Melissa Dow-Richardson won the Ms Guyana Renaissance crown and title early last month, besting 10 other mature Guyanese women in the 7th edition of the pageant conceptualised by Negla Brandis.
She was crowned by Ms Renaissance 2012 Dr Vivienne Mitchell-Amata.
The final line up saw Jonell Waldron as first runner-up; Joann Forde, second runner-up) and Rosalin Corlette, third runner-up. The other contestants were Mia Ritchie, Beverly Peters, Deon Lyn Lewis, Jonell Waldron, Tomika Cooke-Chase, Michelle Alphonso, Vanessa Williams and Jeanne Jeffery. Four of the contestants copped the other five prizes: Deon Lyn Lewis (Ms Congeniality and the Executive awards), Beverly Peters (Most Improved Contestant), Jonell Waldron (Best Cultural Contestant) and Jeanne Jeffrey (Miss Photogenic).
In an interview with The Scene, Melissa said she was privileged to have shared the stage with 10 other beautiful ladies who she thinks have done exceptionally well. “I have,” she said, “gained a sense of sisterhood and camaraderie.”
The reigning queen said she was confident about herself and remained buoyant especially because of the friends she has who were always optimistic about her winning. “The fact that I’ve won is an excellent achievement. I would have given the same level of discipline to any aspect in my life. Part of pageantry is building a sisterhood and you can’t do that if it’s all about competition. The pageant was a powerful experience for all of us,” she said.
The pageant was first launched on December 4 last year and the contestants underwent some gruelling training for four and half months. “The training was weekly and we went through various routines such as walk routines, presentation routines and interactive sessions where we got to know each other. The run-up to the pageant was intense, in getting the final pieces together,” said the queen.
The opening dance was choreographed by Vivienne Daniel of the National Dance School/Dance Company, while well-known actress and NGO head Desiree Edghill was responsible for the technical and grand rehearsals.
During their training, the contestants visited the Palms and Uncle Eddie’s Home where they made significant contributions. The contestants have been calling for persons to be more sensitive towards senior citizens in Guyana.
The diligent Melissa said participating in the Ms Renaissance pageant taught her to never underestimate herself and that she can work harmoniously with her fellow Guyanese women towards a common goal. She also overcame the nerves of singing in a competition.
When asked who she thought was her biggest competitor, she replied, “My biggest competitor was myself; if I messed up, I had only myself to blame.”
Melissa first competed when she was 13 with her mother in the Mother and Daughter Pageant. Her mother, Jacqueline Bourne is the owner and manager of Jackie’s Fashion House on Mandela Avenue and was also her designer. Melissa looked stunning in her striking red evening gown, which was actually a fusion of effort by her mom and her aunt, Evelyn Manifold (a fashion designer based in Toronto, Canada). The theme for her gown was “A Vision in Scarlet”.
Every Ms Renaissance pageant has a theme that features part of our Guyanese culture. The previous pageant would have focused on our waterfalls and this year it featured our rivers. Each contestant was designated a river of her own. Melissa’s was the Mazaruni River and her gown was made to reflect that. The bottom half was made of crepe while the rest of it was sequinned and had ripples that carried through to a fan fitted on her left shoulder. The ripples in her gown accentuated that of the river.
Melissa recalled that her family and friends were stunned when she told them that she’d be entering the pageant. But knowing that she’s a woman who always follows through with her plans, they wished her the best. They told her to relax and enjoy herself. Part of it was fun and research, since she learnt a lot. Now that she’s won they’re happy for her since they felt that she’s accomplished something that she well deserves.
“My inspiration is my mom and self-sacrificing people who do things for the good of humanity such as Mother Teresa and Mahatma Gandhi…,” she said. She is also inspired by Tina Turner, who, she said is “an ultimate renaissance queen.”
The St Stanislaus College graduate was previously never into the glamorous part of life. Her love for sports led her to represent her school and Guyana in local and regional table tennis and basketball competitions. After completing secondary school, she attended the University of Guyana and attained a Bachelor’s Degree in Arts and History. Melissa went on to do her Post-graduate studies in International Relations at the University of the West Indies (UWI), St Augustine Campus in Trinidad. Her main focus was Gender Studies, but she took a few classes in International Peace Keeping and Supervisory Management.
