By Frederick Halley

REIGNING Miss Regal World Janice MacGregor is desirous of working with organisations in Canada and Guyana to help in anti-racism, civil rights and epilepsy awareness. Those were her pageant platforms when she copped the title at last August’s competition, staged virtually because of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

MacGregor, who said she was quite honoured to represent Guyana at the pageant, explained that she was involved with the causes for several years and is hoping that her platform will assist in reaching more people. “I intend to continue with these causes after my reign is over. I’m also interested in establishing Guyana as a tourism hotspot while respecting the land, property and resources of Guyana and without negatively impacting the locals.”

According to Janice, whose parents are Guyanese-born, she was diagnosed with epilepsy in her first year of university and “I’ve shared my story via public speaking and in writing for Canadian and international publications and I hope to eliminate the stigma and misconceptions around it.”

Touching on the Miss Regal World pageant, which is based in the United Kingdom, Janice told the Sunday Pepperpot that because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the entire pageant was done online. “There was a total of 125 delegates from around the globe across the four categories (Jr. Miss, Miss Teen, Miss, and Ms)” She competed in the Miss Division which saw 56 delegates participating.

Janice disclosed that the finalists in her division were all remarkable women and she was honoured to be grouped among them. The finalists include a National Health Service (NHS) nurse, a full-time pageant coach, a New York Fashion Week (NYFW) model and a wide range of diverse individuals from various career paths and countries. “The one thing we had in common is we were all passionate about our respective platforms.”

Boasting about her success, Janice said she wants to use her crown and sash to bring smiles to people through either in-person or virtual appearances, especially for epilepsy groups and small businesses. “Even more important, I want to make a difference in the civil rights movement. I want to be on the right side of history.”

Janice has held national level pageant titles before but the Miss Regal World is her first international pageant win. She is the former winner of the Miss Saskatoon 2007 title. She is also a three-time winner of Miss Saskatchewan titles (Miss Saskatchewan International 2007, Miss World Saskatchewan 2008 and Miss Petite Saskatchewan 2009). She has held the national title of Ms. of Canada 2015/16 and International Ms Canada 2018. At the International Ms. 2019 pageant in New York City, she placed in the top 10, won the Determination and Evening Gown awards. She is presently the Miss Dream Girl and is featured on the list of “Famous People of Guyanese Heritage” alongside Rihanna, Deborah Cox and Leona Lewis among others.

An Alma Mater of the University of Saskatchewan (High Honours), Janice majored in Psychology and is a Lifetime member of the Golden Key International Honours Society.

According to Janice, her motto is: “Wish in one hand and work with the other to make dreams a reality.”

Describing herself as an actress and model, Janice loves travelling and experiencing new cultures. COVID-19 permitting, “I’ll be handing off my Miss Regal World title to my successor this summer in England. If the pandemic situation doesn’t improve the pageant will be online again,” she pointed out.

Born in Edmonton, Canada, Janice moved to Saskatoon at the age of eleven but now resides in Saskatchewan. She graduated from Bishop James Mahoney High School and was offered a scholarship at the University of Alberta but opted instead to attend the University of Saskatchewan and Saint Thomas More College.

Both of her parents are from Berbice, her father Frank Moorgen (deceased) from Hampshire Village and her mother Mary Moorgen (nee Deonarine) from Fyrish Village.