Cleopatra in the 2012 Olympics

Photo: BP London 2012

Named after her grandmother, Cleopatra Borel was born on the east coast of Trinidad in the fishing community of Palisance Village, Mayaro. Encouraged by her father Raymond, who was an athlete in high school, Cleopatra pursued her interest in athletics from an early age, quickly developing a passion for the throwing events.

Cleopatra has been competing on the international stage for 10 years, with her first success coming at the 2002 Commonwealth Games in Manchester, England, where she was placed just out of the medals in fourth place. In 2003, Cleopatra won her first international medal, a silver at the Central American and Caribbean (CAC) Championships in Grenada. 2004 saw Cleopatra qualify for and compete in her first Olympics, the Games in Athens, where she was placed 10th in the shot put final.

Cleopatra continued to build on her athletic success. In 2006 she won bronze medals at the CAC Games in Columbia and the Commonwealth Games in Australia. Another bronze at the 2007 Pan American Games paved the way for her second Olympic qualification. She competed in the 2008 Beijing Games where she was placed 17th in the final shot put rankings.

The first international gold for Cleopatra came in 2010, at the CAC Games in Puerto Rico. In recognition of this achievement, the Trinidad and Tobago Olympic Committee named her Female Athlete of the Year. Her success continued into 2011, where she picked up a silver medal at the Pan American Games and a gold medal at the CAC Championships. 

Cleopatra is currently an assistant coach at Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, Virginia, USA. She works closely with the throwing coach, Gregory Jack, who is also her personal coach. Cleopatra would like to become a college coach in the future. She is conscious of her status as a role model for young Caribbean throwers, a position that comes with being one of the most successful female field athletes from the English-speaking Caribbean. 

Cleopatra holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Health Psychology from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County." 

~BP London 2012

...and I'm off!

As many of you may know, when I'm not Being Cleopatra I'm an opera singer. For the next few months I will be trying to further my career in Europe. I will be in Florence, Italy for a month and Germany for two months. If you would like to follow my travels, check out TheDivaDiaries.net

Being Cleopatra has become an obsession of mine, so I hope to continue posting daily on Cleopatra, but my Facebook, Pinterest, or Twitter will probably not be updated as regularly.

Thank you for your continued support!

Buon viaggio!!

Cleopatra Sand Sculpture

Cleopatra Sand Sculpture

"Cleopatra Emerald" is the largest in the world

PRESS RELEASE: BeverlyHillsGem.com

"Beverly Hills, CA -- (SBWIRE) -- 04/09/2012 -- A team of researchers recently discovered what some are calling the largest emerald in the world. Aptly named the “Cleopatra Emerald,” its weight is 40175 carts (cts) and shares a similar if not the same species as the famous Mogul emerald (217.80 cts), which Christie’s sold for $2.2 million.

To confirm the authenticity of the Cleopatra as an emerald, researchers analyzed its tone and light. Subsequently, that color enhancements notwithstanding, the Cleopatra’s displayed an uneven tone with some parts lighters and others darker. For this and other reasons, GIA graduates at http://www.igli.in have certified the Cleopatra as n emerald.

With its rarity and beauty together with the Mogul as a basis for comparison, gem experts have approximated the Cleopatra’s value from $20 - $450 million (US). The Cleopatra also has a visually appealing deep green color akin to a Brazilian emerald.

What makes the Cleopatra so unique is not only its weight, but also its cut – among other characteristics. Indeed, it’s both brittle and a large round emerald, making it even more unique. Although emeralds are the most challenging of all gems to cut, it took over 3 months to cut the Cleopatra. As is common practice in treating emeralds, the Cleopatra was enhanced with oil treatment.

For historical perspective on the Cleopatra, the emerald’s beauty and exquisiteness reminded its discoverers of the original Queen of Egypt herself. In fact, the connection between the gem and the queen runs deeper: for Cleopatra of Egypt, emeralds were her favorite of all gems.

Currently, the Cleopatra emerald is now on the market for purchase. For consideration, you can send your offer to beverlyhillsgem.com or call 888 311-7293."

-SBWire

Click here to read a previous post abouth Cleopatra's love for emeralds: Emeralds are a Girl's Best Friend

Cleopatra Paper Dolls

Photo: Gabi Paper Dolls

Photo: Gabi Paper Dolls

Desserts by Michelle

Photo: Desserts by Michelle

My friend Michelle Repajić, baker and singer, has opened up a baking business in Los Angeles, CA called Desserts by Michelle. 

Click here for more information!

Cleopatra at the Super Bowl!

Madonna being Cleopatra at the 2012 Super Bowl Halftime Show. This was my first time at a Super Bowl party and I was luck to be in New York with New Yorkers when the Giants won (but it was a major plus that Cleopatra was there too)!

Cleopatra Paper Dolls

Click here to buy Cleopatra Paper Dolls

Click here to buy Cleopatra Paper Dolls

DVD Release: Treasure Buddies

Click here to buy the DVD Treasure Buddies

"For the sixth installment in the Air Buddies series, the team of talking golden retrievers heads to the ruins of ancient Egypt where, with the help of an archeologist dog, mischievous monkey, and baby camel, explore tombs, escape booby traps, and race against a cat in search of treasure. The movie is directed by Robert Vince, produced by Anna McRoberts, and it will be released by Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment on Blu-ray, DVD, and as a movie download on January 31, 2012."

 -Wikipedia

Click here to buy the DVD Treasure Buddies

Egypt blog

After having an obsession with Cleopatra, I now have an urdge to go to Egypt. I've never been to Egypt, but I hope to one day.

