Ten finalists have been selected to vie for the Miss World Guyana 2016 title in a pageant to be held on May 27.
According a a press release from the organisation, the ten finalists: Divya Yabindranauth, Najuma Nelson, Marva Langevine, Ariella Basdeo, Ashmini Ramnauth, Marleena Ramdass, Treasure James, Nuriyyih Gerrard, Damalle Jackman and Tiffany Bobb Semple, will “represent” the ten regions of Guyana in the order listed.
To qualify for selection, they were required to apply by submitting videos, attending live interviews and filling out an extensive online application. The Miss World-Guyana Organisation received 40 applications, and selected the ten finalists, “using a thorough selection process by external judges,” the release said.
The local competition which starts on May 8, will see the finalists competing in the same disciplines required for the Miss World pageant – sport and fitness, talent, interview, top model, multimedia competition, and beauty with a purpose. This year, the Miss World Guyana pageant is also celebrating its Golden Jubilee. The release noted that the first pageant was held here on May 27, 1966. That pageant saw Umbilita Van Sluytman crowned and she went on to become a semi-finalist in the Miss World 1966 pageant.
This year’s line up has some familiar faces from pageantry. Nelson was a contestant in the Miss Guyana Universe 2015 pageant and Langevine in the Miss Emancipation 2014 pageant. Basdeo was Miss Global Guyana 2015 and James was a contestant in the Miss Jamzone 2015 pageant. There is also at least one surprise: award-winning actress and radio host Gerrard; while the other faces are also new to the local pageant scene.
Meanwhile, according to the press release, the ten contestants are expected to possess “super ‘G’’’ qualities and it listed these as generous, genial, good, gregarious, golden, guyanese, global, gifted, and graceful.
It added that the pageant is “a platform to enable personal and professional growth among our finalists in addition to the promotion of community service, beauty, fitness and talent. Participation in the pageant affords young women the opportunity to raise awareness on issues and causes affecting their communities…”
