12
VOLUME 101 ISSUE 1
An Flamand: Former Miss Belgium Thriving in the Sunshine State Leentje De Leeuw
A
n Flamand (née Van Den Broeck), her husband Danny and their two boys (Anthony (16) and Nick (20)) moved to the U.S. on September 11th in the year 2000. Needless to say this date will always have a double meaning for them. At the age of 15, An was already very tall. Her mom wanted to make sure her posture would be good growing up, so she sent her to modeling school. “I started getting work from the first weeks I entered the school. I evolved from being a shy young girl to a more mature young woman in no time. But the modeling industry can be very damaging also for very young girls, so I had to deal with my own struggles. But I started to make a lot of money and it became normal to me to travel around Europe, working as a model.”
Miss Belgium “I entered the Miss Belgium competition with a friend of mine. Our goal was to get into the finals, as the finalists always went to some sunny destination with the press. On the evening of the election the jury told me I was too young – 17 at the time - to win, but they entered me to represent Belgium at the Miss Young International election in Japan. I spent an entire month in the land of the rising sun representing our country. The next year, 1985, when I had turned 18, I entered again. I really wanted that free vacation, but guess what? I won!” The Miss Belgium title led An to participate in the Miss World in London, and Miss Universe in Miami competitions. During her time in Miami, An decided that some day she would move to the United States.
Talking business Shortly after the Flamand family moved to the Orlando area in 2000, An founded USA Vacation Homes and Spa and later Orlando Vacation Realty. An: “I started my property management company to bring a higher standard of services to clients and guests not yet available in the vacation home industry. Still to this day I continue to build USA Vacation Homes and Spa on the things that matter most: quality and service. In addition to the highest standard in luxury homes, I added full ‘in-home’ spa services, making USA Vacation Homes and Spa the only management company to offer this unique experience. The USA Vacation Homes and Spa are kept at such a high standard, they are often used for filming and by VIP’s when they want to visit the Orlando area.”
The American life “I’ve always loved the USA and felt at home here, but moving to another country definitely has its challenges. You practically start from scratch, with no good or no bad credit. You just don’t have credit, and it’s a challenge to build it up. There are no friends or family to fall back on, no childhood doctors that you are used to calling when something is wrong, a lot of things are quite scary… The first months after moving you are analyzing if you made
the right decision. It’s a constant mind battle. Europe has a different culture, we have been raised a certain way, and things that are rude in our culture are normal in another culture for instance… However I had to come to terms with the fact that nothing is better or worse, it’s just different. I realized that it was not fair to judge or analyze anyone over here. I didn’t do this at home, so why would I do it here now? The thought of being able to return to Belgium if I would ever think that this was not what I had hoped for, also helped. No shame in that, right? But so many years later, we have become American citizens, and we feel more at home in the States now than in our ‘own’ country.”
An Flamand, founder of USA Vacation Homes and Spa and Orlando Vacation Realty in Orlando, Florida.
Orlando, Florida “I love the Sunshine state for the obvious reason: the mild climate in the winters and the daily dose of sunshine. But I also love the American optimism, the American patriotism and lifestyle. Nothing is complicated, it’s all very straight forward and simple. I love the spacious roads, parking spots, and the tropical atmosphere. I love the birds, the plants, the lakes, the distance to both beaches, the variety of things to do… I don’t really have anything that I don’t like about Orlando, honestly.” “However, I try to go back to Belgium once a year. I miss my friends and family, I miss the fashion, I miss good theatre (like het Antwaarps Theater) and the dining culture. It’s sometimes funny going back to Belgium as the things that used to be so normal are weird to me now. The fact that reporters on TV look as if they are homeless – some of them haven’t shaved for a lifetime (laughs), the fact that people don’t say hello or talk to each other in a store or on the street. The supermarket is my biggest thing. The cashier never says hi, everything is a burden and while you’re loading the items on the conveyer belt things fall off on the other side and people look at you as if you were an idiot. Paying for the bathroom and receiving a dirty towel to dry your hands after you just washed them? It’s just different let’s say… (laughs) We are Americans now, so yes we intend to stay here, however we may always move to another state someday, who knows. My son is trying to make it as a movie director and would like to move to LA, so who knows… one day we’ll be in Hollywood …?” An Flamand was honored to be elected the president of CFVRMA (Central Florida Vacation Rental Managers Association) two years in a row. She has also received the Best Vacation Rental Manager of the Year Award. www.orlandovacationrealty.com www.usa-vacation-homes.com, www.vacationhomesexpert.com Courtesy chicago-with-words.blogspot.com PHOTO COURTESY OF AN FLAMAND