I found this wonderful blog by an Italian photographer/travel blogger who loves Egypt and travels there often. She even happened to be in Egypt last year during the revolution. While she is not in Egypt now, some of her earlier posts are about Egypt. Check it out!

Click here to go to: http://blog.travelreportage.com/

ARTICLE: Questioning the beauty of Cleopatra

Photo: Anthony Abbot

ARTICLE: Questioning the Beauty of Cleopatra by The Washington Times

Click here to read

Cleopatra Lego

Photo credit: byngphoto

Lego - Cleopatra with an Asp

Cleopatra in the Rose Parade!

Right now, I am on my way to see the Rose Parade live in Pasadena, CA. I was excited to see that Cleopatra will also be there! Be sure to turn on your TV and watch her in the parade! 

What kind of leader are you?

What kind of leader are you? Take this quiz by Globe Business and find out. Will you be Cleopatra?

Click here to take the quiz

How did the Ancient Egyptians Celebrate December 25?

Statue of Isis Suckling Horus, Bronze (664-332 BC)

The virgin mother Isis and her son Horus (20 BC)

I re-posted this from last year because I thought it would be very appropriate for today. Happy holidays to everyone! Thank you all for your support of Being Cleopatra and my CD, Cleopatra's Voice!

In the ancient Egyptian traditions it was customary to celebrate the birth of Horus who was born on, the equivalent, to our 25th of December in around 3000 BC.

Let me set up the story: Set, Nephtys, Osiris and Isis were the four children born from the Sky Goddess, Nut, and fathered by the Sun God, Ra. Osiris was not only a god, but he also became the first king of Egypt and married his sister Isis who gave birth to Horus. However, Isis was still said to be a virgin mother. Legend has it that Osiris was killed by his brother, Set, and his body was cut into 14 pieces which were dispersed through Egypt. Isis retrieved the remains of her husband and was able to conceive Horus.

She went into hiding in the marshes of the Nile Delta, and gave birth to Horus, the Son of God, under Sirus, the brightest star in the sky located in the eastern sky.

Cleopatra Comic: "The Curse of Cleopatra"

Synopsis for "The Curse of Cleopatra"

When Countess Draska Nishki comes to Lt. Diana Prince’s office and offers her services as a spy for hire, Diana rebuffs her, and is tossed around the room by the judo-trained spy. Later, Wonder Woman and Steve Trevor are witness to a “war” between two rival movie studios, each turning out a Cleopatra epic. Magnum Magnus of Magnus Pictures contacts them and asks them to play the parts of Cleopatra and Mark Antony, because the actor and actress who were originally essaying those parts have fallen into catatonia. A mummy-wrapped actress attributes their sleep-spell to a curse laid on the Egyptian queen by a rival. Wonder Woman has to forego her lasso while playing the part, and the mummy-wrapped actress, who is really Draska Nishki, steals it, encircles her with its loop, and forces her to try and wreck the movie set on behalf of Nishki’s employers, the rival movie studio. But when the giant statue in Wonder Woman’s hands threatens to crush the villainess, she lets go of the lasso. Wonder Woman rights the statue, takes the lasso back, and captures Draska Nishki with it.

Click here to read more

The Krewe of Cleopatra in Gretna, LA

Taking place in Gretna, LA, the Krewe of Cleopatra has just selected its queen for the 2012 Mardi Gras season. She is Belle Chasse resident Kimberly Buck.

It was 39 years ago that two sisters saw in their dreams a vision of Mardi Gras, with the beauty andgrace that could only be captured in an all women's carnival organization. Thus, was this krewe born.

A symbol was chosen for the power, dignity and beauty of a women's krewe...The ageless splendor of Egypt's mighty ruler...Cleopatra!

Our motto: Her beauty is timeless, her age is now… forever!

Cleopatra's Sister

Photo: Ian Jackson / epicphotography.ca

Sylvia Wong and Nadien Chu in Cleopatra's Sister

Photo: Ian Jackson / epicphotography.ca

Sylvia Wong (left) and Nadien Chu in Cleopatra's Sister

Cleopatra's Sister, written and directed by Trevor Schmidt, is being performed at Northern Light Theatre in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

“Why would I clear a path to the throne only to let you be the woman to walk it?”

In a final and dramatic meeting between Cleopatra and her sister (and rival) Arsinoe, only one woman can emerge victorious. The imagined meeting asks what could have been had these two women worked together - could they have changed the course of history for women? Two women fighting – not over a man – but over a nation and its throne.

Cleopatra’s Sister

Theatre: Northern Light

Written and directed by: Trevor Schmidt

Starring: Sylvia Wong, Nadien Chu

Where: PCL Studio Theatre, TransAlta Arts Barns 10330-84 Avenue

Running: Friday, November 4 (8pm) through Saturday, November 12 (8pm); Sunday, November 6 (2pm); Pay What You Can Matinees: Saturday, November 5 & 12 (2pm); No Shows: Sunday and Monday evenings

Ticket prices: $15.00 to $27.00

Tickets: Click here to buy tickets or call 780-471-1040 or TIX on the Square (780-420-1757)

So, who was Cleopatra?

Click here to buy Cleopatra: A Life by Stacy Schiff

I first saw this video when I attended an interview at the Skirball Center in Los Angeles, CA with award winning author Stacy Schiff talking about her recent biography Cleopatra: A Life. This just goes to show you that Cleopatra has taken on a legendary status where everyone has their own view on who Cleopatra was.

Click here to buy Cleopatra: A Life by Stacy Schiff

Cleopatra Through the Artist's Eye: Jonah from Frisco Tattoo

Photo: aeschleah

Tattoo by Jonah from Frisco Tattoo