New Amsterdam beauty Ederle Stephen is slated to represent Guyana today at the Miss Caricom Pageant, where she will compete virtually with young women from a number of other Caribbean countries.
The Miss Caricom Pageant was almost cancelled this year as a result of the pandemic, but the organization decided to go ahead and air the competition virtually.
Ederle, though a bit overwhelmed by the late contact made with her to represent Guyana, said that she did not let that get the best of her and is confident that she will be one of the frontrunners in the competition, or better yet Miss Caricom 2020.
The 21-year-old shared that she received a call last week asking her to represent Guyana in the pageant. The current Miss World Guyana (MWG) semi-finalist who had been eagerly looking forward to the MWG competition which has been cancelled for this year, could not pass up the opportunity.
A third-year medical student at the Texila American University, Ederle is currently attending classes online which made getting prepared for the competition all the more challenging. She is basically working around the clock to bring home the crown. However, she credits her hardworking team with getting her this far. “Along with my team and all the support I am getting, I’m feeling very positive about the outcome, knowing also that I’m putting my best foot forward,” said the Berbician.
She said she could not have gotten this far without her sponsors also; Sueria Manufacturing Inc, Shauna’s New Look Salon, Dahlia l’artista, and Palm Court.
For one of the categories, Ederle said, contestants could choose to do business or talent and she chose the latter. She will be doing an interpretive piece. The task is to tell a story that relates to the COVID-19 pandemic. She decided to do a piece expressing how the creative industry has been impacted by the pandemic.
The dance number is a collaborative effort of three persons. “In the dance she tries to sell her art proudly only to realize because of the pandemic, she has been painting very dark and sad and not so great paintings. She is frustrated from not being able to bag a single customer. She loses her livelihood. Along the sad path she discovers the ability and strength to continue her craft virtually,” a release on the description of the piece narrated. The dance is done to an edited version of “Colour Me” by Guyanese Juke Ross. It was conceptualized by designer Randy Madray, choreographed by Kelton Jennings, and filmed by Anthony Indar. Meanwhile, the track was created by Mix Master, Tony Bowen.
Ederle will compete in Swimwear, Evening Gown, and Introduction categories and the top three contestants will have a chance at the Intelligence Segment, which will determine the winner. The Introduction and Intelligence categories will be done live.
The queen will be presented the Miss Caricom 2020 crown, will be sashed, and awarded a trip to the United States while winners of the various categories will also be awarded prizes.
Ederle is a former President’s College student. The 5’ 11” stunner spends her limited free time working out and listening to positive music. Being one who likes reading her schoolwork, she considers herself a “flashy nerd”.
An aspiring paediatrician, this Scorpio’s mantra is ‘Do good and it will return to you.’
A country girl at heart, Ederle is the fourth of five children. She loves the colour purple, or as she puts it, “glittering purple”.
The virtual competition is slated for today at 10 am. To view the pageant, click on this link: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_1ZcD2re5S-O0b8U66Pr4jQ. The Swimwear and Evening Gown categories were shot and submitted by Thursday midnight. Ederle’s wardrobe was designed by Madray.
