Fantasia Santiago is this year’s Diamond Infinity 6: Drag Fest queen and plans to use her crown and platform to mobilise and build public support and respect for the trans community.
Fantasia, who resides on the West Coast Demerara, and is a nurse by profession, knocked out Tik Tok Star Jessie Banks for the coveted crown by three points. However, during her interview with this publication, she said she believes that if Jessie decides to return to the stage next year she can be the next queen.
“I want to congratulate Jessie for being a first-timer… She is the best. She amazed me… I see her coming next year and being the next queen. She has the potential, she has the criteria, she has the beauty, she has the brains, she has the intelligence,” Fantasia gushed.
Touching on the pageant, Fantasia said she believes that having that representation on such a big stage will play a major role in society better understanding the trans community and their role and importance to the country.
The pageant had four segments: fantasy wear, recycle wear, lip sync for your life, and evening gown. There was also a final question, which was: ‘What would you tell your 12-year-old self if given the chance?’ Fantasia wowed the judges when she said she would tell herself that trans people can actually have a positive impact on society, and stressed “the change begins with us”.
Fantasia, who was also crowned Miss Diamond Infinity 2017, thanked those behind the scenes supporting her, along with her designers, parents, and friends. She also spoke highly of the organisations in Guyana which have been supporting the LBGTQ community and her mentor Antonia Paul.
Going more into detail about her parents’ role in her journey, Fantasia explained that she has never had an outright conversation with her parents. According to her, after noticing “stuff” her parents began questioning people she was associating with. She recalled that there were times when they were mad and she even suffered some ridicule but she said they quickly realised that they could not change her but could only “mould and groom” her “into a better person”.
She then advised younger trans people to be open. Pointing out that religion is a significant part of most Guyanese households, Fantasia said trans persons are sometimes forced to hide their true selves. However, she urged, “Be yourself, get out of that dark negative background.”
She stressed that there are organisations in place that assist those persons with removing themselves from such environments. She said sometimes they even assist with securing employment and training to give trans people a fresh push start.
Although Pride Month has concluded, Fantasia said she would keep the same momentum going. She stressed that she will use her crown as a “mobilisation weapon” and is planning to have workshops with the trans community throughout Guyana to further educate them on their rights and the role they can play in society.
Additionally, she is also planning to have workshops with marginalised youths and the Guyana Police Force. She pointed out that trans persons are still being discriminated against when filing police reports. She said it was important for officers to realise that they must be treated with equality and respect. She wants to play a major role in “breaking that barrier” and eradicating the stigma.
Further, Fantasia also spoke about the role mainstream media can play in ensuring representation of the trans community. She said the local media fraternity can also play a role in mobilising public support for the community and congratulated Nazima Raghubir, President of the Guyana Press Association, who is attached to Prime News, for making an effort to attend programmes held by the LGBTQ community.
Meanwhile, speaking about how she was able to juggle her career and the pageant along with her other responsibilities, Santiago said, “it wasn’t an easy road” and at one time she even had second thoughts about competing. However, she pushed through focusing on the greater impact such a pageant would have.
She said before the competition she had told her fellow contestants that no matter who won they will remain united. She then explained that she is also hoping to include them in her workshops so as to collectively bring awareness to the trans community. “I want them to be on board. We are family,” she stressed.
Meanwhile, she also plans on lending her support, experience, and expertise to would-be participants in next year’s pageant. Ideally, she hopes to have a fashion show where she can teach the nitty-gritty of participating in a pageant.
Fantasia also plans to visit Trinidad and Tobago and meet with other queens to discuss the role they can collectively play to bring awareness on an international stage. She is also hoping to visit other countries and meet with other queens as well.
In the next five years she hopes to see the trans community “grow and grow”, she said, hinting that at the next general elections there will be trans representation. She stressed that while it is important that they become office bearers in certain positions, it is also as important that they “play an important role and serve our beautiful Guyana”.
