Melissa Dow-Richardson won the Ms Guyana Renaissance crown and title early last month, besting 10 other mature Guyanese women in the 7th edition of the pageant conceptualised by Negla Brandis.
She was crowned by Ms Renaissance 2012 Dr Vivienne Mitchell-Amata.
The final line up saw Jonell Waldron as first runner-up; Joann Forde, second runner-up) and Rosalin Corlette, third runner-up. The other contestants were Mia Ritchie, Beverly Peters, Deon Lyn Lewis, Jonell Waldron, Tomika Cooke-Chase, Michelle Alphonso, Vanessa Williams and Jeanne Jeffery. Four of the contestants copped the other five prizes: Deon Lyn Lewis (Ms Congeniality and the Executive awards), Beverly Peters (Most Improved Contestant), Jonell Waldron (Best Cultural Contestant) and Jeanne Jeffrey (Miss Photogenic).
In an interview with The Scene, Melissa said she was privileged to have shared the stage with 10 other beautiful ladies who she thinks have done exceptionally well. “I have,” she said, “gained a sense of sisterhood and camaraderie.”
The reigning queen said she was confident about herself and remained buoyant especially because of the friends she has who were always optimistic about her winning. “The fact that I’ve won is an excellent achievement. I would have given the same level of discipline to any aspect in my life. Part of pageantry is building a sisterhood and you can’t do that if it’s all about competition. The pageant was a powerful experience for all of us,” she said.
The pageant was first launched on December 4 last
