Nine young women have been shortlisted to compete in the Miss Guyana Universe 2014 pageant which will be launched tomorrow at the Palm Court Restaurant and Bar.
According to a press release, the contestants will be sashed on October 3 at the Pegasus Hotel. Following this, there will be the customary live television interview billed for October 14 and then the actual competition on October 19.
This week, The Scene provides a brief introduction to these contestants, one of whom will represent Guyana at the Miss Universe Pageant, which according to reports will be held on January 18, 2015 in Florida.
Jyoti Hardat
Jyoti Hardat is a 25-year old graduate of the City College of New York with a BSc in Psychology. Jyoti was a finalist in the Official State Pageant for Miss New York USA this year. Her interests include dancing, fitness training, finding new adventures, travelling and extreme sports such as paintball. Her platform is Domestic Violence Awareness.
Alicia Kirton
Alicia Kirton, a graduate of Cyril Potter College of Education, teaches First Grade at Ketley Primary School. She is 23 years old and a self-proclaimed chef, who says every moment spent eating pumpkin and shrimp with roti is precious. Alicia admires her grandmother who was responsible for her moral upbringing and has given her reservoirs of strength. Her platform is the Practice of Inclusive Education.
Sonia Cummings
Sonia Cummings, 23, aspires to become a pharmacist. She loves caring for children and spending time with them because they bring out the best in her. An avid lover of volleyball and cricket, Sonia also loves public speaking. It has always been her dream to participate in a pageant and she intends to take the Miss Guyana Universe. Sonia has a special interest in increase in Youth Crimes which has influenced her platform choice.
Cardella Hamilton
Cardella Hamilton is a final year Public Management student at the University of Guyana. She believes that this pageant isn’t just another display of glitz and glamour, but it’s an opportunity for her and other young women to raise awareness as regards life changing experiences, topical issues and the work of true humanitarians. She is family oriented and loves spending quality time with loved ones. Her platform is the Dangers of Alcohol Abuse among Adolescents. This was chosen because she witnessed the deterioration of her uncle who died at an early age.
Rochelle Cheddie
Rochelle Cheddie plans to read for a BSc in Sociology at the University of Guyana. But first the 19-year-old is fulfilling a lifelong dream of participating in a major pageant. Her source of inspiration is her father, who says, “Everyone has a story and it is wise to take a few pages from their book and place it into yours because
they may have made mistakes that you can learn from.” Her platform is Peer Pressure and its Impact on Teenage Pregnancy.
Lakota Mc Phoy
Lakota Mc Phoy is 25 and holds an Associate Degree in Tourism Studies. She is bent on becoming the beauty ambassador of Guyana by taking the coveted crown. Lakota is confident that the Miss Guyana Universe pageant will reveal the best of her. Her focus is on stopping Trafficking in Persons in the Mining Districts of Guyana through Advocacy and Education.
Shonette Cain
Shonette Cain aspires to become a medical technologist and a humanitarian. She is currently working at the George-town Chest clinic as a trained Medical Laboratory Technician. She believes dreams can be achieved. She has always been fascinated with dancing, modelling and fashion which led her to participate and host mini fashion productions. Her platform is Awareness of Tuberculosis.
Niketa Barker
At 24, Niketa Barker is 2 years away from attaining her Degree in Medicine and Surgery from the University of Guyana. The philanthropist and children’s advocate is also a runway model. Her platform is the importance of Child Mentoring.
Soyini Fraser
The reigning Miss Jamzone International, Soyini Fraser is the first Guyanese to have won the Miss United Nations pageant. The model, dancer, TV hostess and aspiring child psychologist is out to win another title. Her platform is Empowering Guyanese Women through Positive
Spirituality.
