Next week Saturday night at the Red House ten beauties will vie for a chance to represent Guyana at the Miss India Worldwide Pageant in the US, when they take to the stage in the Miss Queen of Beauty pageant.
Organised by Asha Hanif, the Miss India Worldwide 2000 winner, the pageant is the first of its kind here and it may well become an annual affair.
Asha recently told The Scene that she was sent by the organisers of the international pageant to host this one so that there would be a representative from Guyana at the April 7, international pageant.
Calling the local pageant a one-man show (well more like a one-woman show), Asha said she has being training and grooming the girls for the big night. The girls will be sashed at a dinner and fashion show to be held on March 29 at the Regency Suites Hotel and patrons would have to pay $2,500 for an opportunity to be part of this event.
Unlike other pageants, this one includes an ‘Indian Cultural Fiesta’ and those who in attendance will be there by invitation only. So if you don’t have an invitation, don’t show up. No amount of money will help you to gain entry.
The delegates will appear in four segments: Indian wear, evening gown, talent and question and answer. There will also be traditional songs and dances performed by members of the Indian Culture Centre. Other than going to the US to represent Guyana, the queen will also win $150,000 in cash and gifts and the first and second runners-up will take away $50,000 and $25,000 respectively.
The ten delegates include 21-year-old Seeranie Ramlachan of Friendship, East Bank Demerara (EBD), who says she is very familiar with pageants as she was crowned Miss Friendship in 2000 at the age of 15. This will be the beauty’s eighth pageant even as she says she enjoys modelling, dancing, and meeting new people among other things. She is participating because she is proud to showcase the country’s Indian culture and at the same gain experience.
Up next is another 21-year-old, Narda Mohamed, who at 110 pounds is the tiniest of the lot. She lives in Georgetown and is employed as a secretary of the Guyana Agricultural & General Workers’ Union. She says she loves reading, travelling, modelling, dancing, painting and cooking.
Nineteen-year-old Trisha Baldeo works as an accounts clerk in the Ministry of Education and she said in her spare time she takes dance classes as she loves to dance. She is an only child and lives with her pageants and has never modelled before. But she says the experience so far is great.
Sixteen-year-old Nareefa Hussian is the youngest of the lot and she is a student of the Tutorial Secondary School. Her age, she says, would not be a disadvantage as she feels she has what it takes to win the crown. She loves reading, cooking, dancing and meeting new people.
Wazeema Mohamed is 18-years-old and she lives in Lusignan, East Coast Demerara. She is right where she belongs, in the pageant as she loves modelling in addition to dancing and exploring new places. She was the first runner up in the Miss Apex and Miss India Guyana pageants while she also took part in the Miss Sari pageant. She hopes to one day own her own business and advises that young people should always strive for individuality.
Seventeen-year-old Varsha Singh says she is just out of school and is entering a pageant for the first time. She said she enjoys travelling and making new friends and sees the pageant as a way to gain experience.
