–to become Miss World Guyana 2018

AFTER a very close competition on Friday night at the Pegasus Hotel, 19-year-old Ambika Ramraj took the Miss World Guyana 2018 title, making her eligible to represent her country at the global level in Sanya, China, in December.

Just a few moments after being crowned, Ambika said: “I think I feel elated. I don’t know if that’s the right word to describe how I’m feeling right now, but I know I’m happy in this moment, and I’m so grateful that everything I put in paid off.”

Ambika bested Tracy Smith, who was adjudged first runner-up, and Joylyn Conway, the second runner-up to take the coveted title. Throughout the night, however, it was a close competition between the three, as they edged past the seven other finalists.

Conway won the talent segment, while Smith’s ‘Beauty with a Purpose’ project was adjudged the best of the lot. Ramraj, however, was adjudged the top model, winner of the multimedia campaign, and best in performance evaluation.

She was crowned by her predecessor, Miss World Guyana 2017, Vena Mookram.

Filled with gratitude, Ambika said: “The next step for me, I think, is training really hard to represent Guyana extremely well on the international stage, and doing my country proud; representing Guyana as it should be represented.”

First runner-up Tracy Smith and second runner-up, Joylyn Conway, voiced similar sentiments of gratitude, and vowed to continue their ‘Beauty with a Purpose’ projects.

Before being selected to enter the pageant, all three girls were required to make a presentation as to why they believe they should be chosen as the queen.

During her victory speech, Ambika reflected upon the conflicted feelings she’d had about entering the pageant.

She, however, said that after signing up for the pageant, she embarked on “a journey of self discovery” and found her purpose.

And though, admittedly, she may have selfishly entered the pageant for herself, her journey to the crown, especially with her ‘Beauty with a Purpose’ project and being the regional ambassador for Region Four, has allowed her to amass an unimaginable amount of compassion for those around her.

Given what she’s experienced in her own personal life, and the connections she felt with those around her, she affirmed, “I will be the voice for our people.”

Ambika’s ‘Beauty with a Purpose’ project is titled “Healthy Wholly”, and focusses on using sports and fitness to reduce mental illness.

Aside from being crowned the queen, Ambika was most emphatic that the best part of the pageant for her was that moment she shared backstage with the nine other contestants, or sisters as she calls them, where they comforted her when she was not at her best.
This, she said, illustrated the sense of camaraderie and sisterhood the girls have developed over the past few weeks.