WHILE it’s the bigger pageants like Miss World Guyana and Miss Guyana Universe that receive the most attention, it’s the less-heard-of affairs that help some of these beauties to reach that level. A shining example of this is aspiring doctor and pageant queen, Treasure James, who moved from participating in her first pageant in Port Kaituma in 2011, to placing First Runner-up at the Miss World Guyana 2016 pageant.
Now, the 22-year-old beauty plays an active role in coordinating smaller pageants, having done so for the recently concluded Miss Port Kaituma and Miss Emancipation pageants.
Currently, Treasure is busy preparing for the upcoming ‘Mahdia Summer Queen’ pageant, which will see eight local beauties vying for the crown along with cash and other coveted prizes.
Said Treasure, “People shouldn’t underestimate these smaller pageants, because the girls get to use these as stepping stones to get to the bigger pageants. But moreso, it also allows some persons who may not be eligible for those pageants to still be able to enjoy themselves and be a part of pageantry.”
MABARUMA GIRL
A native of Mabaruma, Treasure stated that pageantry in the interior is a big deal, and, as such, are highly anticipated by community members. “It has a lot of benefits, both in business and entertainment; everybody benefits from it in those areas: The hotels, the taxis, the food places, because people will come out in their numbers to support, and will even travel from Georgetown,” she said.
She noted that the event is used as a sort of community bonding affair as well, due to the lack of entertainment in those parts.
Having had much experience in the pageant arena over the last five years, Treasure stated too that it is her aim to host other pageants like these so as to give young women the opportunity to participate in the confidence-boosting arena of pageantry. “It’s very exciting; I am also trying to bring a different level of pageantry to the interior, so I am working with these girls to put their best foot forward and represent the community to the best of their ability,” she said.
The Mahdia Summer Queen Beauty Pageant will be held on August 20 at Vidya’s Yard, in Mahdia.
Here’s a look at the young women who will be competing for the crown.