In the world of local pageantry, Afro-Guyanese beauties have, for the most part, dominated for several years. Here is a look at some of the title holders.
Miss World Guyana 2015
Lisa Punch
Even before she graced the world of pageantry with her beauty, Lisa Punch has been a singing sensation in the local music industry. She was first introduced to us through local television singing competitions, blowing her audience away with almost perfect covers of some of Whitney Houston’s greatest hits. At the age of 14, she entered the first ever reality show in Guyana called ‘Star Guyana’. She was the youngest person in that competition and won convincingly after singing Whitney Houston’s ‘I will always love you’. At the age of 15, she became the voice of the regional theme song for Carifesta in the Caribbean. By the time she was 18-years-old, the local songbird already had several local awards under her belt and had already released some of her own music.
Born September 4, 1992, she is the daughter of John Punch and Nafieza Daniels and is the eldest of five siblings. Recently, she was selected as Miss World Guyana 2015. She will be off to Sanya, China quite soon to compete at the international leg of the Miss World 2015 pageant.
The Miss World pageant is the oldest surviving major international beauty pageant. It was created in the United Kingdom by Eric Morley in 1951. Since his death in 2000, Morley’s widow, Julia Morley, has co-chaired the pageant. Alongside its traditional rival, the Miss Universe contest, the Miss World pageant is one of the two most recognised and publicised beauty contests in the world, and also boasts the largest number of participating countries.
Miss Global International Guyana 2015
Alicia Bess
Standing at a glorious six feet tall, Miss Global International Guyana 2015, Alicia Bess is known for her cheerful personality, her humility and thoughtfulness. Coming from humble upbringings, Bess is an exceptional young lady who enjoys reading, dancing, and modelling in her free time.
She displayed a passion for the fine arts at a very young age and embraced training in dance, drama and singing throughout her school and working years. In 2009 she was rewarded a Republic Bank Arts and Culture Award for her constant involvement in the arts – drama, singing and dancing.
Alicia, who is the reigning Miss PJD2 Caribbean Queen 2014, ventured into the world of pageantry at the age of 21 as a way of becoming a more rounded young woman within society. She won her very first pageant – Miss East Bank Supermodel – in 2010. She was chosen as the first runner up in the Miss Republic Bank Caricom Pageant in the same year.
She was one of the featured models of Guyana Fashion Weekend 2010 and is constantly featured in the local media modelling pieces from various Guyanese designers.
In addition to a hectic academic life, Alicia is the Administrative Manager and Executive Aide at AU Drilling Inc. and the Australian Honorary Consulate respectively.
Miss Global International (formerly Miss Commonwealth Beauty Pageant) is the brainchild of Mr. Lachu Ramchandani. Mr. Ramchandani has been involved with beauty pageants for over 15 years and has earned the name ‘pageant ambassador’. Miss Global International started in 2005 and has been a success since then, with its contestants gaining recognition both locally and abroad. It aspires to unite the world through tourism with beauty.
Miss Guyana Universe 2014
Niketa Barker
She has the “killer-good-looks,” the runway walk, the charisma and the intellect. With these tools at hand, it was unanimous that Niketa Barker would be crowned Miss Guyana Universe when she competed a second time in 2014. Miss Guyana Universe, formerly known as “Miss Guyana” is a national beauty pageant for women in Guyana. Traditionally, the pageant will select the winner to represent Guyana at the Miss Universe pageant.
In the Miss Guyana Universe 2012 pageant, the stunning Niketa Barker gave Suriname-born Ruqayyah Boyer a serious run for the crown. But she fell short of a few points and landed in the first runner up position.
The 24-year-old beauty ambassador who hails from New Amsterdam, Berbice says that apart from her daily routine, she surely enjoys camping, swimming, playing board games, and of course, modelling, which is clearly evident from the plethora of beautiful pictures splashed across her Facebook page.
Barker is a full time medical student at the University of Guyana. She is also signed to Traits Model Management Guyana.
Miss Emancipation 2014
Onica Rose
Miss Onica Rose is a former student of Bishops’ High School and is the reigning Miss Emancipation. She is an aspiring Criminal Lawyer. This pageant is hosted annually as part of the celebrations during Emancipation Day on August 1.
Rose is known to be a down to earth and committed individual. During the summer of 2014, the adventurous lover-of-life spent that time teaching mathematics to remedial students of the Campbellville Secondary School as part of the Cognitive Initiative of the Benab Foundation.
Rose enjoys dancing, playing tennis and cricket.
Miss Jamzone 2015
Cardella Hamilton
After taking a shot at pageantry in 2014, 24-year-old Cardella Hamilton finally secured a crown of her own recently in a tourism-based pageant. Hamilton is now Miss Jamzone 2015 and considers herself a “country-girl to the bone.”
She attended the Headstart Nursery School and then went on to Sacred Heart Primary School. She successfully graduated from New Campbellville Secondary School, and is now a final-year student at the University of Guyana, pursuing a degree in Public Management.
Hamilton, with her smooth, taut, appealing physique also enjoys being a freelance model.
This charming beauty from Hopetown, Berbice is adventurous, dedicated and never backs down from a challenge. Hamilton also enjoys reading, watching a good game of cricket and swimming.
She has always had an interest in speaking on the dangers of drugs and alcohol to young adolescents.
For her, pageantry is not about the “glitz and glamour”, but rather a launching pad to spread awareness with regards to any life changing experience or serious issue that a delegate represents. She strongly believes that pageants need to be meaningful and should be used to inspire others to grow.
