Twenty-one-year-old 21-year-old Amel Griffith, was last weekend crowned Miss Jamzone 2022, winning for herself a car, a trip for two to Arrow Point Nature Resort, a trip for two on the Wanderlust Tours’ five-island tour of Essequibo, and several other prizes from DeSinco, ANSA McAL and others.
Amel also secured the best fantasy swimwear, best talent and best national costume awards – all of which were designed by Randy Madray.
The reigning Miss Jamzone is a reporter attached to Nightly News and the holder of an associate degree in Communications. She is currently pursuing a bachelor’s degree in International Relations.
In an interview with The Scene, Amel explained that she has always had a love for pageantry. She entered her first pageant while in high school and although she did not place, she never thought of giving up as it was something she enjoyed thoroughly. In 2019, she entered and won the Miss Bartica Regatta pageant.
She said, “I’m not the typical pageant girl. I was a very tomboyish person and always into sports and then my love for pageantry started after the Miss President’s College and although I did not place I used that as a steppingstone.”
According to her, after becoming Miss Bartica Regatta in 2019, she spearheaded a fundraiser to supply four children with all of their school supplies.
Amel revealed that she was initially reluctant to enter the Miss Jamzone pageant but signed up after she was encouraged to do so by a friend. She actually entered on the last day for applications – a last-minute decision she has come to cherish.
According to the bright and well-spoken young woman, her reluctance stemmed from the fact that she had previously been infected with the Covid-19, which took a toll on her physically and mentally. She also lost her grandmother and aunt to the virus and was coping with their deaths.
She revealed that she is still dealing with some of the effects from the virus. Noting that although she is a firm believer in science and was fully vaccinated during that time she really had to rely on God for strength to get her through the trials which came along with being ill. Calling it a “dark period” in her life, Amel said it was prayers that brought her through.
“I lost my sense of taste, sense of smell. I had fever [it] skyrocketed, and I had a lot of anxiety during that period,” she added.
She noted that pageants are a lot of hard work and Miss Jamzone was no different. However, she said, she made up her mind once she signed up and gave it her all.
Amel said that there was a lot of training for the different segments. “I found myself in that last month, every week doing something for the pageant. I lived and breathed the Miss Jamzone Pageant,” she said.
She spoke highly of the organising committee which covered everything and ensured the contestants benefitted from training for public speaking, modelling and talent sessions. “It was a well-thought-out pageant… We benefitted and learned so much,” she added.
Noting that pageantry had a negative connotation, she said it was no longer about looks but rather a platform to help young people tap into their full potential. She encouraged young people wanting to partake in pageants to never “let other thoughts deter you from following your dreams. Do everything with excellence and passion.”
For the Miss Jamzone pageant, Amel was asked to represent Anna Regina. She shared that during her research of the town she learned the tragic story behind its name. According to her, it was a plantation owned by an Englishman who had two daughters named Anna and Regina. One day, the girls set out to swim in a nearby canal unsupervised as they often did. However, this time, they both drowned; they were aged 13 and 8 years old at the time of their deaths. Their names were later put together and used as the town’s name in their memory.
Amel noted that Anna Regina later became an agricultural stronghold.
For her talent piece, she performed as a figurative Mother Guyana and she said her national costume perfectly portrayed the strength of the women of Anna Regina.
Amel was sponsored by Fireside Suites, and she thanked them for making the process easy allowing her to focus solely on her participation.
She also mentioned the great relationships she developed with the other participants.
Meanwhile, despite her hectic life, Amel enjoys travelling and anything fashion related. She stressed that she loves to experience new cultures in Guyana and internationally. While she is
focussed on completing her degree in International Relations, she also hopes to set aside some time to travel different countries.
Meanwhile, Jasmaine Assanah was voted first runner-up and Omaiah Hall, second runner-up. Jasmaine won the awards for best social media presence and Miss Summer Body along with $500,000. Omaiah took home $250,000 and other prizes.
The Miss Jamzone pageant, which focused on tourism, is a staple event in the Jamzone Summer Break Festival which has been hosted for over 20 years by Hits and Jams Entertainment.
