Joke Van De Velde — Biography
Born in Ghent on December 28, 1979, Joke Van de Velde is a Belgian figure known for her work as a model and presenter. Her rise to prominence began in 2000 when she was crowned Miss Belgium. That same year, she represented her country on the international stage at both the Miss World and Miss Universe competitions. Prior to her modeling career, Van de Velde pursued an education in modern language sciences, with a particular focus on Dutch, French, English, and German, and also trained as a kindergarten teacher. Following her Miss Belgium win, she was able to dedicate more time to her modeling and presentation endeavors. As a testament to her reign, a Floribunda rose was named 'Joke' by the Department of Plant Genetics and Breeding Melle on September 17, 2000. Her image graced the pages of numerous publications, including Ché, P-Magazine, Menzo, and Maxim, and she also contributed her styling expertise to magazines like Flair, Story, and Maxim. Van de Velde also made notable television appearances. In 2001, she participated in Big Brother VIPs. Her journey continued in 2006 with her involvement in Stanley's Route, where she reached the competition's finale. She also made guest appearances in the popular sitcom FC De Kampioenen and the police drama Witse. In 2008, she showcased a different facet of her talent as a boxer in the music video for Tom Helsen's song "Longface." The year 2010 saw her step into the role of presenter for De Pokerkampioen van Vlaanderen on 2BE, and she also showcased her culinary skills on MasterChef. In 2012, she embarked on the challenges of Expeditie Robinson. Beyond her on-screen and modeling work, Van de Velde has been instrumental in organizing beauty pageants. Since 2007, she has overseen Miss East Flanders, the regional qualifier for Miss Belgium, and since 2010, she has also managed the Miss West Flanders competition. Her voice can be heard on a weekly radio program on Q-music every Wednesday, a role she has held since 2013. In 2008, her personal life was marked by a brief relationship with Belgian professional footballer François Sterchele, which concluded shortly before his passing.
