Vying against five other Caribbean beauties in the inaugural Miss Cricket Carnival Pageant, Guyana’s very own Amel Griffith managed to take the crown on Monday night, which she credits in part to the huge audience support she received.
“Like when I hit the stage and I heard the loud response from the crowd, I really went out there and give an extra energy, and extra pizazz and that made all the difference I believe,” Griffith said after her coronation.
In addition to the crown, the 22-year-old reporter also won the Talent and Evening Gown segments as well as the Miss Cricket Carnival People’s Choice Award.
For Griffith, who hails from the golden town of Bartica, the win was her third pageant title thus far. “This is actually my third crown and I’m so elated that my third crown is actually a regional pageant this means so much to me,” she said.
The now reigning Miss Cricket Carnival admitted that indeed she was nervous to compete against the other delegates since they are some of the most beautiful, talented and zealous young women that she has met.
Griffith, who was showered with screams of support from the crowd every time she graced the stage for the various segments, acknowledged that it was the crowd appeal that really pushed her to strive and to do her best.
For her talent piece, during which she performed a dramatic poetry reading, Griffith wore a costume which mainly depicted the first people that came to Guyana, the Amerindians. Her poem explained the strength of the Indigenous people and how they managed to survive during the ancient times. She carried a spear which lit up every time she evoke her emotions.
Additionally, her Carnival costume was also adorned with feathers of many colors, which truly depicted the Carnival theme.
In the swimwear segment, she modeled her physique confidently across the stage as she wore a two piece, adorned with beads and glitter and which was designed with colors of Guyana’s national flag, the Golden Arrow Head.
Meanwhile, it was in her dazzling orange evening gown, that that the crowd saw her gasping reaction when she realized that she had won the official title and crown. Her evening gown was designed by Randy Madray.
Hard work pays off
Griffith, who recently won the local Miss Jamzone Pageant, said her preparations for each contest were “back-to-back” as she had to quickly transition to ready herself to compete at a regional-level event.
“Since I… won the Miss Jamzone it was a back-to-back journey and I was preparing for this pageant seven days a week so it was very tiresome and grueling but you know as I stand here tonight it shows that my hard work really paid off.” She further added that the “back-to-back” participation in two pageants was the toughest challenge she had faced in her pageant career as she recognized that by competing regionally she had to step up her game and work much harder. She added that approaching the morning of the pageant, one of her feet was swollen, she was sleep deprived and was also feeling unwell.
“Like I said I prepare seven days a week so it was many hours of countless training and you know that took a toll on me. I was actually very sick this morning and I really was devastated because I thought I would’ve not been able to perform my best.”
Griffith grew up with a single parent before she was eventually adopted by a neighbour in Bartica due to her mother having to leave the community. She said that she is forever thankful for all the support that she had received throughout her pageantry life and even throughout her life generally as she described herself as living proof that “God is good.”
As she prepares to take on every duties that comes with the crown, the young woman said that she is just embracing every step of the journey and will always be ready to represent to her nation and do what is required of her.
“I mean being a queen is a lot of responsibility and I am just welcoming every part of this journey as it comes my way. Whatever is required of me I will always step up to the plate and give my best and I really hope I make a difference during my reign,” she said.