This courageous career-driven woman is said to be the only Guyanese woman and one of only four women on this side of the globe to have earned a certificate in Advanced Coaching awarded by the International Table Tennis Association for Level One and Level Two. Melissa has also gained a certificate in Sports Administration.
Melissa is concerned about the idleness of our youngsters. She hates to see able bodies just “lying around”, doing nothing. She’s seen children who believe that it’s okay to not take their education seriously and young men who have opportunities and are not tapping into them.
A workaholic herself, Melissa owns her own fashion business and is also a journalist, photographer, International Relations analyst and a consultant for a programme she’s been running for two years now called ‘the Inner City Youth Development Training Programme. The consultancy provides a series of services: guidance, counselling, literacy and employment assistance, analysis of historical and contemporaries and life skills. The programme caters for young men ages 17-27 who were unable to finish high school. It helps them to transition into socially functional lives. “So if they can’t read and write then they can’t reason and if they can’t reason, they can’t make rational decisions that are in their own best interest,” she stated. At present, she counsels over two dozen young men. Her reason for catering for men alone is mainly because society is already focused on women. According to her, we teach women to stand against violence but how does that educate men on “manning up?”
Apart from her work schedule Ms Renaissance 2015 enjoys drawing, painting, table tennis, reading, journalism, designing, going to basketball competitions, watching Chopped on Tuesday nights on the Food Network and spending time with her friends and her dogs.
During her two-year reign she hopes to engage with more people in helping to build a better Guyana. She would also like to publish the findings of her studies on the realities of life in Guyana in the 21st century. Melissa is divorced.
In another five to ten years she sees herself happy and content with her achievements and happy with the relationship she has with her family and God.
“I want to encourage young Guyanese citizens to take pride in themselves, in their abilities, in their conduct and in their thoughts. To be the best person that they can be in developing our rich national heritage. Prayer moves mountains and God’s always in charge,” she said.
Her favourite quote is from Martin Carter:
“This I have learnt,
Today a speck,
Tomorrow a hero,
Hero or monster,
you are consumed.
Like a jig shakes the loom,
Like a web is spun the pattern,
All are involved
All are consumed.”
Melissa thanked Negla Brandis for her all her work in keeping pageantry relevant in Guyana and the pageant’s administrative and talent support teams: Rosemary Benjamin-Noble, Andrea Mentore, Earl Killkelly, Darrel Pugsley and Stan Gouveia. She also thanked her sponsors: Rev Jacqueline Bourne, Ingrid Fung, Pheona Wills-Griffith, Evelyn Manifold, Allison Glasgow, Shirley Inniss, Linda Clarke, Bonita Hunter, Renita Crandon-Duncan and her hair stylists Rochelle and Bevaughn of Hair Force Salon. She expressed gratitude to Edgar Henry (who sponsored the trophy), overseas-based Guyanese contributors Claire Goring and Claire and Charles Monah (sponsors of the crown). She acknowledged her fellow contestants as women of integrity and the attendees, her family and friends all of whom made the Ms Renaissance 2015 Pageant possible.
Melissa’s gifts include floral arrangements (compliments of Chantelle’s Exotic Creations), a trip to one of three destinations – Jamaica, New York or Toronto (compliments of Fly Jamaica), a cash award and a trip to Kaieteur Falls along with educational incentives, gift certificates and hampers. The runner-ups would have also benefited from prizes.
The Ms Guyana Renaissance Pageant is for mature Guyanese women ages 30 up and showcases their intelligence, talent and beauty. The pageant is judged in four categories: the introduction, talent, the wear of the corporate attire and evening gown and finally the question and answer segment. It was the norm to judge only three categories but this year the introduction was included.
Previous Ms Renaissance queens were Evette Wilson (2003), Audrey Barkie (2004), Simone Beckles (2007), Quacy McGowan (2008), Excellence Dazzell (2009) and Dr Vivienne Mitchell-Amata (2012).
