One deserving young woman will be crowned Miss Mash Queen 2022 on February 20 at the Ramada Georgetown Princess Hotel. The Scene this week introduces the six beauties vying for the title.
Shenica Manawar-Khan – Twenty-three-year-old Shenica is “ambitious, determined, and hardworking”, three of the adjectives she used to describe herself. They seem fitting for the former North Georgetown Primary and Tutorial High School student who was one time awarded the Champion Girl trophy and earned for herself four first place solo performance trophies during the years she participated in the Children’s Mashramani Competition. Her participation in athletics (track and field) saw her win seven gold medals as well.
A Revenue Assistant for the Guyana Water Incorporated for the last six years, this young woman knows how to win, which makes her a strong candidate in the Miss Mash Queen competition.
Her passion for dancing, modelling, exercising and participating in athletics has landed her in several roles: a model and assistant secretary at the Kal CAST Model Agency; a dancer at the Unique Arts Entertainment Dance Company; and track and field trainer assigned to the Running Brave Club.
The elder of two girls, Shenica credits her achievements to her parents who she pointed out as her examples and inspirations. When she isn’t caught up pursuing her aspirations or spending time with her family, she likes to hang with her hyperactive dog, Jimbo.
“I am always open to new journeys and opportunities that will enhance and broaden [my horizons] in my continuous self-development,” she said.
Tamasha De’Andre Oxford – A medical student pursuing a Bachelor’s Degree at the University of Guyana, Tamasha hails from Eastville Housing Scheme, Annandale, East Coast Demerara.
At 19, the former student of the Bishops’ High School is also an entrepreneur and owns Maisha’s Bakery.
Though her aspiration is to become an oncologist, Tamasha believes it is important to be multifaceted which is why she enjoys exploring the arts.
For the past six years, the steelpan has been an active part of her life and she is also committed to her other passions: poetry, art and modelling.
“I also love reading and volunteerism, and I am passionate about mental health, education and sexual and reproductive health. I believe that I should be Miss Mash Queen because I am worthy of it. I am a proud and passionate ambassador of my country, and I believe I am capable of leading our youths and being a great role model,” the all-rounder posited.
Zoriah McCalmon – “I was given the name Zoriah meaning a strong-willed independent person; a star. In many ways I think I live up to that name as I am the only girl among three brothers and I [learned] well from them,” the 20-year-old Lindener shared.
The pageant experience is not new for Zoriah who finished as second runner-up and was awarded Miss Congeniality and Best Talent at the Linden Emancipation Pageant in 2017.
An outspoken and social young woman, Zoriah once hosted the ‘Guy-frica’ radio programme, where she enlightened the public on black history and played African music.
Dancing is an integral part of her life and she has participated in numerous dance competitions and costume displays from nursery right through secondary school. At 14 she received her first certificate in dancing. Described as a spirited dancer, Zoriah was also backup dancer for several of Diana Chapman’s performances and as well as for Dexter Copeland in 2018 when he copped the Junior Soca Monarch title. She was also a participant in the National Dance Festival 2021 hosted by the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports.
Currently, Zoriah is a member of an all-girls dance troupe called Epic Dynamic Dance Group.
The young woman who holds a leadership certificate she earned through the Ministry of the Presidency believes her calling is to counsel and motivate others and as such is aspiring for a career in the field. Whether this Maya Angelou quote may have contributed to her career aspirations or not, she finds inspiration in it: “I am an embodiment of a new meaning of life, my purpose here is to find my true calling of life and fulfil it”.
Zoriah believes her strong and independent nature is why she is often sought out as a leader and role model.
Her academic journey saw her attending the Children’s Garden Nursery, Mackenzie Primary School, One Mile Primary School, Mackenzie High School and Christianburg Wismar Secondary School.
“With everything I’ve done so far in my life, I feel prepared to be a strong contestant and I view my participation in the… pageant as a learning experience. I’m very excited to share this journey with others,” she enthused.
Akeila Shivena Handy – An aspiring doctor, Akeila has competed and won two Linden pageants. She won the New Silvercity Secondary School 2018 pageant and is currently the reigning Miss Linden Teen Ambassador. Time will tell if the Lindener can pull off a triple.
The eldest of three girls, the 19-year-old grew up in a home where music influenced her life; both of her parents are passionate about music. Her father, a songwriter, took on the task of helping her to write the lyrics for her Calypso pieces when she represented her secondary school for five consecutive years; she secured first and second places in the National Schools Calypso Competition.
The father-daughter duo also worked on a collaboration together for pandemic song “Mask It Up” and performed live for a virtual concert.
Akeila is currently pursuing studies to become a phlebotomist as well as a pharmacy computer technician, steps closer to pursuing her dreams as a doctor.
The teen holds passes in 13 subjects at CSEC and also boasts a certificate in job readiness from a programme coordinated by a youth development organisation called Specialists in Sustained Youth Development and Research.
She sees pageantry as a platform for personal growth and a source of empowerment and mentorship for those whom she inspires and stated that she is proud to represent Linden where Mashramani first originated.
Jowanna Barkoy – “Winning the Miss Mash Queen pageant would be a great opportunity for me to elaborate on my platform [for] women’s empowerment: ‘Be empowered and know your value’,” 19-year-old Jowanna said.
The young woman who hails from South Turkeyen is a former South Ruimveldt Secondary School student. One of her proudest achievements was being awarded Best Speaker at her school’s debate in 2018.
A year later she received a certificate of completion in a USAID Basic Life and Employability Skills Program. In 2019 also, she received a second certificate for completing work study at the Ministry of Agriculture.
Jowanna hopes to pursue studies in Business Management at the University of Guyana in the next five years before moving on to pursue a designing career while holding it down as an entrepreneur who owns her own shopping plaza.
Gishell Eschalla Massiah – “My initials spell GEM. Yes, I am a gem, one that’s strenuous to discover and exorbitant to lose,” 21-year-old Gishell said.
Originally from New Amsterdam, Berbice, where she spent the first seven years of her life, Gishell now lives on the East Bank Demerara.
By the time she was nine, she already knew what it was to be queen having been crowned Miss St Mary’s in 2010. Now she is arduously working to become queen a second time.
Following her secondary education at St John’s College, Gishell attended Carnegie School of Home Economics where she graduated with a distinction in Garment Making. Owing to her love for designing, she is continuously working on improving her skills so as to become a distinguished designer some day.
During her time at Carnegie, the young woman also explored her sports skills with the Guyana Rugby Football Union.
The Miss Mash Queen pageant is not the first time Gishell is participating in activities related to the Republic holiday celebration; she had participated in the Mashramani Road Competition for years.
She also prides herself in her poetry and dance talents through which she has won trophies and medals for her exceptional performances.
“Even though I stand at 5’2”, I’m not intimidated by might or size and wherever I go, no matter the weather I always bring my own sunshine, this is because I always believe in myself. I believe I should be the next Miss Mash Queen because I have the drive to do better and I see everything as a task to be done, which makes me a very self-reliant and diligent individual. My goal is to inspire people to be themselves, to believe in themselves and to follow their wildest dreams no matter what those dreams are,” a confident Gishell said.
The Miss Mash Queen pageant is spearheaded by local pageant guru, Pamela Dillon. The grand coronation night will feature outfits by SAS Designs.
To secure early bird tickets at the cost of $3,000, persons can call 661-5115 or pay $3,500 at the door.
All COVID protocols will be in effect. The Miss Mash Queen 2022 pageant begins at 7 pm.
