Miss Guyana Sari Pageant left something to be desired
Dear Editor,
The recently concluded Miss Guyana Sari Pageant, 2008, held on Saturday, October 25, 2008 at the National Park was an embarrassment. My first question to the Diwali Committee members is why was alcohol allowed and sold in the park? The contestants and the general public were made to understand that no alcohol consumption would have been allowed in the park on the night of the pageant!
Secondly, what were the criteria for the selection of judges? And why weren’t the judges introduced to the contestants? Probably right after the introduction of the contestants would have been a good time to introduce the judges. I can understand that a lawyer was selected to judge the pageant. However, the only thing he should have been focusing on was public speaking. This was something which was not done to satisfaction, because one of the contestants was seen using her hands to express herself, and during public speaking no gesture should be used! Also, another contestant had a long pause in her introduction, so long in fact that she could not remember her sponsor and had to look down at her sash, while a successful contestant apologized to the audience in her introduction.
At least one person who has wide experience in sari pageants should have been selected as a judge. A good example is Mr Parmanand Sukhu − he judged a number of pageants before − or even any past queen would have been good.
Thirdly, the training the contestants received was inadequate. No proper steps were taught. We were not introduced to any pose; we had to create our own poses. Past judges of sari pageants, contestants and queens of sari display should know that the recently concluded pageant was an embarrassment in terms of sari display, since full usage of the stage was not made, no steps were executed (we all know that the three steps − turn pose, turn pose − is the appropriate way to model a sari) and no proper or new poses were shown on the stage.
I did three big poses (the peacock, butterfly and the fish pose) while about two to three other contestants did only the peacock pose. I honestly thought with those poses I was eligible to be in the runner-up list. One contestant was caught on tape using her sari on the wrong side, while once she looked at her sari and made the pose (the diya pose). Another contestant was caught backing the crowd for a long period.
Finally, in the final question segment, if you listened carefully, most of the answers were wrong. However, the contestants were brave and continued to speak. The questions were quite simple; however we were all nervous on stage and one contestant could be seen bouncing from one foot to another during this segment. We, the contestants, were advised to submit a biography and were told the final question would be based on that biography. On the night of the pageant it was revealed to the general public and the contestants that a sealed envelope containing the questions had been handed over to the MCs. However, we never witnessed this. Also, the questions asked that night were the same questions asked the contestants the night before the pageant. We did not focus much on these questions, since we had been told that the final question would be based on our background.
Also a major concern is why the judges took so long to come up with the final result. A simple calculator could have been used to tally the final scores and choose the queen and runners-up. This could have been done within 20-`30 minutes or less. Thankfully, I have a tape and all my comments can be verified. I would be very happy if the judges or any member of the Miss Guyana Sari Pageant Committee could respond to my letter and also make available the score sheets and the criteria for judging.
Yours faithfully,
V Rooplall
Contestant #2
Editor’s note
We will send a copy of this letter to Chairman of the Miss Guyana Sari Pageant Committee, Mr Pradeep Samtani, for any comments he might wish to make.
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Tangerine..
Contestant #2 spent way over her time stage ..you lost fair and square…now suck it up and move on!!
I dont have to be on a pageant to be a winner. I am a winner and always will be…no judge has to decide that!!
Also, please go back and read the article if you dont understand. The judges was introduce of course….however, they were not introduced to the contestants. And if you are a lover of pageants you would very well know that the introduction of the judges should be done in the presence of the contestants.
And spending way over the time on the stage??? do you know how long we had to spend? My dear, remember you attended the pageant and was not there back stage or heard what the contestants were advice!!
And if you think that the pageant was fair, then do yourself a favour and do some research on “Sari Pageants” it will help you in the future.
Perhaps, instead of wasting so much time critisind the organisers, judges and your fellow contestants, you should learn to be more open and approach your next outing with a view to learning. Then maybe, one day you will be judged good enough to be a wimmer!!
Also, everyday is a learning experience for me. However, i only learn the right things nor the wrong and you should try to adopt that approach as well. It will help you to be a better person and as such, our Country would benefit as well.
You should check my comments once more!! I never said that “I should win”
But, from the tape, there were other contestants that did way better and could not get a space. So, I think that you should look at the tape once more and be honest with yourself.
Umm….looks like a sore loser to me. All of the contestant were exposed the same oh they didn’t introduced the judges, they didnt teach me yada yada yda…
Fact that no ONE contestant was given preferential treatment, it was fair in its own twisted way. Now abt poses…it quality that counts not quantity.
Another thing…which contest actually ask a question on some article you wrote abt yourself??? Maybe it was misinformation..maybe it was deliberate to make you think. Oh I dont have to worry abt the question. I know my bio like the back of my hand.
Honestly I saw the show and thought that the best girl won.
Secondly, if you were curious enough to find out you would have learnt that an Autobirography contains everything about one’s self, which includes what each contestant is crrently doing, so for example one contestant is an economics student at the University of Guyana, and just to inform you economics encompasses alot, thus the fact that these girls were told that questions were going to be based on their autobirography it was in this context that it was interpreted. So to inform you , a question on economics was not going to be as easy as ABC!!! Obviously, i dont think the promoters would have beed so silly to ask the girls about basic information about them selves; but then again that is precisely what they did…… alot of the questions were ludicrous!!
I dont share your opinion, the best girl did not WIN!!
like many of you i, too have vieved the tapes, and i have to say that i don’t agree with some of the comments.
My first question, What was the sole objective of this pageant? To qutoe one of the promoters “it was to return the glory of the sari pageant and to promote the indian culture.” Inaddition, the eventual winner is supposed to be an ambassador, and i say SUPPOSE because in her interview with the Satabroek News she said quite bluntly her sole motive for entering the pageant was to win the car… now correct if i am wrong but how can someone promote the indian culture when that individual was only interested in the first prize?
i think the pageant was a complete disgrace!
and the promoters should be ashamed of themselves, it was a pageant with no standards and for those of you who feel you have the liberty to write and make comments about letters perhaps it would be wise to inform yourself about a sari pageant and what it entails. Please do not make foolish comments! i know about the intricate details as it concerns a Sari and what the eventual winner displayed that night was nothing close to it, more importantly the first runner up did not deserve to be in that spot! Her blunders were too many and that was as blatant as the judges decision!!
These three individuals have absolutely no experience in judging a Sari pageant!!
Perhaps, someone can come forward to tell me otherwise!
i would like to take this opportunity to say to Ms. Rooplall, u did well and No you are not a SORE LOSER!!! Those who dont know cant say any better!!
In everyones mind you are the WINNER MS. ARJUNE.
Congrads
I do hope the Ministry of culture can make some serious recommendations, so that participants can have some knowledge as to their rights and lay down laws regarding pageants.
Please read your letter properly.
By the way, the exposure was good for all of you beautiful young ladies. You are also a winner. Don’t fret..
Tangerine..
To, quote her she said “the crowd was not too good good” And just to remind you she is the one chosen to be an Ambassador!!! So, perhaps you and all the others who found it necessary to criticize Ms. Rooplall as if she was completely worng to express her views on a pageant in which she was apart of should pay more attention to the ONE who is SUPPOSED to be THE AMBASSADOR and help her work on her GRAMMAR!!!
have a nice day!!