– with confidence, body positivity
Christal DeJesus’ pageant journey

IT is believed that pageants are just for slim girls with well-toned bodies and long legs; however, 17-year-old Christal DeJesus of Victoria village, East Coast Demerara, changed the perspectives of many when she won the crown at the first-ever Miss Teen with A Purpose Pageant last month.

The aspiring nurse told the Guyana Chronicle that she was never one who was inclined to be in the spotlight, but was encouraged by her friends to give pageantry a try when her secondary school held a fair and pageant in 2017.

“When there was the first Hope school fair and pageant and my friend went up and she won, I was like, this should be fun and my friends encouraged me to go for it; but the only thing that was left to do is to be bold and I was always a shy person,” she explained.
She noted that they were a few persons who discouraged her and told her that pageantry was not for thick girls like herself. However, DeJesus said that the doubt of others made her challenge herself even more to be confident.

“I challenged myself to be a confident person and I did it and won and from that moment on, persons kept on encouraging me to join pageants,” DeJesus said.
DeJesus was one of nine young girls who participated in the recent Miss Teen with A Purpose Pageant. She stated that the overall pageant experience has made her believe in herself, despite what others may think or say.

“My experience leading up to the pageant was very nerve-wracking, there were critics on why I was even in the pageant, but despite all that, I had to challenge myself, find my purpose but most of all build my confidence; however, it was also a fun experience. I found eight new sisters, we supported each other step by step all the way; together we empowered each other, made each other strong and so we were unstoppable,” she explained.

DeJesus explained to this newspaper the feeling she had when she found out she had won the pageant: “When I learnt that I was the queen, the feeling was out of this world, I was speechless, I was shaking, I was lost; it took me a while before I realised that “yes, Christal, you finally did it, you have done it.” It was a moment of mixed emotions to be honest and also I was surprised of the way some of the persons in the crowd reacted. It was actually sad to know that they would discriminate [against] someone because of their body structure; and the amazing part is that my talent piece for that night mentioned “I felt the hits and kicks of society being called names from fat to unworthy” and that is exactly what they did that very night,” she explained.

DeJesus added that she experienced some difficulty balancing her studies at nursing school and preparing for the pageant.
“The most challenging part of this pageant was balancing my schooling at the nursing school, while trying to meet a certain criteria for the pageant. It was very hard to be practising every day after classes and having to study for exams, but nothing good comes easy. I have made sacrifices and it was all worth it,” she stated.

DeJesus will collaborate with the Ministry of the Presidency Department of Social Cohesion, Culture, Youth and Sport to host a literacy camp in her community for a three-week period.
She added that the camp is intended to educate 60 children in Victoria between the of ages of 5-14 with better reading and writing skills; she also noted that at the end of the camp each child will be awarded a certificate.

DeJesus added that she will use her platform to be a role model to other girls like herself, promote body positivity and self-love, empower other young ladies to find their true meaning in life and to educate the youths in her community through the literacy camp.
DeJesus will represent Guyana in the Miss Caribbean talented teen pageant in St Kitts, come December.