MISS Guyana World Lisa Punch’s winning the talent competition at the Miss World contest could not have come at a better time, with Guyana preparing to commemorate its 50th anniversary celebrations.And as all Guyana anxiously await her performance in the finals come Saturday, congratulations are streaming in.

Punch is now depending on Guyana to vote her into the top three favourite Queens. Her win has sealed her spot in the top twenty-five in the Miss World contest, drawing her closer to the coveted crown in the final competition to be staged Saturday.

Guyana plunged into joy after hearing the great news yesterday, with the Miss World Guyana win dominating topics on social media, and many offering congratulatory messages for the Queen and her country. The Guyanese recording artiste serenaded the judges and audience with her original composition “One last time”, capturing their hearts in the Monday night contest, which was slated as one of the fast-track events leading up to the finals slated for Saturday.

One Last Time, was written by the Queen in memory of a young cousin who passed away years ago. According to reports, Punch’s win is the first for a Miss Guyana Queen in the talent contest of the show. Internet news Newssourcegy.com reported that pageant bloggers and websites said “the results came as no surprise since Lisa Punch is one of the popular contestants in this year’s Miss World Pageant and she has had the opportunity to showcase her talent at several shows across China as part of the competition”.

Lisa Punch posted on her website yesterday that she was just grateful to be among those lovely ladies from all over the world, and she is now asking Guyanese to support her by downloading the Miss World App on their mobile devices and voting for her as the competition intensifies.
“I stand on this stage not as myself but as GUYANA!!” the Miss Guyana World Queen said. The Miss World Guyana organization describes her win as a “proud moment for Guyana on the World stage”.

The Guyana Chronicle yesterday spoke to a few ministers of the government, and has also highlighted other comments on the Queen’s triumph as Guyanese continue to express their thoughts on social media.
For Minister within the Ministry of Education, Dr. Nicolette Henry, “The timing could not have been better, as we prepare to launch our 50th anniversary event. So, she has definitely put Guyana on the map… This is bright news, and I’m actually excited and happy for not only Lisa but Guyana.”
Noting that she is indeed proud of Lisa’s accomplishments thus far, Minister Henry concluded by describing her win as “Great for Lisa; great for Guyana!”
Minister within the Ministry of Public Health, Dr. Karen Cummings said she is not at all surprised at the news that our girl won the talent segment of the contest since she has heard her sing before, and has since had every confidence in her.
Noting that singing and humanitarianism have become like second nature to Punch, who has been very active in the fight against suicide, Dr Cummings said:
“I’ve heard her sing, and I know she would have done well.”
Meanwhile, Guyanese have been punching up a storm on social media, betting on their queen and sealing their confidence in her even walking away with the coveted Miss World title.
The following are just some of the comments the Guyana Chronicle was able to obtain:
“A few weeks ago,” one fan wrote, “I told you guys Lisa big night is coming up on the 14th of December, 2015.
“It’s not that I’m a fortune teller, but the writing was on the wall. Lisa Mary Johanna Punch hit it out the park.
“How can they stop her? She went on to win the finals in flying colours… It was her own song she won with, by the way; not Whitney or any other. Now, I can’t wait for the upset in the finals! Go Lisa, Go; Go Guyana Go!”
Another fan posted, “Congratulations to you, my friend. I knew you would have won the best talent, from the very first day you won Miss Guyana World.
“I have been telling my friends from Guyana and the Caribbean, ‘If Lisa doesn’t win best talent, something wrong.’”
Yet another wrote: “It proves that Guyana has a long way to go with regards to patriotism. Our love and support is highly conditional…
“It proves that every matter doesn’t deserve our opinions and comments, especially in public; especially on social media! It proves that your haters will boldly step out of the woodwork as soon as you stumble.
“I saw people verbally and shamelessly crucify that girl on Facebook a couple weeks ago, when that blunder happened… It proves that everybody deserves a second chance and space to get up and go again…
“But most of all, for me, it proves that your beginning is in no way an indication of what your ending will be like. Out of obscurity and controversy can come beautiful stories.
“Even if Lisa doesn’t win, and I hope she does, my hope is fully revived that anything is possible.”
“I can’t even describe how I feel,” one fan commented. “It’s that kinda feeling I had a couple days after May 11… Look at God.”

By Shauna Jemmott