Reigning Miss Guyana Culture Arian Dahlia Richmond will represent Guyana in the first ever Miss Emerald, a virtual pageant that will highlight the preservation and protection of indigenous cultures around the world.
Some 25 countries have entered participants in the Miss Emerald Pageant, for which the winner will receive a crown made from of real emeralds, US$9,000 and the chance for an indigenous community in their country to benefit from this after the pandemic.
Arian, who was Miss Bartica Regatta 2018, also finished as first runner-up at the Miss Caribbean Culture Pageant last year in St Kitts.
The pageant, which is coordinated by a team in the United States, will take the form of a series of videography and photography through which each participant will submit the required content that will be posted online via Instagram and YouTube. National franchise holder Randy Madray explained that some of the content will focus on the preservation of indigenous communities during this current pandemic, how they are affected, what is being done in their countries and what more can be done. Each contestant will also post videos on her Instagram page that feature the culture of the indigenous people she is highlighting, and advocate for their rights.
From the 25 participants, 6 will be shortlisted based on a series of submissions before they are narrowed down to a top three. Each contestant is required to create an indigenous costume that pays homage to the indigenous culture of her country.
Randy, who is also a top designer, said, “We were able to source the tibisiri, seeds and raw cotton and other materials to make her costume.” Arian and her local team, he said, are ecstatic about this experience and anticipating it more so because the coronavirus pandemic has cancelled many local pageants, the carnival, and other events here. Along with her costume, the designer is also working on cocktail attire for Arian and an evening gown.
Randy, who worked along with the Ministry of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs last year in the preparation for the Miss Indigenous Heritage Pageant, said that through that experience he learnt a magnitude about our first people. Unable to visit the communities because of the lockdown, he noted that having such information at hand is a huge help. This along with video clips and other information from tourism organizations is assisting with Arian’s preparations.
A live stream of the final night of the pageant is slated for July 10, on YouTube. Whichever country wins, the team in the US will travel to that country after all of the COVID restrictions have been lifted where a coronation ceremony will be held. If all goes well, by next year the pageant will be held in a normal and physical setting.
