The Simpli Royal team is set to continue its quest at shaping the lives of Guyana’s young beauty ambassadors to be confident, eloquent and fashionably conscious through the staging of the 9th Miss Guyana Talented Teen pageant.
Ten local beauties will vie for the coveted Miss Guyana Talented Teen 2009 crown billed for the lawns of the Duke Lodge Hotel tomorrow evening. The beauties are drawn from Linden, Berbice, East Coast and West Bank Demerara. They will compete in segments of national wear, swimsuit, talent, and evening wear for a spot in the final five.
Based on responses to a final question, a queen will be crowned. Aged 14-19 the delegates are Ruqayyah Boyer, Madona Ghannie, Annalisa Austin, Criselle Alleyne, Kiswana Jefford, Teneisa Piggot, Jnelle Babb, Sarah Gannie, Meenashki Khubir and Marissa Adams. They, unlike most local pageants, were trained for five months under the stewardship of international fashion consultant Lester Rauseo of Trinidad and Tobago followed by members of the Simpli Royal committee. They also underwent etiquette training with Jillian Phillips.
The queen walks away with $50,000 cash and assorted prizes and a chance to represent Guyana in St Kitts in December. A prize will also be awarded to one of the beauties to represent Guyana at the upcoming Miss Teen Universal Pageant in Barbados and another beauty will go to the Miss Cariabes Hibiscus in St Maarten in November.
The pageant has been in existence since 2000 but was shelved last year to accommodate CARIFESTA X. Past queens include Ulex Atwell, Asha Pieters-Roberts, Shamaine Davis, Shonette Moore, Keran Devi Singh, Kendacy Edwards, Jennel Cox and Trissana Cox. These queens as well as runners up have gone on to win the Miss Guyana Universe titles and also represented Guyana at international and regional pageants.
Even as Guyana‘s quest continues to win an international pageant crown through efforts of the Miss Guyana Talented committee, several regional crowns were won in recent times. Asha Pieters Miss Guyana Talented Teen 2001 copped the Miss West Indies and Miss Carival crowns while Meleesa Payne her runner up in the 2001 pageant copped the Miss Carival crown and the first runner up prize for the Miss West Indies pageant. The reigning Miss Guyana Universe is Janelle Cox. Atwell copped the 2nd runner up prize at the Miss Cariabes Hibiscus pageant.
Pageant organiser Pamela Dillon said and when the new queen is crowned, she will begin her reign at the insomnia party being hosted just after the pageant at the same venue. Organizers believe the pageant and party concept will bring alive beauty pageants in Guyana. A number of local artistes will perform at the pageant and the girls will be serenaded by a special surprise guest.
By: Mondale Smith