IN an unexpected win, delegate number five 23-year-old Kara Lord sponsored by Compustruct Engineering, managed to secure the Miss Guyana Universe crown last Sunday at the prestigious pageant hosted at the Princess Hotel, located at Providence, East Bank Demerara. At the pageant, there were large segments dedicated to 23-year-old Roshini Boodhoo, 22-year-old Iyanna Harris and 19-year-old Madonna Gani, who screamed in dismay as their favourites were announced as runners-up.
The runner-ups in order were 22-year-old Seromanie Choomlall sponsored by Mahdia Gold Corp in the first runner-up position, 21-year-old Judith Sullivan sponsored by Serious Offroaders in the second runner-up position, Harris sponsored by Platinum Inc. in the third runner-up position and Boodhoo sponsored by Georgetown Mineral in the fourth runner-up position. Gani who had a huge fan base and was a favourite of many, did not space.
Getting off to a very late start, the pageant began shortly after 21:00 hours and the delegates made their initial appearance in Mardi Gras inspired outfits which comprised of a two piece-  the bottom half of which featured a loin cloth made of features and glitter, was further complemented by large wings formed like the petals of a beautiful flower.
At this point most of the delegates performed credibly showing off their individual moves for an eager audience who lapped it up. But it was at this point that Dorette Cambelle of CARICOM who co- hosted with DJ Casual Armstrong started to flub her lines as would be a trend during the rest of the pageant, and the sound started to act up.
At this point Lord was in her element on stage and seeming unwilling to come off.
The contest was shaping up to be a good show and the delegates looked stunning as they worked their way around the wishbone shaped catwalk. Contestants worked the stage to Jason Derulos “Don’t wanna go home” for the swim suit segment of the pageant. They all rocked the same black bikini covered by their colourful wraps. Then disaster struck as the skies opened up and everyone ran for cover. The show would be twice more interrupted by heavy rains over the course of the evening.
The entertainment acts were definitely the pacifier of the pageant soothing the tempers of an increasing disgruntled crowd. Classique looking as cutting edge as the hot contemporary moves they have built their reputation on, thrilled the audience.

Jamaican star Chris Martin looking dapper in fitted trousers and west cut, soon had the eager female audience eating out of his hand as he wooed them with his beautiful voice, singing songs such as “Giving it to you right”, “Baby want to be with you”, “Call on Me” and the oldies that he would later serenade the delegates with.
Martin simply got more fabulous with every song, wowing those present with his voice control as he pulled astounding notes.
As he launched into his signature hit “If you don’t love me” he took a poll asking the ladies what they wanted as he offered various combinations of love and money: “nuff love, lil bit money”, “plenty money, plenty love” and “lil bit money, lil bit love”. As some vouched for the later he berated them, “What’s wrong with you?”
Karma Band out of Trinidad did not disappoint especially new comer “Mr. Renzo” who thrilled the ladies with his hot Latino songs and samba moves and the popular Ravi B. As a surprise finish, Ravi took a running plunge into the Princess swimming pool, and swam the length of the large pool after asking “Alyuh want to see me jump” – to the intense enjoyment of the crowd. Ravi’s sister Nisha B. was more demure than usual elegantly dressed and singing a range of popular pop tunes like “Lady Antebellums “I need you now” and Beyonce’s “Girls run the World”.
The pageant also had its share of four legged models too, who helped to entertain the audience with a large black and white cat who seemed determined to walk the “catwalk” reappearing after being shooed and a bold dog who made an appearance.
The final question segment which is one of the most nerve wracking events followed the evening gown segment (See this Sunday Pepperpot for more). The final question was “If you were to become President what would you change about Guyana?”
Choomlall responded that she would like to create more employment opportunities, while Sullivan said that she would change the way people see us worldwide and put our country on the map through tourism, however she did not stop there and rambled embarrassingly on for a bit. Harris said she would focus on the education system especially the education of young ones while Boodhoo made her first big stumble  in the pageant going on to talk about her work with her platform “Breast Cancer”. Lord noted that Guyana has a lot of assets but we need to work on unity as a people.
The pageant was adjudged by a team of experts from the field of fashion, entertainment, sport and education such as Richard Young, Joel Ghansham, Basil Joseph, Shamaine Joseph, Stanford Sullivan, Sita Saw Roach, Steve Ninvall and Head of Centre of Communication Studies of UG Dr. Paloma Mohamed as Chief Judge.
The Queen will represent Guyana at the Miss Universe 2011 pageant in Sao Paola Brazil this September.