The new Bartica Regatta Queen promises that she “will work hard to do what I said I’ll do” as she begins her reign and the promotion of her platform – women in pageantry.
Annece Hicks, 17, of River’s View an island community opposite Bartica, was crowned Miss Bartica Regatta on Sunday last beating out nine other contestants, but as she tells The Scene the win came as a very big surprise to her. “I was confident that I’d make it to the top four but I never thought I’d actually win!” she says. Her first thought when she was announced the winner, was, she says, “Is me? Y’all sure?”
Annece who is no stranger to competitions says that she decided to enter the pageant after she heard of the many negative notions against being in pageants. She says she was told by an old lady that she would have “to sleep with people” if she entered a pageant and decided “to use myself as an example that these things are not true.”
While Annece initially did not want to entre the pageant because “I’m not well shaped as the other girls” she did it to push her platform and shed some light on the benefits of being in a pageant. Annece says she wanted to show that the victimisation and stigma that comes with pageantry came out of a false perception.
During the platform discussion of the pageant, Annece had told the host that she would continue to push her platform even if she has to do it by herself. The young woman seems to be sticking to her word because she assured The Scene that she would have done it even if she had not won.
One way Annece plans to address what she called the “negative perceptions” of pageantry is by hosting discussions with young women of Bartica who may be considering entering pageants. Included in the discussions will be past pageant winners, who will share how they have benefited from being in pageants.
Her encouragement meanwhile for young girls who are thinking about entering pageants is, “Being in a pageant you come out a well-rounded person and it’s a stepping stone to bigger pageants and job opportunities.”
Annece won the talent and platform segments on pageant night as well as the essay segment which was held before the pageant. She received as prizes a laptop, cell phone, digital camera, $30,000 as well as a beauty hamper. Annece will reign for one year as Miss Bartica Regatta and she says that she will do her best to fulfil her platform.
Meanwhile, Annece says she is currently awaiting a reply to a job application she made at the Guyana Forestry Commission.
Annece describes herself as “an easy going and day to day” person who does not worry a lot. She loves singing and family is important to her.
Having the support of family on pageant night was a boost to Annece who admits that she was nervous throughout the pageant. Annece adds that she appreciates the little things in life and called the pageant a once-in-a-lifetime experience that she would forever cherish.
