Isabelle Charif

**Isabelle Zakia Chausson-Charif** (born 19 May 1988) is a Maronan model, television and radio personality, and former beauty pageant titleholder. After competing at Miss Marone 2009, Charif was a cast member on *Big Brother 10* (2011), before beginning a career in television and radio.

## Early life and education

Charif was born on 19 May 1988 in Sainte-Anne, on the island of Tahare, to parents Pierre Chausson (born 1957) and Rima Charif (born 1960). Her father was Taharian and worked in biotechnology, while her mother was from Jalotte and was a hotel housekeeper. When she was three years old, her parents separated and she spent the remainder of her upbringing with her mother as an only child. The family resided in a two-bedroom apartment in the working-class neighborhood of Le Marécage.

Charif began her education in 1993, attending public schooling in Sainte-Anne. She completed primary school in 2000, and later graduated from *collège* in 2003. In 2004, aged 16, Charif moved with her mother to Farahanhumei in Jalotte, where she spent the remainder of her upbringing. Charif enrolled in a *lycée technologique* program to study theatre, music, and the performing arts, and graduated with her *baccalauréat* in 2006. After graduating, Charif moved to Sainte-Anne to enroll in IETS Sainte-Anne, studying for a *diplôme de technicien supérieur* (DTS) degree in media studies, where she ultimately graduated in 2009.

## Career

### Pageantry

Charif began her career in 2008, after registering to compete in Miss Jalotte 2008. Charif had initially attended an in-person casting for Miss Tahare 2008 in April 2008, but was told that she was ineligible to compete as her legal residence at the time was in Jalotte. She subsequently applied for Miss Jalotte instead, and was accepted as a contestant. Miss Jalotte 2008 was later held in August 2008, where Charif advanced into the top three and was later crowned the winner. As Miss Jalotte, Charif was qualified for Miss Marone 2009.

Miss Marone was held on 6 December 2008 in Sarroux. In the competition, Charif advanced from the initial pool of 30 contestants into the top twelve, and later entered the top five as well. After reaching the top five, Charif placed as the fourth runner-up. Chareef's success was considered to be a surprise by the Maronan media, as she was not frequently included in predictions and was one of the least-favored contestants by oddsmakers.

### Television and radio

In 2010, Charif relocated from Tahare to Delmas, in order to pursue a career as an actress. After difficulties in booking roles as an actress, Charif began modeling professionally while searching for gigs as a television presenter. In 2011, Charif was cast on *Big Brother 10*, ultimately finishing the competition in sixth place. In 2021, Charif later appeared on *Celebrity Big Brother 27*, where she was the second contestant to be eliminated from the competition.

Following *Big Brother*, Charif appeared as a celebrity contestant on game shows such as *The Weak Link* and *The Big Quiz Show*. In 2013, she became a presenter on the entertainment news program *Le mag delmasien* on Le Canal. In 2015, she departed from *Le mag delmasien* after becoming the sole presenter of the program *Ø toute la nuit* on Marone Ø, where she visits and reports on night life establishments throughout Marone. She presented the program until its cancelation in 2019.

In 2021, Charif began a career in radio, after becoming a cohost of the Kloud Radio morning show *Le Matin avec Kloud*.

## Personal life

Charif has resided in Delmas since 2010, and identifies as both Taharian and Jahore. Despite being raised within Eurean Islam, Charif does not practice the religion and considers herself irreligious. She is fluent in Maronan, Taharian Creole, and Jahorian, in addition to Ditrovian.