Determined to be a queen with a difference, this year’s Miss Bartica Regatta is already planning ways in which she can give back to her community.
Savannah-Ree Wyatt, a 19-year-old Bartician stole the hearts of the crowd and the judges’ nods to emerge at the top of the competition on Sunday last.
In an interview with The Scene this week, she said that in the past queens had not lived up to what was expected of them in terms of giving back to the community, but her reign would change that trend. Savannah-Ree has a message which speaks to ridding the society of crime and she plans to use every opportunity available to get this across. She has already lined up an Indian Arrival Day (May 5) television slot and a visit to the Bartica Secondary School to speak to the students there.
She and the other delegates strutted their stuff in front of the hundreds who flocked the popular Kool Breeze hangout spot at the community’s riverside for the pageant which has become a regular attraction during Bartica Regatta.
Savannah-Ree said that having been born and bred in Bartica, she has watched the pageant change over the years and saw it as a way stepping stone to build her self esteem, get rid of her fears and become a role model. She said she was encouraged to enter the contest, which is talent and intelligence-based from members of the Regatta committee and her relatives.
Savannah-Ree said this was hard since she also had to cope with her work-related responsibilities and there were times when she felt like giving up.
However it was that spark of confidence and longing for the crown that pushed her on.
On pageant night, the crowd which was about five hundred, cheered for every contestant and according to the queen there was no clear distinction of a crowd favourite.
Thereafter, the contestants, whose presence was being acknowledged with loud applause performed their talent pieces.
Savannah-Ree’s platform was `Violent Criminal Activities in Small Communities’, and she danced to the song, “How Many More, Jah?”
Asked why she chose that song, she told The Scene that it sends a powerful message about violence and she wanted to spread it particularly since last year’s murderous event in the community. Spectators were appreciative of her efforts and applauded loudly, she said.
The swimsuit segment was the next item on the programme, followed by the evening gown competition.
Following questions on their respective platform, the judges narrowed down the contestants to four.
Savannah-Ree told The Scene that she was not at all surprised to be named in the final four since she had worked “really hard” to reach this point in the pageant.
But it was during the final question segment which was based on tourism in Guyana that the teen raced ahead of the competition and was named queen.
“I was nervous, I was excited and I was overwhelmed,” she said of her mental state just before the results were revealed.
Savannah-Ree said that she planned to encourage her female peers to enter the pageant since it offers an opportunity to better their personalities and could help mould their lives.
She hopes to one day become an accountant and says she is proud to hold the title. The former Bartica High School student enjoys travelling, dancing, interacting with peers, cooking and reading in her spare time.
She thanked her relatives, the Bartica Regatta Committee and her sponsor for all their support. (zoisa_f@yahoo.com)
