Should the woman behind Simpli Royal get her way a Miss Carifesta X pageant will be staged on August 30 with some 25 participants from as many countries.
Pamela Dillon recently told The Scene that she hopes to put contestants from 25 countries on stage at “an outdoor location” which is yet to be decided. Dillon and her Simpli Royal team are still in their planning stages and Carifesta is just around the corner.
Dillon pointed out the Guyana has invited some 47 countries to participate in the Carifesta celebration and while it may not be possible to have all those countries participate in the pageant, she hoped to get half of the countries involved.
She recalled that the first ever Carifesta pageant was done in 1972 when the first cultural explosion was held in Guyana and none has been held since. She feels that when the second pageant is held other countries might follow suit.
Dillon said they are seeking queens, first and second runners-up to participate and have received confirmation of participation from quite a few countries. She said some interest has been shown by some of the French-speaking countries but there is need to further explain the concept to them since some of them did not understand the initial letter as English is not their first language. She hopes to collaborate with the Ministry of Culture on the initiative but while contact has been made with the ministry the team is still awaiting a response.
Dillon and her team are going full stream ahead and she is certain that in another six weeks’ time things will be on stream.
In terms of the local front, Dillon said they are seeking five contestants but only one would represent Guyana at this pageant, while the others would represent Guyana at other pageants around the Caribbean. She said she has approached five young ladies but only two have indicated their willingness so far and as a result she might have to have persons apply.
Dillon is aiming high as before the eventual pageant is pulled off she hopes to have what she dubs a ‘National Dress Competition’ where designers will compete with their national dresses and the eventual winner would have her dress worn by Guyana’s representative at the pageant. On that same night, the five young ladies would compete for the opportunity to represent Guyana at the Miss Carifesta X. According to Dillon, Guyana’s representative would have to be talented, popular, articulate and attractive among other characteristics.
She definitely has a lot to accomplish in a little time, but if anyone can do it, it would definitely be Dillon.