PULL QUOTE: “What Guyanese can do to help shape the perception of this country is to get involved, get involved in the everyday development of your country.” -Umadevi Bux
In its January 31 edition this newspaper’s Bombshell Entertainment supplement named as its weekly “Bombshell Babe” Ms. Umadevi Bux. At just 24 years, this Zeelugt resident has already completed training as an English Language teacher and completed a degree in international relations. She was at one time, a teacher and a journalist.On the co-curricular side of things, she has participated in the National Youth Parliament as well as in fora in Bolivia, Portugal and Russia. The aesthetically stunning Ms. Bux also participated in a couple of pageants, namely the Miss Guyana India Worldwide Pageant in 2011 and the Miss Texila American University pageant last year, the latter which she won.

When pressed as to whether she would bring her formidable resume and pageant experience to bear in the upcoming Miss Guyana World pageant, Ms. Bux, who is now on a scholarship at Texila American University pursuing studies to become a paediatrician, would only say she is “contemplating it.” Pepperpot solicited from the newly minted pageant winner an interview, a substantial excerpt of which we have published below.
Sunday Pepperpot (SP): Pageantry is seen as thriving on the objectification of women. What value do you see in women participating in pageantry and why do you want to do it?

Umadevi Bux: What a pageant does is it brings out confidence and self-esteem. It makes you more vocal in causes because it provides a platform to speak out for what you believe in. It widens your perspective and brings out the essence in a woman. Before I joined pageantry, I never had any idea of makeup and accessories and a pageant teaches you to do your best, be your best, look your best, speak well and always put your best foot forward no matter what. It all comes down to what [is it that is] different you can bring to the table, not only in terms of beauty, but brains as well. I want to do it because it helps me as an individual to grow; in life, it is always important not to be mundane, but to try and be different and do positive things to build on who you are. And I see pageantry as an avenue for that. The part that I love the most – and this is what captivates me – is being a beauty with a purpose.

SP: You have pursued very diverse career paths: teacher, international relations, journalism and now, medicine. Why the variety, and what are your goals in life?
Uma: I didn’t plan to become a teacher; I didn’t plan on becoming a journalist. Journalism is something I wanted to try, and when I applied [to Guyana Times], I didn’t really expect that I would have actually gotten the opportunity to do so. Journalism opened my eyes to politics, socio-economic situations of various countries. I mean, you would know, before becoming a journalist there were a lot of things you didn’t know about. Teaching is a career that came to me, and that, after high school, I happened to fall into and eventually, fall in love with. I always loved kids and teaching taught me that it isn’t so much [about] the magnitude of the action you perform for someone but the fact that you can bring some positive impact or change to someone’s life. I took a scholarship to pursue medicine because I want to do something for my country and I want to help children. I am a patriot and I want to serve my country. Additionally, I hope to work with UNICEF and work with children, become a “doctor without borders”, if you may. I want to do something to make a change – not just talk the talk, but walk the walk.

SP: What are some of the causes that you espouse, that you would use the platform offered by pageantry to advocate for?
Uma: Youth activism and cyber-bullying are things which I hold very dear to my heart, along with women empowerment. With the world becoming increasingly globalised, people say youths are the leaders of tomorrow but I believe youths are the leaders of today. Youths need to build that confidence from a very tender age to be the best that they can at whatever they choose to [so as to] realise their dreams and aspirations. There are things that they can do to motivate themselves-become more active in society, go out in a community, start projects and help out. I was actually a victim of cyber bullying and I know what it can do to someone; it brings you down emotionally, it breaks you down mentally, and it makes you doubt what you are capable of and breaks your dreams. [Fighting] cyber bullying is something that I am very passionate about. Individuals who are victims of cyber bullying need to understand that they need to believe in themselves, that it doesn’t matter what people throw at you. All that matters is what those you call your loved ones think of you and all that matters are those positive things you are capable of doing in society. No matter where you go in this world, there are always going to be people who are going to try to pull you and you need to remember to keep moving forward no matter what the situation is.
For me, a strong woman is an independent woman, a self-sufficient woman, like my mom. She’s my inspiration. She is someone I look up to and she’s taught me the value of being independent and what it means to be able to stand on your two feet. It is something that she wants for her daughter.

SP: In what ways can you, as an emerging youth icon, help positively shape the perception foreigners and even your compatriots have of Guyana?
Uma: Being a Guyanese is something that you should hold dear to your heart. We are a land of six peoples and diverse culture, and amazing natural beauty. What Guyanese can do to help shape the perception of this country is to get involved, get involved in the everyday development of your country. Go out, meet people. See what people need and what you can do to help change it. When I’m abroad I tell people about Guyana’s warm hospitality, our diverse culture and the togetherness manifested in our motto: ‘One People, One Nation, One Destiny.’ And I actually show people, through the way I portray myself, that Guyana is not just a small plot of land on the corner of South America. It is one that can grow and develop into something amazing and has potential to be one of the best developed countries in the world. Personality speaks greatly when you’re an ambassador for your country. It is the first the thing people notice about you and the last they remember, and it’s key to always be sincere, always be truthful in your actions and always put the interests of your country before anything else.
Written By Saeed Imran K`halil