AT the end of a night of excitement and close competition, 15-year-old Paulene Dhuman of Tutorial High School walked away with the ‘Miss Summer Blaze Teen’ pageant crown and a degree scholarship from the University of Guyana.Under the theme: ‘Suicide prevention and awareness’, Maggie’s Craft in collaboration with Ms. Summer blaze promoted the ninth edition of the contest at the Theatre Guild auditorium in Georgetown on August 13, and pageant Directors Natasha Cornette and Andrew Daly are pleased with the pageant’s success.

Suicide has become a dominant social ill affecting youths in Guyana over the years and government has said that it welcomes support from non-governmental organizations as well in combating the scourge.
Reports earlier this year indicated that Guyana was a leader in suicide in the world. It has been reported that in January alone, there were 15 recorded cases of suicide in Guyana. Government, through the Ministry of Social Protection has held consultations with stakeholders countrywide on suicide prevention to discuss the way forward to reduce and eventually eradicate suicide.
While many pageants complain of lack of support, Director Cornette told the Guyana Chronicle Miss Summer Blaze has gained favour with scholarships and gifts for its queens and platforms for awareness campaigns against suicide.
The pageant queen is expected to participate in forums on ‘suicide prevention and awareness’ in New York and Atlanta Georgia in the United States of America (USA), the Director said.
In addition, Queen Dhuman has won herself scholarship to pursue a Bachelor’s Degree at the University of Guyana, compliments of Carimer Care, a return trip to the United States of America (USA), compliments of Fly Jamaica and was also guaranteed a job with Fly Jamaica upon completion of her university degree.
First runner-up Kayanne Grant of North Ruimveldt Multilateral School won herself a Diploma scholarship to the University of Guyana, compliments of the Public Service Department within the Ministry of the Presidency, while second runner-up Kalisha Frank of Brickdam Secondary won a Phablet.
Third runner-up Afisha Phoenix of Bishops High won a hair dryer set and gift vouchers. Ronise stoll won the Miss Congeniality award.
Sixteen delegates drawn from Tutorial High, North Ruimveldt Secondary, Brickdam Secondary and Bishops High schools competed in the pageant, which was staged with the aim of boosting self-esteem in the teenagers.
Director Cornette said the pageant was an educational one with scholarships as its main prizes. “So we’re looking at teen development,” Cornette said.
The contest featured three sequences – casual wear, evening wear and question and answer.
Other delegates participating in the contest are Tariquea Eversley, Queeneisha Inniss, Aisha Fraser, Tia Lashley, Trechell Horatio, Resheda Stoll and Iyanna Grenardo.
Pageant Director Daly said the pageant committee is grateful to its sponsors, which include the Ministry of Social Protection, Fly Jamaica, Ministry of the Presidency’s Public Service Department, Carimer Care and Banks DIH, among others.