NINE talented young women from the South Turkeyen area will compete on July 3 in the first ever Miss Turkeyen pageant being hosted by the Turkeyen Community Policing Group. Pageant coordinator and Chairman of South Turkeyen Community Policing Group, Narine Khublall, said the group had the idea as a means of encouraging more people to come on board with community policing.
The event will also focus on sensitizing the community on HIV/AIDS, with the assistance of the National AIDS Programme Secretariat (NAPS)
The pageant has the services of a group of experienced persons. Local model, designer and dancer, Ryan Berkeley is on board with the event, teaching the girls modelling and deportment. Social worker, Sacha Pollard is working with the girls to build self coordination, aided by Assistant Committee Director, Tracy Bacchus, whose experience lies in her competing in multiple pageants herself.
The pageant will include segments on Intelligence, Swimsuit and Swimwear. Delegates will be assessed on their verbal skills and comprehension, ability to interact with each other, tolerance, punctuality, personal style and attitude.
Today, we will feature seven of the nine delegates; the other two delegates, Trevanie Haynes and Louisa DaSilva, regrettably could not be part of the interview due to examination and job commitments.
The pageant will take place on the Sophia Primary School tarmac from 17:00 hrs. Anyone interested in sponsoring a delegate can contact Khublall on 219-1516 or 616-1940.

Delegate Number 2: Keitesha Barclay
This 16-year-old, whose goal is to become a musical artiste, says her first name is a combination of two names. She is very serious about attaining her career goal, and has already joined a recording studio. Her favourite artistes include Niki Minaj, Lady Gaga and Beyonce.
She has always had a passion for pageants, and decided that she can do it for herself and has been enjoying it so far.
Success comes not from wishing, but from hard work.

Delegate Number 3:
This 18-year-old’s intended goal is to become a bank manager. Her hobbies include dancing, singing, reading and socialising.
She admires Michael Jackson and Oprah Winfrey. So far, she is enjoying the pageant, and says that it is helping her build her self esteem.
She advises youths to stay in school and get a good education, as the sky is the limit.

Delegate Number 4:  Roxanne Lisa Scott
According to this delegate, who is in her early twenties: “A woman should never give her age.”
The former student of South Ruimveldlt Secondary works at the Ministry of Finance, and loves singing, dancing, modelling and indoor and outdoor sports. She is no stranger to the stage, as she has competed in other pageants, including ‘Miss Lodge’ and other school-associated pageants. Her role models include her mom and some of her teachers and mentors.
Roxanne says she joined the pageant because she wanted to reconnect with other youths, as she has been feeling a bit out-of-touch due to being busy.
Her advice is that being ambitious and aggressive lead to success.

Delegate Number 5:
A 16-year-old whose goal is to become a paediatrician, Nacia attends St. Mary’s High School.
She enjoys singing, dancing, socialising and reading. Her favourite author, she says,  is Gertrude Warner.
Nacia, who says she learnt about the pageant from a flyer posted in the village, says that she was encouraged by her mom to enter.
Her role models include Whitney Houston and Oprah Winfrey. She advises persons to be themselves, and perform to the best of their ability.

Delegate Number 7: Natasha Walker
She’s 15, and currently a student at South Ruimveldlt Secondary School. She aspires to be in the Medical field.
Her hobbies include reading, dancing and socializing. She says a major hurdle of her being in the pageant was modelling in a bikini, but she has since overcome it. She has a lot of supporters. Her role models include talk show queen, Oprah Winfrey.  Her motto is the six W’s: ‘Work will win, while wishing won’t’.

Delegate Number 8: Shondell Bailey
A third-former at the South Ruimveldlt Secondary School with an interest in singing, dancing and sports, 15-year-old Shondell says she is participating in the pageant as a way of building her self confidence. Her role model is her Aunt Linda, who is a nurse, because she would like to become a nurse herself.
She would like to be a role model to youths herself; someone they can come to for advice.

Delegate Number 9: Anasia Edwards
At 17, Anasia aspires to become a lawyer, and  is currently attending afternoon history classes. She was encouraged by her mom to enter the pageant.
The former student of St. Johns College loves to read, watch television and exercise. Anasia, who says she wants to be a role model for other youths, says her role model is the late ‘King of Pop’, Michael Jackson, because he strove to be different and she too would like to be different.
Her advice to youths is to get a good education and to strive for success. She advises that even in case of failure, don’t give up; use it as a stepping stone for success.