Ten beauties from the ten administrative regions will vie for the coveted Miss Amerindian Heritage crown at a pageant this evening at the National Cultural Centre.
Reigning queen Odessa Phillips is expected to pass the tiara on to one of these contestants who for the past few days have been in the city attending Amerindian Heritage Month celebrations and paying courtesy calls on government functionaries.
Before the beauties step onto the stage this evening The Scene gives a preview about who they are and which region they represent.
Mindy Pierre
Sixteen-year-old Mindy Pierre represents Region One (Barima/Waini) and she is a student of the North West Secondary School. She hails from the village of Mabaruma, which she says means the many little hills, and is from the Warrau tribe. It is her dream to one day become a business administrator even as she enjoys bird watching, reading and dancing. The reigning Miss Moruca 2009 loves chicken curry.
Sara Henry
Region Two (Pomeroon/Supenaam) is represented by 16-year-old Sara Henry who attends the Anna Regina Multilateral School. Her life’s goal is to become an agronomist. She enjoys hiking, sightseeing and any type of music and loves to chow down on smoked fresh water fish with cassava bread, pepper pot deer among other things. Sara is the holder of the bronze and silver medals from the President’s Youth Award Initiative. She is from the Arawak tribe and hails from the village of Capoey, which means land of moonlight.
Prudence Samuels
Charlestown Secondary School student Prudence Samuels will represent Region Three (Essequibo Islands/West Demerara). She is another 16-year-old and she comes from the village of Santa/Aratack and is also from the Arawak tribe. Her life’s ambition is to one day become a paediatrician but for now she enjoys bird watching, gardening, swimming and reading and her favourite dishes are cassava bread with fried fish washed down with Eta drink.
Christella Junor
Sixteen appears to be the favourite age to enter the pageant as it is a teenager of the similar age who represents Region Four (Demerara/Mahiaca) – Christella Junor. Christella, who comes from Pakuri, an Arawak work for many trees, is also from the Arawak tribe. She attends the St Cuthbert’s Secondary School and she wants to one day address the National Assembly as a parliamentarian. The 2008 Miss St Cuthbert’s Secondary queen says she loves bird watching, canoeing, reading, hunting and modelling.
Marsha Calistio
Region Five Mahaica/Berbice) will be represented by 19-year-old Marsha Calistio who comes from the village of Moraikobai, which was named after a popular tree in the area. She attends the Ebascol Educational Centre and wants to one day become a doctor. Marsha is from the Arawak tribe and said she loves dancing, reading and swimming with her favourite dish being pepper pot and cassava bread. Morsha works with a youth club in her community.
Shondalene Russell
A budding mechanical engineer represents Region Six (East Berbice Corentyne). Seventeen-year-old Orealla resident Shondalene Russell says her village’s name is the Arawak word for chalk. This beauty is from the Warrau tribe and attends the Upper Corentyne Industrial Training Centre. She enjoys swimming, fishing, reading, modelling and acting while cassava bread and pepper pot is also her favourite dish. She was crowned Miss Orealla Talented Teen last year.
Nandanie Terry
Nandanie Terry representing Region Seven (Cuyuni/Mazaruni) is a 16-year-old from the village of Waramadong. She is from the Akawaio tribe and attends President College and one day hopes to become a surgeon. She enjoys football, cricket, volleyball and swimming among others and loves chicken fried rice and pepper pot and cassava bread.
Unita Thomas
From Region Eight (P0taro/Siparuni) is 19-year-old Unita Thomas who comes from the village of Paramakatoi, derived from the tree called Paramaku. She attended the Paramakatoi Secondary School and is from the Patomona tribe. At present she is a teacher at the Paramakatoi Primary School and says she loves reading, singing, listening to music and dancing while mountain chicken with soft cassava bread and fermented casiri are her favourite dishes. She has gained runner-up positions in three previous pageants.
Dacia Hamilton
Dacia Hamilton is 22 and she represents Region Nine (Takutu/Upper Essequibo). She comes from the Ranatuta village and is from the Macushi tribe. She is a rehabilitation assistant but one day hopes to become a physiotherapist. She loves reading, modelling and playing football and enjoys farine and toma fish.
Shaneeza Spencer
Rounding off the contestants is Shaneeza Spencer from Region Ten (Upper Demerara/Berbice) and this 16-year-old comes from the village of Muritaro, the village that was named after the first Anglican priest who settled there. She attended the Linden Foundation Secondary School and hopes to one day become a doctor. Playing football and other outdoor games is how she passes her time and she has many dishes such as pepper pot and cassava bread and cheese rice that she enjoys.
