WHEN we talk of divas, we customarily associate the word with classical ladies of high fashion and very stunning appearance, who indeed command attention wherever they go, and rate high points in the fashion world.
We also associate the word with intense glitz and glamour; and many times, we do not even bother to find out if those ladies’ heads are screwed on properly, if those heads are laden with ‘intellectual fillings’, or if they just rattle around empty as ever, hidden by the faraway dreamy expression that can fool us into believing the very opposite of who those ladies actually are.
This reporter recently embarked on a quest to find a true Guyanese diva, one who possesses both beauty and brains, is gifted with a balanced personality, and accentuates positive morals.
During my search, I met dozens of dazzling damsels, but none could represent all the attributes I was looking for in one package.
When I was just about ready to give up in frustration, I remembered the likeable Negla Brandis, who has practically stood out in everything that she did or promoted, and my instincts told me that she is the woman I was looking for.
So I went in search of her, and finally found her before nightfall. She was more than ready to be featured on our pages in the Chronicle. During a very riveting exclusive interview, I realised that she was not only pleased with all the personality traits I was looking for, but also gifted with tons of creativity, natural charisma, and gritty determination to be ultimately successful at anything she puts her mind to.
I was amazed to find out also that, to date, this very sophisticated and fashionable femme fatale holds the position of Executive Director of the Miss Renaissance Pageant, and has had overall responsibility for hosting this prestigious pageant for mature women from 2003 to present day. Moreover, Ms Negla Brandis was the former coordinator of the Miss Guyana/New York pageant from 1990 to 1999.
This Guyanese-born fashion icon is a phenomenal woman with lots of talent and skills. She received professional nursing training in London, and completed her Midwifery training at the Simpson Memorial Maternity Pavilion in Edinborough, Scotland. She qualified as a Registered Nurse (RN), Registered Psychiatric Nurse (RMN), and State Certified Midwife (SCM) while in the United Kingdom. From the UK she moved to the USA, where she continued her higher education, receiving her BSc. (Hons) in Health Administration from the St. Francis College in Brooklyn, New York, and MSc. in Health Education from Teachers’ College of Columbia University.
Negla, who delights in shocking viewers and dropping jaws with her riveting fashion ideas, has been a nursing leader in the USA for over twenty years in roles as Nurse Manager (Supervisor), In-Service Coordinator/Health Educator in hospitals as well as long-term care facilities (nursing homes). Her exploits in this arena and superb mentoring skills allowed her to upgrade Nursing Assistants to multi-purpose care providers at York College, New York. Though it was challenging, her enterprising personality later had her involved in HIV Care and Treatment in the early stages of the virus discovery.
Negla was concerned always about the health systems and welfare of senior citizens in Guyana and returned annually during the 90’s to host her fundraiser dubbed ‘STYLE’ which she used as a fashion vehicle to garner much needed revenue for her many projects. ‘STYLE’ raised the bar of Guyanese fashion significantly and must have provided clues for budding fashion enthusiasts to work with.
Ms. Brandis has also held the franchise for the Miss Guyana Queen of Queens International Pageant and is the recipient of several awards and citations which includes the Medal of Service (MS) in 1989, for her numerous contributions to Health Care in Guyana. She also offers services as a Special Event Planner, Pageant Consultant, Health Educator and Senior Care Specialist at home and abroad.
Her workshops, ‘How to Produce a Pageants of Quality’, were fantastic, and should be used as stepping stones to perfection for many of the so-called pageant promoters who have sprung up around Guyana.
The Chronicle is more than elated to present Ms. Negla Brandis as a woman of substance and strength. She is indeed a diva with a positive difference.
You so-called pageant promoters who are bent on exploiting our females, check with Negla, you can learn a lot from her. Or come out to her Miss Guyana Renaissance Pageant. Grab a seat….Then look and learn!
By Alex Wayne