This week we asked the man/woman in the street: if there was a Mr. Guyana pageant what do you think should be the criteria for judging?
Photos and interviews
by Sara Bharrat
WR Reaz, private sector employee: ‘There should be a Mr. Guyana Pageant because all the available pageants only promote women. I’m not saying that I’m against that but what I mean is that there are hardly any events that give men the same opportunities that women get to display themselves to the world. I think that if there were such a pageant males would be able to display their knowledge of fashion and gain an inner motivation. They would become as comfortable as women with the changes of the world. In terms of how you would judge such a pageant I think that you’ll have to look at the guy’s physique and the way he portrays himself throughout the pageant. A possible contestant should be someone who is health conscious and well rounded in society. I don’t think that testimonies from friends and families should be used by judges to decide who the winner is because of course the people close to a contestant would want him to win. If there were a Mr. Guyana Pageant I would enter just for the fun and experience of it.’
Jason Duport, management Duport: ‘To tell you the truth I can’t picture myself strutting my stuff on stage but I think a Mr. Guyana Pageant sounds like a good idea. The men should be judged based on their looks, talent and how active they are in the community. However, I don’t think that their physical attributes should be the most important thing in deciding if they win the competition. I don’t think that the pageant should follow the same structure as the Miss Guyana Pageant. I just can’t picture a group of men displaying swimsuits on stage though. However, I don’t think that Guyana is ready to see men displaying swimsuits and it would be best if that segment was omitted from the pageant. It would be difficult for men to support the pageant though because pageantry is something we associate with females. I mean when you hear Mr. Guyana Pageant you associate it with the female version of the pageant and you automatically think that it’s a female thing. Perhaps if the word pageant was left out of the name and something done to make it a manly competition then it just might work. Strutting around stage in a swimsuit is just not a manly thing to do.’
Keisha Hope, private sector employee: “We have to give men a chance to show off their stuff on stage for the ladies to watch instead. The best way to do it is by hosting a Mr. Guyana Pageant. As a woman I can’t think of anything more exciting than watching a group of well built men walking around stage in swimsuits. I think that physical attributes and testimonies should be given much attention by judges when deciding who the winner is. Testimonies given by that man’s family and friends will give the judges and audience a feel of who that man really is. However, I am not sure that men will even want to join such a pageant because there is a general perception out there that when men take part in events like these they are gay.’
Shermina Decambra, private sector employee: ‘First of all I don’t think that there should even be a pageant. Pageants are a woman thing; it’s how we show the world what we can do. Having a pageant like Mr. Guyana would mean letting the men invade that little space that we control and it wouldn’t be fair. Having a male pageant would take the emphasis off the ladies. Besides, people won’t take a pageant like that seriously because when you hear the word pageant you think about beautiful women in heels. It’s just not a manly thing. However, if some special group of people did manage to get a Mr. Guyana Pageant going then I think that the judges should give the physique of the contestants a lot of attention. Good looking men on stage flexing their muscle will give the event a more masculine air and attract men to it. Many people would attend a pageant like that but they would look at it as purely entertainment. I know for sure women will show up but a lot of guys won’t want to sit in an audience looking at fellow men displaying their bodies and talents.’
Delicia Evans, customer service representative: ‘If men were to enter such a pageant then I think that they should be judged the same as women. If women can display themselves to hundreds of people then men with their huge egos can definitely do it better and should not use the excuse of it making them look gay to avoid the challenge. However, 99 percent of men would not want to take part in a pageant because of that exact reason. It would be a lot of fun to have a male pageant especially for many women because we’ll want to see the men strut their stuff on stage. For a change I’d like to see a man dance and sing and spend days grooming himself for a pageant and then he’ll know what a woman goes through. The swimsuit segment would be the highlight of the pageant and I think that the men’s smiles and their posture will be important factors in determining who the winner is. The judges should definitely be a mixture of male and female.’
Christine Phillips, sales clerk: ‘I think that there should be a Mr. Guyana Pageant because it will give men a whole new experience to look forward to. Most people think that it is a lady thing but pageants can provide opportunities for men as well. However, I’m not so sure that the pageant would be well received if it followed the pattern of the female version but the men should definitely be judged based on the same criteria used for judging the ladies. The majority of the points should be attached to the question and answer section as this is the part of the pageant which will give the judges an idea of who that man is and what he represents. In the evening wear section the men can display stylish suits and tuxedos and they can add some flare to that section of it by having the men add some personal touch to their outfits. I would definitely attend the pageant to see the brave Guyanese men we have who aren’t afraid of change. I think that men would participate in the pageant.’
Jennel James, office assistant: ‘If there were such a pageant then the man’s personality and not his physical attributes should be judged. Whatever it is they choose to do for their talent piece should give the judges some insight of their personality. The question and answer segment of the pageant is also very important and it will also aid the contestant in displaying their personality to the judges. However, it is my opinion that a contestant’s personality is the most important factor in any pageant. Pageantry is a female oriented activity and it allows women to move on to different stages. Like the winner of the Miss Guyana Universe Pageant would move on to the international Miss Universe Pageant the man will have no where to go. I don’t think that the sponsorship will be there because it will be hard for people to take a male pageant seriously. I wouldn’t recommend a pageant like that be held in Guyana because our society just isn’t ready for something like it. Take our male models for example; they suffer a lot because our society has a perception that if a man is interested in fashion then he must be gay. There are men who will take part in the pageant but it’s life after the pageant that they’ll have to worry about.’
Amrit Ramsingh, retired teacher: ‘Personally I am a Christian and I don’t believe that men should expose their bodies in the limelight. I don’t think that having a Mr. Guyana Pageant will be of much use to our society. If people want another competition why not have a competition for husbands and see who treats their wife the best. In this time when violence against women is on the rise I think we need activities to educate people about it and competition involving husbands is a possible answer. However, if there were a pageant like that I think the men should be judged based on the good things they’ve done for their communities, the lifestyles they lead and how good of a role model they are to young people. I think that people in our society have forgotten God and the good values he left for us so if there should be any pageant it must definitely promote proper morals for society to absorb.’
Kabisa Dawson, office assistant: ‘Whenever I look at a pageant I look for the talent displayed by the contestants and I think that is the most important thing to look for in any such competition. I think that the man’s talent will reflect the level of his education and his ability to manage the portfolio that will come with pageant’s title. I would join a Mr. Guyana Pageant because I think it’ll give me the same sort of opportunities that the women get. Maybe I can win a scholarship or a car. A pageant of this kind will be taken seriously because this is a time when the world is changing and people are willing to accept change.’
Sheldon McDonald, self-employed: ‘I think that the question and answer segment of the pageant is the most important part and should be the main factor used to determine who the winner is. I’ve never really thought about a male pageant and I have to admit that the whole thought of it is weird. I wouldn’t support it because I don’t think it’s a manly thing. I just can’t think of why men would be so interested in modeling and displaying themselves. I wouldn’t support a male pageant and many people won’t.’
