Chantal Tchiakpe, former Vlisco Ambassador from Benin (2015), is the founder of ‘Oasis du Bonheur’ (‘Oasis of Happiness’), a non-profit organisation in the form of a happiness restaurant where people in need can eat for free.

She also runs a dayschool orphanage for over 50 children and is the presenter of ‘Un instant de Bonheur’ (‘A moment of happiness’) on Golf TV in Benin, for 13 years. In this TV show, she visits people in need to bring happiness and gifts.

‘Being the Vlisco Ambassador of Benin, the selection and nomination was not only of professional significance to me,’ Chantal says. ‘It was also a bit spiritual because the history goes way back; with Vlisco it’s a love story, a generation and heritage story.’

As a Vlisco ambassador at the time, her aim was to empower women, encourage them to unite, work hard and love what they do, and to take the strongest and truest inside them.