Imperial House has launched the Miss Guyana Teen Scholarship Pageant, which hopes to make a difference in the lives of Guyanese teen girls by not just promoting all-round improvement but offering the winner a scholarship.
According to a press release from the organisation, “In keeping with the mandate, our vision is as follows – Provide educational assistance in the form of scholarships to young women who have not yet assumed the responsibilities of family life and are interested in a career and educational advancement; Recognize and honour the traits of honesty, good character, talent, poise, intellect, leadership, and good judgement in the young women who enter the competition…” It also seeks to enable the contestants to become role models.
The pageant, slated for September 7, at the National Cultural Centre will award the winner a scholarship that includes tuition, materials and examination fees towards her academic pursuits.
Back in 2016, Chairman of Imperial House Wasim Khan had leased the Miss Guyana Talented Teen Pageant for that year, entering into a contract with Simpli Royal’s Pamela Dillon.
Aliya Wong had won that year’s pageant and she went on to place second at the international level.
In a comment to this newspaper in January 2017, Wasim had said: “I think we have made a positive impact on these young ladies’ lives and that was our goal, to make them better versions of themselves. Among other things we want to continue in this manner, empowering our young women.”
Wasim’s foray into pageants began in 2002, when he coordinated the Miss St Joseph High School Pageant. He went on to become chairman for the first ever Miss Earth Guyana Pageant in 2010, under the directorship of Simpli Royal. Wasim was also at some point chairman for Miss Jamzone, both the local and international pageants through Simpli Royal, and eventually chairman for Miss Guyana Talented Teen.
Last year saw him getting involved in the Miss Guyana World Pageant as the coordinator. However, so as to avoid a conflict of interest he has stepped down from coordinating to solely focus on the Miss Guyana Teen Scholarship Pageant.
Over the years, Wasim sat on the judging panel at various pageants including Miss Universe Guyana and Miss Wakenaam.
Imperial House was founded in 2016 and works towards creating and implementing social programmes for the advancement of Guyanese youths through pageants and theatrical arts.
The idea of wanting to create a pageant geared specifically for providing the
necessary means for girls pursuing high school or tertiary education has been years in the making.
Pulling this off, Wasim shared, would need the support of the business community. “The management of Imperial House strongly believes that social investments in Guyana’s youths will have a positive impact on our country, however, we cannot undertake this project alone therefore we wish to thank those who have already seen the value of this programme and partnered with us namely, KFC, Professional Guard Services, Amanvani, Fuze Art, 55 Photography and Medical Choice Pharmacy,” the release further said.
There are just three requirements for girls entering the pageant. They must be between 13 – 19 years old by September 7, 2019 and be Guyanese by birth and pursuing high school or tertiary education.
To apply interested girls can download an application from http://tinyurl.com/y4jfm4 and fill it out. Applications along with 2 colour photographs and a $1,000 processing fee can be dropped off at Medical Choice Pharmacy, Camp Street, Georgetown (next door to Galaxy Photo Studio) on or before June 22, 2019.
A sashing ceremony along with a Meet and Greet Event will be announced at a later date.
