The first ever local Caribbean Culture Queen Pageant is billed for August 20, following which the winner will represent Guyana at the international leg of the pageant in St Kitts.
The pageant is being introduced to the local arena by designer Randy Madray, who has had his hand in the pageant industry for a number of years.
Currently applications are available online and women fitting the criteria are eligible to apply. Applicants must be between the ages of 18 and 26 years old, must possess a performing talent, must be at least 5’6 in height, must be healthy and prepared to compete in swimwear, and must possess a passion, drive and determination to promote and market the culture and diaspora of Guyana. Applicants can sign up via the ” Sign Up” button on the Miss Guyana Culture Queen Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/missGuyanaculturequeeen) or via the link provided on the @missguyanaculturequeen Instagram platform. The application deadline is February 28, 2020.
A team of pageant and fashion professionals will decide which of the applicants they would like to interview. The interviews will determine who moves on on to become quarterfinalists. The pageant itself will have a preliminary interview category along with the grand coronation. The night of the coronation will see the contestants competing in National Costume, Performing Talent, Swimwear, Evening Gown and Final Interview categories. The queen after her win will begin preparations for competing in St Kitts.
The Miss Caribbean Culture Queen Pageant is held annually in celebration of the Nevis Culturama Festival. The idea of Culturama was conceived in February 1974 during a meeting of the Nevis Dramatic and Cultural Society. The main point discussed during this meeting was the general decline in the customary folklore troupes on parade during the then Christmas festival. It was felt that much of the customary indigenous Christmas traditions and activities were dying and that there was an urgent need to revive these traditions so that they can be handed down from generation to generation thereby ensuring the posterity of Nevis’ rich cultural heritage. The Miss Caribbean Culture Queen Pageant was added to the Culturama calendar in 2006 for the first time and it has given Culturama some regional recognition because it has received participation from up to 10 different countries.
Last year, Arian Dahlia Richmond was selected by a team of professionals within the fashion and pageant industry as Miss Guyana Culture Queen 2019 and took on the task of representing Guyana at the Miss Culture Caribbean Queens 2019 Competition. With her grace, poise, and confidence, Arian competed with notable models in the Caribbean and secured the first runner-up position. She also won several accolades such as Miss Photogenic, Miss Congeniality and Best Country Promotional Video produced by local videographer Anthony Indar.
The Miss Guyana Culture Team is said to comprise a brilliant group of creatives, professionals, beauty and fashion experts, all of whom have been involved in either local and/or international pageants.
