A bubbly beauty with a winning streak
-and an insatiable passion for cooking
A BUBBLY 23-year-old, Roshini Boodhoo has a winning streak that just wouldn’t quit.
So, how is she coping with winning the coveted Miss India Guyana 2011 title, and just what it is that makes her tick, anyway? Well, for starters, she’s had to start getting used to hearing people refer to her as ‘Miss India’, and attracting the kind of attention that says: “Look! It’s Miss India Guyana!”
But this experience is not entirely new to Roshini, who has been in the spotlight before.
As a longtime member of the Dharmic Sabha, she has participated in competitions such as Naya Zamana, modeled for Guyana Fashion Weekend, and just recently co-hosted the local women-oriented talk show, ‘Diatribe’.
Roshini, who sees herself as a fine example of a cultured Indian young woman, has been dancing for about as long as she can remember, and can recall doing her thing in front of the television since she was a child.
This trait of hers has left its mark, even to this day, as her dance items tend to go left even though she’s a right-hander, which is as a result of dancing to coordinate with the mirror-like reverse image of the television.
She also recalls playing Mother Sita in Diwali plays at Primary school, and teaching herself Hindi from a self-teaching programme.

Inveterate cook
Another of her great passions is cooking, and two of her all-time favourites are Indian and Italian foods. And, so passionate is she about this, she is even contemplating opening a restaurant one day. Actually on board with one of our major hotels in the kitchen, she’s had to take a break for the pageant, but plans going back as soon as she possibly can.
Believe it or not, she was in the kitchen at 03:00h on the morning of the pageant, cooking up a storm for her family. Everyone was hungry; food places were closed; and Roshini, of course, volunteered for kitchen duty.
This culinary passion of hers, she says, stemmed from her mom, Sookranie, instilling in her since childhood that as an Indian woman, you have to know how to cook, and allowing her to watch as she bustled around the kitchen. Fascinated by the sound of food splashing around in hot oil, she would observe the process from a safe distance.
An avid sportswoman, she was not only captain of the girls’ cricket team at Primary school, but also won herself at one point the coveted title of ‘Best Sportsperson’. She also played basketball at High School.
Roshini, who believes that you get more when you put other people first, plans paying a courtesy call on the St. Ann’s Orphanage for girls on Thomas Street, here in the city. She remembers visiting the orphanage before, and being heartened by all the love and support she received from the little girls there, and their telling her: “Roshini we want you to win.” So, now, she wants them to see her with the crown.

Congeniality
There’s no denying Roshini’s popularity; she’s the beauty who drew loud rounds of applause every time she graced the stage on the night of the pageant, won the ‘People’s Choice Award’, and was voted ‘Miss Congeniality’ by the other contestants.
Roshini says she was extremely touched at winning the ‘People’s Choice Award’, and is extremely grateful to the other delegates for rooting for her.  Everybody was so nice, she said.  There was absolutely no bickering, like in some other pageants.
The Miss India Guyana pageant, which took place recently at the national Cultural Centre, featured three categories, namely, western-styled evening wear, talent and Indian evening. Those who made it to the top five, based on their performance on the preceding categories, had to show their smarts in the Question-and-Answer segment.
Roshini was stunning in her golden ballroom-style gown, which she introduced herself in. As their final question, the five finalists were asked: “There is no denying that in Guyana, we are faced with a problem of constant migration. As a true patriot, how would you urge Guyanese to stay and develop the nation?”
Answering the question, Roshini cited education as one area that needs to be addressed, including the problem of teachers being underpaid teachers and the ongoing brain-drain. As she would admonish the audience:  “Tourists spread the word about Guyana; why can’t you?”
At the end of the day, 23-year-old Shivanie Latchman, sponsored by Popeye’s Seafood and Chicken,  secured the first runner-up position and the prize for ‘Best Talent’, while 21-year-old Divya Sieudarsan, sponsored by Guyana Power and Light (GPL), copped the second runner-up spot. In this particular pageant, the first and second runners-up were crowned, so Latchman and Sieudarsan went home with elegant tiaras.
Sponsored by Toolsie Persaud Limited, 20-year-old Christine Camacho took the third runner-up position, while 22-year-old Mohini Roopchand, sponsored by Rockies Brazilian Bar, earned the fourth runner-up position.
The other delegates, who all gave great performances but didn’t space, were 21-year old Judith Sullivan, sponsored by CNS Channel 6; 20-year-old Ornella Ramcharran, sponsored by Comfort Sleep; Natasha Kareem, sponsored by Gold Target Export; Stephanie Singh, sponsored by Palm Court; and Trisha Persaud, sponsored by Ramotar Trading.
Singh earned the ‘Best Smile’ trophy for her sweet smile, while the ‘Miss Photogenic’ prize went to Persaud.

Preparations for the big event
Preparations for the overseas leg of pageant have already begun, as nothing is to be taken for granted. Roshini’s trainer is Padmini Rambalak of APSARA. Her mission far from over, she says the tension is now beginning to bite home. She believes she has a good chance as any at the Miss India pageant, as “the talent [piece] takes you far.”
Franchise holder of the Miss India Worldwide pageant, Chandini Ramnarain, said this is the first year that APSARA has engaged in a national search for a talented woman who can showcase Guyana’s enriched Indian heritage and the country in an international arena.
Last year’s winner, Lucretia Rambalak, she said, turned heads in Durban South Africa last year, and she was thrilled with the Guyanese support she found in cards, letters, e-mail and text messages.
This year’s pageant, which is to be held in Dubai, is expected to be the largest in the event’s history, she noted, and as the winner of Miss India Guyana 2011pageant, Roshini will be representing Guyana at the competition.