Twenty-year-old Joylyn Conway was on Sunday night crowned Miss World Guyana 2019 before a small but elegant gathering in the Pegasus Hotel Ballroom. She was adjudged the most suitable representative for Guyana during a selection process by a panel of nine judges.
“It feels awesome, feels like a blessing. It feels… I’m at a loss for words. It’s an honour and a privilege to have such an opportunity to represent and serve Guyana,” she said moments after being announced queen.
Joylyn hails from Canefield, East Canje Berbice and finished as Second Princess in last year’s Miss World Guyana competition.
She has a Bachelor of Science degree and majored in Chemistry with a minor in Biology. She is employed as a lecturer at the New Amsterdam Technical Institute and lab instructor at Tain Campus, University of Guyana.
For her Beauty with a Purpose project Joylyn’s focus is promoting girls in STEM under the theme ‘STEM Girl Glo’. “My biggest passion is being a driving force in the lives of young women and children,” she said, adding that she wants to encourage young women. “Don’t listen to the negatives… Do not belittle yourself because you’re a woman. You can do it if I can do it. I love giving persons the opportunity to be better and remind them of their strengths. Volunteering is one of my hobbies, in fact. I look forward to the support from everyone whether it be financially or even constructive criticism, I’ll appreciate it.”
Joylyn, who was also recently elected secretary for her district’s Rotaract Club for 2019-2020 and is the
2020-2021 president-elect, lives by the quote, “It costs nothing to light another candle.”
She will compete at the Miss World pageant later this year.
The ceremony was co-hosted by media personality and Miss World Guyana 2016 Nuriyyih Gerrard and Miss World Guyana 2018 Ambika Ramraj.
Making onstage appearances were Director General of Tourism Donald Sinclair and Behavioral Scientist Dr Paloma Mohamed-Martin. Sinclair briefly commended the Miss World Guyana Organization on the work it has done so far. Dr Mohamed-Martin, also a former Miss World Guyana contestant, spoke to the Miss World Guyana 2020 contestants present about losing as she did not finish as queen when she competed. She explained to the young women that not becoming queen would not mean they lost, as because of the experience gained they would all leave as winners. She spoke about confidence and how much it can improves a young woman’s life. She said a woman’s composure can feign confidence adding that she would sometimes seem confident, but it is not always so and composure though not like confidence can also benefit persons. She encouraged the contestants to keep their heads on.
The evening also saw a cultural performance as well as the display of Randy Madray’s latest, dazzling collection which was modelled by the stunning Miss World Guyana 2020 contestants.
Among those present were Miss India Guyana 2019 Rashena Hanif, Miss India Guyana Teen Amisha Sarjoo, Miss Earth Guyana Faydeha King and Miss Eco Guyana Cintiana Harry.