AS TOLD TO BC PIRES
A shorter version of this feature first appeared in June 2015. Vanna Vee died in Tobago last week at the age of 30.
My name is Vanna Vee Girod and I am a singer, actress and – I hate to say it – but also a model.
I was named after Vanna White. And Farrah Fawcett. So my name is Vanna Farrah, really. But most people call me Vanna. Sometimes Vans – but that’s already taken by the sneakers!
I’m a town girl. I’m from mostly Valsayn and Maraval. I kinda grew up in both places.
My grandparents live in Maraval. Close to Ellerslie.
I have one brother, two sisters. I’m the oldest.
Everybody thinks I’m either the baby or an only child. I don’t know why.
On my mum’s side, we’re all small. Fun size! I call myself “the Mini Trini.” sometimes. Because people see me in pictures and then, when they see me in real life, they’re like, “Oh! You’re
that small!”
I love the idea of settling down and having a family, but career comes first.
I want to enjoy my children if I have them. Before age 35 for the latest.
I went to Blackman’s Private School.
Mrs Blackman is a definite character. You learn some interesting things for life from her. She’s very extroverted. Really crazy!
Right after leaving Providence I did an internship with Question Mark Entertainment. Simon Baptiste and Carolyn Pasea. Really nice people.
When I just finished high school, I did a feature film called Between Friends. It was in the TT Film Festival.
[caption id="attachment_937283" align="alignnone" width="768"] Singer, actress and model Vanna Vee Girod died in Tobago last week. - BC Pires[/caption]
Being aged 17 and doing your first film was a great experience. The cast was cool and the crew was from all over.
In 2015, I did my first feature film I was the lead actress in, called Moko Jumbie. Vashti Anderson was the director.
It’s a very mixed genre: suspense, romance, a bit of comedy in there.
I spent a whole month in Cedros and that was a life-changing experience!
It’s not that I don’t like being a model, it’s that I don’t like being called one.
Because models are told what to do and can be like hangers (for clothes). It’s not an airhead occupation – I know a lot of models who are smart – but I just don’t think that “model” is fitting of my personality.
My first song release was on an underground independent label called Kult Records.
My first release was a deep house song called Feels Good, produced by LAZAbeam.
It was really good. You can YouTube it and see videos of me shaking my waist.
I do a lot of film production stuff on films, short films, ads. I’m helping the Viscuña Bros, who did the Digicel ads.
I do a lot of running around. I like hard work.
I listen to everything: Gypsy Kings; Alanis Morrisette; Lauryn Hill; Vanessa Mae; trance. I love all of Daft Punk soundtrack music.
I used to be a gamer but I had to stop. It was taking up all my time!
I could eat a whole pizza by myself. I eat, like, six pancakes, six doubles at a time.
I’m very active. I do wake-boarding with Liquid
