By NAN ET EDITOR
News Americas, NEW YORK, NY, Fri. Mar. 1, 2018: For the first time in its history, the Miss World Guyana pageant will be accepting Guyanese Diaspora applicants from the United States.
With over 270,000 Guyanese residents living in the US organizers, say it is important to also include the Guyanese Diaspora in the event.
Each year, the Miss World Guyana organization puts over 50 candidates to the test on their understanding of the world as well as measuring their abilities in sports, debate, talent, multi-media, confidence and community service.
Ten finalists are then selected and appointed to an administrative region of Guyana. On coronation night, one is selected by a group of judges to represent the country on the international stage at the Miss World competition. The overall winner will represent Guyana in Thailand this year.
Candidates from the United States are being encouraged to submit applications. Select applicants will then be invited to a casting event in New York City on March 17th.
“In Guyana, and the Caribbean region, there are very few platforms available that spotlight young women. Miss World Guyana is one of them,” said Ravi Ramkeesoon, the recently appointed United States Managing Director of the organization who is leading the marketing and outreach initiatives. “The brand represents female empowerment. We believe the event also serves as a mechanism to showcase national talent and can be utilized as a professional springboard. In addition, representing Guyana on the Miss World stage is an accomplishment onto itself one that will last a lifetime.”
Deadline for applications is March 10th and contestants can apply at missworldguyana.gy via
Guyana has had tremendous recent success on the Miss World stage including top 10 overall finishes by Rafieya Hussain in London in 2014 and Lisa Punch in China in 2015. But perhaps the most notable success story on the Miss World stage goes back to Shakira Baksh (Caine) who represented Guyana at Miss World in 1967 and finished third overall. She then launched her career in modeling in London and appeared in films such as The Man Who Would be King alongside Sean Connery and Michael Caine.
Reigning Miss World Guyana winner, Ambika Ramaraj said upon winning the crown: “I was so grateful in that moment; the work that myself, my family and supporters put in had paid off, and I now had an opportunity to advocate for a cause that I wouldn’t have been able to advocate for on the scale that I did.”
Guyana has still, however, claim a Miss World winner.
