The political climate of the recently-concluded Miss Universe Pageant might be the reason she did not make it to the top 15, Miss Guyana Universe Nikita Barker says.
The pageant, which was held in Florida, ended last Sunday with Miss Colombia Paulina Vega being crowned the winner. In the run-up to the pageant, a lot of Guyanese were hopeful that Barker would have earned a spot at the top after a considerable amount of buzz was generated on social media for the Guyanese beauty.
Barker yesterday recalled that she was surprised at the results and disappointed when her name was not called for the top 15. She said it was hard to put on a smile throughout the night. She added that she was not the only contestant surprised that she did not make it. Other contestants also expressed shock when her name was not called, she noted.
She said Miss Germany had expressed sentiments to that effect as well as her American choreographer, who was so astonished by the results that she could not bear to face Barker. “Miss Australia told me she was so sure I was going to be a finalist, that she would’ve placed her hands in burning flames if I didn’t place a spot in the finals,” Barker related.
According to Barker, her performance showed that she earned a spot and various polls conducted online indicated that she was one of the favourites. She declared that she believes the pageant was politicised and spots have to be guaranteed for those countries that have invested a lot in Miss Universe. The girls who truly shined have to fight for the remaining spots, she asserted.
As it relates to the lack of women of colour in the top 15, Barker only smiled and noted that “Jamaica is black.” Since the Miss Universe Pageant was established only five black women have ever won the crown. Leila Lopes from Angola, Mpule Kwelagobe from Bostwana, Wendy Fitzwilliam from Trinidad and Tobago, Chelsi Smith from the United States, and Janelle Commissiong from Trinidad and Tobago. Over the years black women have found it incredibly difficult to gain a spot in the top 15 at the pageant.
Despite the challenges, Barker said she believes Guyana was proud of her and expressed her gratitude to Guyanese as well as her international fans who championed her throughout the pageant.
She advised future contestants to market themselves properly and study their competition.
She described her experience in Doral, Miami as great because each girl brought a different flavour and the memories she gained from the experience will last her a lifetime. However, she pointed out that the budget for the pageant was small this year and, as a result, her experience at Miss Universe was not what she expected. She said that the delegates’ movements were restricted to the hotel because of budget cuts, while there was a lot of work to do.
As it relates to the future, Barker said that she plans to specialise in Obstetrics and Gynecology and establish her own clinic.
