Sixteen-year-old Francis Arena prevailed last Saturday to win the Miss Region Eight Police Youth Ambassador title during a pageant which was held on the lawns of the Regional Administration Oval Ground in Mahdia.
Francis, who was born in Venezuela and is Guyanese by naturalisation, represented the Danji Hill Mahdia Youth Group at the pageant. She also won Best Smile and People’s Choice awards, competing against eight other teenagers.
According to a post on the Guyana Police Force Facebook page, the Region Eight pageant saw a wave of spectators flooding the ground to support their various youth ambassadors although it was pushed back some five hours from the initial time. Scheduled to start at 17:30 hrs the pageant did not get underway until 22:30 hrs due to hours of heavy rainfall.
The pageant consisted of sportswear, talent, work attire, evening gown and the question and answer segments.
According to the GPF post, the evening proved unpredictable. It described the talent segment as one of “epic proportions” as the contestants captivated and won “the hearts and minds of thecrowd, with melodious renditions, spell-binding interpretive dances and dramatic poems…”
As Miss Region Eight Police Youth Ambassador, Francis will move on to the final stage of the pageant, joining 11 other teenagers who previously won in their administrative regions and districts. That pageant is scheduled to be held in Georgetown tomorrow night. The final 12 will compete for the overall and official title and crown of Miss Guyana Police Force Youth Ambassador Queen 2022.
Meanwhile, among the other contestants in the Region Eight pageant were Opheza Matthews of Seven Miles Mahdia Youth Group who was first runner-up and also won the Best Working Attire award and Kathy Joseph of Campbelltown Youth Group who was second runner-up. The third runner-up was Gabriella Murray of Paramakatoi Youth Group who also won the Best Sports Attire award. The fourth runner-up and winner of the Most Improved Delegate award was Angelica Cornette of Princeville Youth Group, while Keziah Calder of Chenapou Youth Group was awarded for the Best Evening Wear.
