A medical student, a registered nurse and a secret would-be mechanic are among the diverse group of girls set to vie for the Miss Guyana Universe title and crown next week Saturday at the Princess Hotel and Casino, Providence and the chance to represent Guyana at the Miss Universe pageant in December. Below ten of them introduce themselves:
Niketa Tiffany Barker
Niketa Tiffany Barker is a 22-year-old Berbice beauty who is studying medicine at the University of Guyana (UG). Born under the Zodiac sign of Cancer in New Amsterdam, Niketa says she enjoys modelling, cooking and spending time in the outdoors with family. “I have had my eyes set on pageantry since I was in my teens, so being a part of this year’s Miss Guyana Universe Pageant is a dream that has become a reality,” she said. Niketa’s platform for the pageant is ecotourism. She believes that this is a feasible solution for Guyana’s economic emancipation. Noting tourism’s importance in the Caribbean, she said she intends to advocate for Guyana to step up its marketing strategies and explore new and interesting initiatives. Niketa hopes to use the pageant to encourage women everywhere, irrespective of their colour, religion or age that they are important and can achieve all that they have ever dreamt about and that the sky is the only limit.
Nikeshia Alexander
Representing the bauxite-mining town of Linden is 21-year-old Nikeshia Alexander, who is a singer and a model. Born in Wismar, this Sagittarian will address child abuse as her platform for the pageant. Nikeshia is the active, outdoor type and apart from her singing and modelling, she enjoys dancing, hiking, swimming, drawing, racing, paintballs, shopping, basketball, soccer and tennis.
Onesha Hutson
Georgetown girl Onesha Hutson, 20, is a UG student who is preoccupied with enhancing laboratory facilities in public hospitals in Guyana. So much so that she has made the issue her platform for the pageant. A Taurus by birth and seemingly be nature, Onesha notes that research conducted some months ago by students of UG’s medical technology programme revealed that laboratory equipment and tools at public hospitals are inefficient and outdated in some instances. This ultimately forces students to either migrate or work at private institutions so as to gain better knowledge and experience, minimize testing errors and exposure to laboratory environmental dangers, she said. Onesha wishes her platform could bring about change. She enjoys dancing and cooking, but her great love is reading mystery and suspense novels. Jackie Collins is her favourite writer. Onesha shared that she has a secret dream to become a mechanic — not full time; she just wants to be able to fix her own car as well as those of her family and friends and thinks this would be “so cool!”
Eumani Bourne
Another Lindener, 18-year-old Eumani Bourne is currently a student at the Guyana School of Agriculture. A world history lover, this Libra lady has selected preventative measures to Global Warming as her platform. She said she has researched at least 16 ways in which this can be done and hopes to bring about an awakening among Guyanese. Eumani loves animals. She also likes learning about new things, playing football, hockey and beach volleyball.
Ruqayyah Boyer
Now 20 years old, Ruqayyah Boyer has previously graced the stage in pageants. Born in Linden under the Zodiac sign of Taurus, she is currently a Television Hostess with Brutal Television Station and a UG student. Ruqayyah has chosen domestic violence as her platform and she notes that it has “become an epidemic”. She has been working in her community dealing with the issue and believes change is possible. Ruqayyah loves the performing arts, writes poetry, listens to oral poetry whenever possible and dreams of one day using her pen and being a recognized voice against violence.
Kenecia Christian
Nineteen-year-old student Kenecia Christian is from the ‘Cinderella County’ Essequibo. She has selected child abuse as her platform. Having witnessed the ill treatment of friends and of children in her community, she is determined to help make a difference. This Taurus beauty said she finds her greatest joy in interacting with children, dancing and cooking.
Shameka Jones
Eighteen-year-old Shameka Jones is still a student at Tutorial High School and she has chosen domestic violence as her
platform for the pageant. She said: “This platform is very dear to my heart, because I have seen a close family friend die at the hands of her abuser… I hope to use this pageant as a springboard to bringing awareness and help to those persons living in an abusive relationship or those… who know someone affected by domestic violence.” This Libra beauty, who lives in Georgetown, enjoys working with under privileged and troubled youths in and around my community. She also likes modelling, spending time with friends and playing a good game of cricket.
Drusilla Johnson
Grove, East Bank Demerara, resident Drusilla Johnson is a nursing student at the Georgetown School of Nursing. This 19-year-old, born under the Zodiac sign of Cancer, will address the issue of children living with HIV & AIDS as her platform. “It is my hope, that through this pageant I will be able to do justice to these innocent souls by bringing about a change in public opinion and a better appreciation for their young lives,” she said. Drusilla enjoys mountain hiking, farming, fishing and catching insects. She is also a ballet dancer with Let’s Dance Studio. In her free time, she does voluntary work at an orphanage.
Faydeha King
Faydeha King, a 19-year-old Berbician is a student at the American International School of
Medicine. This Aquarius beauty has chosen domestic violence as her platform. “Based on the increase in domestic violence cases, I have decided to highlight this growing epidemic that seems to be taking a new life each day,” she said. Faydeha loves dancing, reading, fishing and exploring wildlife like a typical “Berbician Tom girl”.
Melinda Singh
Another Aquarian, this 23-year-old Bounty Hall, Essequibo Coast beauty is currently a Registered Nurse at the Georgetown Public Hospital. Not surprisingly, her platform is advances in nursing. Melinda enjoys reading, participating in outdoor sports and going on adventure tours.
Sadhna Yunus
Twenty-six-year-old Administrative Assistant Sadhna Yunus has chosen volunteerism as her platform for the pageant. Sadhna, who was born in Albion, Berbice under the Zodiac sign of Gemini and now resides in Canada, volunteers with the Red Cross, Salvation Army and SOS Children’s Villages. She also tutors young children in an after school programme. Sadhna came back home to give of her time, stating that it’s something which “once given cannot be taken back”. While here she learned of the pageant and entered as it has always been a dream of hers to be involved in a Miss Guyana pageant. Sadhna enjoys reading and playing cricket. She also enjoys practicing yoga, which she believes “helps me to calm my mind and remain positive under stress”.
