By Dreylan Johnson
It has been said that if you’re beautiful inside it shines through. Beautiful Lieve Blanckaert, 17, has a huge heart and a love for helping children in need. Lieve was crowned Miss India Guyana on August 20 and went on to represent Guyana creditably at the Miss India Worldwide pageant in Mumbai, India.
When asked how she had reacted to the news of her selection, Lieve expressed that she’d been ecstatic, sharing that it was a blessing to be able to represent her country on an international stage.
She was the youngest contestant vying for the crown in India, but she never let her age or inexperience on the pageant scene affect her confidence. She shared too that at no point did any of the other participants treat her with less respect because of her age, which she attributed to her maturity.
“My age wasn’t a problem at all. I’m a very mature and understanding person and your age shouldn’t give anyone the right to treat you differently. If you give respect you will be shown respect in return,” she said.
Lieve said that her decision to enter the pageant rested on her interest in meeting new friends, developing new goals, and experiencing the cultures of others around the world.
What she found when she visited Mumbai, was that the city experience was so similar to Georgetown, she couldn’t help but be reminded of home. “It was truly eye opening to witness where so many of our religious and cultural aspects of society came from,” she enthused.
Although she did not place, Lieve was bestowed the Most Beautiful Skin award, an honour she shares with past Miss India Guyana Queen, Katherina Roshana.
Lieve told The Scene that initially, she had not even realized she was the award recipient as the host had
