Not many 14 year olds can outshine five older teenage girls, but Reesa Sooklall did taking the 2014 Miss Guyana Talented Teen crown and title on July 6, at the National Cultural Centre, with poise and charm.
Speaking to The Scene this week in an exclusive interview, Reesa, a Queen’s College student, said she entered the pageant mainly because it was her dream to become a model, as well as a positive role model to other teens, especially girls.
“It [the pageant] has created an impact on my life…. It was more than walking. We were exposed to wardrobe etiquette, table etiquette, preparing a CV, ballroom dancing and more, which made us well-rounded individuals” she said.
“I must say that rehearsals for the big night were intense yet fun and very rewarding. So was the motorcade, 
which gave us a chance to exhibit ourselves and gather supporters. As for the personality interview, it was all about being myself and having knowledge on my platform which I excelled at,” she said.
Reminiscing on the night of the pageant, she expressed that from the beginning it was welcoming as the Master and Mistress of Ceremonies Fazil Rahaman and Chelsie France were very entertaining and interactive with the audience. This, according to her, comforted her.
Following the introduction, was the beachwear segment, “Splish Splash, where we modelled in various beach wear in a lovely beach scenery,” and she said everyone, including her was “hyped!”
Reesa confessed to being amazed by the talents of her fellow contestants. She expressed in watching “the dancing performances to instrumentals and soca music to the poetry. However, my talent was a combination of playing the guitar, belly dancing to an instrumental and then to drums played by nine-year-old Ricardo Primo Stanton.” Belly dancing, she explained, is traditional for her and a hobby she enjoys very much.
The evening wear segment was all about elegance, she said. “I must say that everyone did a great job and I would like to thank Randy Madray, the designer of the lovely dress I wore,” she added.
Earlier, Reesa and her dance partner Mikel Andrews were awarded second place at the Cotillion, which was definitely a great achievement, she said, and due to their hard work during practice sessions. The Cotillion was held at the Pegasus Hotel on June 28.
As Miss Guyana Talented Teen 2014, Reesa intends to create a positive impact on other teenagers’ lives and she expressed her willingness to inspire others and to help them in whatever way possible within her reach.
The focus of this year’s pageant was global warming and education and she would like to educate persons on global warming and its effects. “I would like to urge persons to share their knowledge on global warming since it is a major earth crisis we are facing. I implore the public to practice proper disposal of garbage, use environmental friendly chemicals and reduce the occurrence of deforestation as the ozone depletion is becoming a very great concern and this would pose a threat to the survival of the future generations. Every change can and will make a difference,” she said.
Her advice to other teens who wish to emulate her is to “be confident and never doubt your potential. Never lose faith in yourself or God. Beauty is not only about having a pretty face. It’s also about having a pretty mind, a pretty heart and pretty soul.”
Reesa was born at the Prashad’s Hospital on October 8, 1999. She grew up in Ogle before moving to her current residence in Mon Repos.
She said her time in Ogle was very remarkable having been brought up in a very respectable home with love from her parents who were with her at every stage giving support during her pageant journey.
Reesa lived among warm neighbours and almost every day she indulged herself in outdoor activities which contributed to her love for cricket. She enjoys playing the guitar, drawing, painting, playing with her pets and more so, participating in outdoor sports. Her special interests include photography and making bracelets.
She attended Graham’s Hall Primary before being awarded a place at Queen’s College. At the age of 12 she became interested in pageantry and her parents had no objections towards it since they were ready to fulfil positive dreams in her life.
