Brazilian Anna Caroline Parker last weekend bested three of her countrywomen and five Guyanese contestants to take the 2013 Miss Rupununi Rodeo title.
The pageant was staged at the Guyana Oil Company’s Lethem Service Station in front of a panel of three judges.
The nine contestants had to compete in three segments: Casual Wear, Rodeo Wear Round and Five-O Wear. The last segment was sponsored by Five-O – a Demerara Distillers Limited (DDL) beverage recently re-introduced to the Guyanese market. In this round, competitors were tasked to model in creative wear.
The nine beauties dominated the platform but it was Brazilian Anna Caroline Parker who had the audience in a daze. She had them star struck when she stormed on stage with her sassy cowgirl costume – a red authentic outfit; and with a tip of her hat and a whip of her lasso had the cowboys just about galloping in mid-air and the cowgirls outraged in jealousy.
Anna was a crowd favourite from the minute she stepped on the catwalk. Her beauty was captivating, her body mesmerising and she had such a fierce attitude. But what made the other contestants no competition to her was the mysterious connection she had with the audience who supported her with loud and uncontrollable screams and applause.
The presenters spoke in Portuguese which was later translated to our native tongue but Guyanese did love the clash of the two cultures and the exotic Brazilian culture that was showcased.
But after the heat of such a pageant it was 17-year-old Anna, who snatched the crown away from the other eight competitors with no surprise.
This decision was highly favoured by the approximately 2,000 in attendance, including Prime Minister Samuel Hinds who had the privilege of voting for the contestant with the Best Smile. This prize was won by Juliana (only name given) who also hails from Brazil. Juliana was also the first runner-up and earned the Best Model consolation prize.
Guyanese Anessa Malcolm came in as second runner-up. The three finalists were given financial prizes of undisclosed amounts and all the other girls went home with appreciation packages.
Another major event at the Rupununi Rodeo last weekend, was the Takatu Hotel Annual Karaoke Night.
The hotel with its local hospitality and Brazilian flavour was the perfect spiral of diversification Guyana is well known for, and whiles many sat and enjoyed the local dishes and beverages – others were anxiously awaiting their turn to participate in the annual Karaoke Competition.
The Karaoke competition started many years ago and now is a main feature on the Rupununi Rodeo agenda, it started as a means to welcome tourists into the community and open their interests for a weekend of entertainment. From the fifteen who competed in the competition, it was long-time Karaoke singer John Wayne who conquered. After the competition, patrons and competitors alike gyrated to the musical styling of the Calibro Band performing live reggae music.
According to the Guyana Tourism Authority (GTA), the spectators came from Guyana, Brazil, Venezuela, Suriname, the Caribbean, the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Germany, Dubai and India. Special guests at the rodeo were President Donald Ramotar, Prime Minister Samuel Hinds and his wife Yvonne Hinds and Minister of Amerindian Affairs Pauline Sukai among other government officials.
