingstone; she has also been involved in the plans to construct a Mourners Shelter at the Batoka Hospital in Livingstone, and has worked with the Red Cross in Lusaka, Zambia on their project for Street Kids.
In London and the UK, Rosemary has undertaken a number of fundraising events, including taking part in a charity fashion show to raise funds for the UNICEF Water and Sanitation Project in Africa.
In the modelling world, Rosemary has had her own impact starting with the time when she went to Miss World in December 2004. Although Rosemary did not get the Miss World Crown, she made her impact in China. Out of the 107 contestants from around the world, Rosemary was on arrival, selected as spokesperson for the Miss World 2004 contestants in television and other media interviews. She was always among the top 10 contestants selected for special appearances and now appears on the front page of the Miss World website with the legendary artist, Lionel Richie, as part of the attractions for the Miss World Pageant.
Rosemary was first introduced to the Modelling industry at the age of 18 on her way into Manchester from her family home in Sheffield by a representative of the prestigious Models 1. However, due to secondary school commitments, she did not take it further as modelling was not her desire at that moment in time.
Having completed secondary school, she then stayed on at school in upper sixth form until 1999 to pursue Business Studies as she felt it would give her a wider choice career wise.
In 2000, she started her university studies at Sheffield Hallam on a four year sandwich BSc (Hons) degree course in Business Property Management. She has since graduated with honours.
In 2003, her third year of university, Rosemary moved to Manchester for a year to undertake her placement, shortly after she got signed to Dimples/EdenClayre Modelling Agency in Greater Manchester. In the same year she became Miss Zambia UK title-holder, Rosemary then represented Zambia at Miss World in 2004 held in Sanya, China! (under the management of Justina Mutale - CEO of Perryfield Promotions Ltd, the organisers of Miss Zambia UK jointly with Elizabeth Mwanza - CEO of Pageants Zambia Ltd, supported by Wendy Chanda Fornari - CEO of Miss Universe Zambia).
Upon her return from Miss World in December 2004, Rosemary entered the Face of Sleek 2005 Model Search and is currently the spokes model for the cosmetic giant.
In 2006, with Rosemary's own powerful negotiating skills, one of her many talents, she graced the covers of MIMI magazine, becoming the first Zambian Covergirl for MIMI Magazine, following in the foot steps other supermodels, including the renowned Supermodel - Iman.
Rosemary has since had countless media appearances in the UK and abroad on television, radio, newspapers, magazines and the internet.
The year 2006 has since seen Rosemary evolve in her element, she has conducted television interviews to give her advice to aspiring models on what it takes to reach various levels, she has made countless guest appearances and has participated in the prestigious Afro Hair and Beauty Show. She was one of the star models in the first ever Karama Umuntu African Hair Show held in London in October 2006.
Rosemary has undertaken numerous fashion shows for charities in the UK and Zambia as well as for upcoming and established fashion designers.
As a key driver in her own success, in the most recent Fashion Show that Rosemary participated in on 27 October 2006, in Manchester, she was selected to close the show which would be aired on Channel M, Manchester's local channel and can be accessed from SKY TV.
On November 12th 2006 - Rosemary was honoured with a GAB Award (Gathering of Africa's Best) in recognition of HIV/AIDS charity work, now officially the 2ND person after Nelson Mandela to receive one in the Southern Region of Africa.
On 1st December 2006 - WORLD AIDS DAY - In her capacity as Miss Zambia UK, Rosemary was addressing a Public Forum organised by the Commonwealth Secretariat to commemorate World AIDS Day at Marlborough House, the Headquarters of the Commonwealth in London.
Justina Mutale - (CEO of Perryfield Promotions Ltd, the organisers of Miss Zambia UK) has this to say 'As Rosemary handed over her Miss Zambia UK 2006 crown on 23rd December, one can undisputably say that Rosemary has been one of the most successful UK-based African beauty queens in recent years, combining beauty, brains and compassion'.
Rosemary continues to work with other potential Beauty Queens to assist in her areas of expertise. This is yet another phase in her life where Rosemary is set to bring a new meaning to the modelling industry.
Mr Clayton Goodwin, prominent journalist, founder and organiser of the Miss Caribbean and Commonwealth Beauty Pageant, which has been running in the UK since the 1960's has this to say about Rosemary, 'I tell everybody with whom I am in business that the beauty title-holders of today are generally inferior in attitude and character to those of the Golden Age of the early 1980s but that there is only one young lady today who deserves to be classed in the same company as the "greays" of yesteryear - and that is Rosemary Chileshe'. Mr Goodwin has been a staunch follower and analyst of beauty pageants and title holders in the UK for nearly 40 years.
