The Imperial House recently launched the Miss Guyana Teen Scholarship Pageant that seeks to empower teen girls and to contribute toward their education through scholarships. Since the launch over 30 applications were received and 18 girls have been selected as the first Miss Guyana Teen Scholarship quarterfinalists; 10 will go into the final.
This week, The Scene briefly introduces the quarterfinalists:
Quissieana Odle: From Blankenburg, West Coast Demerara, 15-year-old Quissieana is a student at Queen’s College. She is 6 feet tall and aspires to be a psychologist. She considers herself a linguist and spends much of her free time studying and analyzing languages.
Devya Singh: Eighteen-year-old Devya hails from Happy Acres, East Coast Demerara. A former student of St Joseph High, Devya is currently at the University of Guyana pursuing studies in law. A Gemini, she loves looking at documentaries.
Naheeryah Newland: This 15-year-old Libra is a resident of Den Amstel, West Coast Demerara. She attends West Demerara Secondary School. Naheeryah has her hopes set on a career in the paediatric field. Her hobbies include singing and meeting new people.
Carolann Correia: A former North Georgetown Secondary School student, 17-year-old Carolann is a sixth former at St Rose’s High. This North Ruimveldt resident is also a model attached to Jada’s Consultancy and aspires to become a dental surgeon.
Niara Amsterdam: A resident of Melanie Damishana, East Coast Demerara, Niara is a student at Mae’s Secondary School. Her dream career is as a paediatric anaesthesiologist. For hobbies, this 15-year-old Taurus enjoys singing, sketching and poetry.
Ashley Sands: Eighteen-year-old Ashley hails from the mining town of Linden. She is a student at St Joseph High School. A Taurus, she spends her free time reading mystery novels.
Sarona Fraser: From the community of North Ruimveldt, Sarona is a student at Queen’s College. The 15-year-old Scorpio aspires to work in public relations. Sarona loves attending shows depicting any of the art forms. She also likes singing and being creative.
Nia Williams: A resident of Melanie Damishana, East Coast Demerara, 17-year-old Nia is currently doing CAPE studies at the Bishops’ High School. This Sagittarius girl is an aspiring lawyer/ politician who enjoys dancing, playing hockey and basketball.
Christel Mangra: This 15-year-old Scorpio lives at Crane, West Coast Demerara. She is a student at Queen’s College. Christel hopes to take up a career in auditing. Her hobbies are dancing, painting and swimming. She loves the colour black, specifically vantablack, said to be the darkest material on earth.
Daniela Aravjo: A model attached to Image Model Management, Daniela lives at Kaneville, East Bank Demerara. Her hobbies include writing, reading, listening to music and observing nature. Her astrological sign is Scorpio.
Jasmaine Assanah: This 17-year-old Wortmanville resident and sixth former at St Joseph High School aspires to become a criminal lawyer. A Pisces, Jasmaine enjoys theatre arts and sports. Her favourite colours are black and blue.
Omaiah Hall: This former student of the Bishops’ High School and prospective student of the University of Guyana aspires to work in public relations. She enjoys dancing and modelling, which she does part time. Omaiah considers herself to be someone with a dramatic personality. Her favourite colours are black and white.
Ariel Alexander: A former Covent Garden Secondary School student, the beautiful Ariel is a member of the Modern Adventure Youth Club. Originally from Skeldon, Berbice, the 18-year-old aspires to become a paediatrician. A Taurus, she loves science and is always taking on new challenges.
Shazeena Ghannie: This 15-year-old Gemini is a student at St Joseph High School. An aspiring entrepreneur and artist, Shazeena loves painting and fostering animals which she does for the Rosewood Foundation.
Tamasha Oxford: A sixth-former at the Bishops’ High School and an aspiring oncologist, Tamasha hails from Annandale, East Coast Demerara. The 17-year-old Pisces enjoys reading, painting, researching and composing music.
Kizza McLeod: This 15-year-old St Joseph High School student and resident of Sophia dreams of becoming a chemist. A Virgo, Kizza loves dancing, socializing and any sort of visual entertainment. Her favourite colour is green.
Rayshana Gillis: At 14 years old, Rayshana is the youngest contestant. The Christ Church Secondary School student hails from Wortmanville. A Scorpio, she enjoys singing.
Ramiesa Ganesh: Ramiesa aspires to one day become one of Guyana’s ambassadors. The 17-year-old is a former student of Zeeburg Secondary School. Her hobbies are dancing and sketching. Her favourite colour is yellow.
Weekly rehearsals for the contestants will include training for the catwalk, working on their talents, and public speaking. The girls have benefited from educational sessions on adolescent health and female sexual and reproductive health conducted by an officer from the Guyana Responsible Parenthood Association; on skincare and makeup by representatives of Bella Oasis International and Bromeliad; on public speaking by former toastmaster’s district director Anita Rampersaud; and on self-esteem and body image by actress and activist Desiree Edghill. The educational sessions are ongoing.
The quarterfinalists will be sashed on Saturday, August 3 at the Umana Yana beginning at 4 pm.
Come September 7, 10 of them will compete in the final at the National Cultural Centre. Tickets for the Sashing Ceremony cost $1,500 and are available at Medical Choice Pharmacy and from the contestants. The ticket price includes refreshments.
The Imperial House will like to acknowledge BranderZ Guyana as the official branding team for Miss Guyana Teen Scholarship. They will be making a special presentation at the sashing ceremony. Among the list of sponsors are – KFC, 55 Photography, Professional Guard Services, Guywill Ship, Fuse Arts, Bella Oasis Spa, Medical Choice Pharmacy, GUYANA LIVE, Pink Memo Boutique, I. Aniroud Stationery and Office Supplies, Amavani, Ministry of the Presidency Department of Youth and Culture and Clean and Clear Products distributed by DSL.
