– describes it as a proud moment’
AFTER copping the Miss India Worldwide 2012 crown Alana Seebarran, recorded another proud moment yesterday when she met President Donald Ramotar. The elegantly dressed York University, Toronto student, said in a brief interview with the Government Information Agency (GINA) that the discourse with the Head of State made her feel “proud to be a Guyanese”.
She was crowned the Miss India Worldwide 2012, on the evening of February 25 at the KKF Ballroom in Paramaribo, Suriname, with US$7,000 as the winning prize. She also won the title of Best talent.
She described it as a remarkable feeling and a great experience and, with the support of the large contingent of Guyanese who accompanied her on the journey, she was given the strength.
Asked what this means for her as a Guyanese who made history, the beauty said:
“This is only the stepping stone. I hope that a lot of young women out there will follow my footsteps and that this will be the first but definitely not the last.”
Seebarran was among 35 contestants in the pageant and after remaining in the five finalists who were shortlisted she won the most points in the round of questioning. The first and second runners-up spots went to Kuwait and Australia respectively.
A former student of Mae’s Primary and School of the Nations Seebarran is also a member of the Guyana Hindu Dharmic Sabha’s Naya Zamana dance troupe. She is at present pursuing a degree in Marketing at York University, Toronto Canada.
Her brother Dustin Seebarran, cousin Christine Hamid and National Director of the Miss India Guyana Pageant Chandini Ramnarain accompanied her to yesterday’s meeting with President Ramotar.
Dustin, in a brief comment to GINA, said some of the immediate priorities will be to campaign for Alana and her accomplishments and build her momentum as a role model to other Guyanese.
He was also impressed with yesterday’s meeting with President Ramotar whom he described as very open and inviting.
Ramnarain said Seebarran’s victory vindicates the notion that Guyanese women have beauty and brains despite the naysayers’ view about the quality of pageantry in Guyana.
“It’s just that you need a good organising team and training and everything else… it’s a positive vibe,” Ramnarine said.