Miss Bikini Novice 2021 makes a strong statement

ON May 29, when 19-year-old Aliya Wong stepped on the stage at the Lichas Hall in Linden to compete in the Novice Championships, it was with a clear goal in mind: to show women that being fit does not mean you are undesirable- though society may tell you otherwise.

“All my life I had an athletic build and faced criticism for being muscular or being stronger in my physical abilities more than most females,” Aliya told the Pepperpot Magazine, adding that it was this same build that led persons to consider her figure more “masculine.” “Oftentimes [I was] told I should quit my sports or stop training before I ‘look too manly’ and was deemed less desirable by males. I went on that stage to represent all women, especially female athletes, who may have had similar experiences,” she said. “I wanted to show that we will always embody the essence of a woman and be beautiful no matter what we choose to do. That we will not accept labels but show that we are more than enough. We are capable of being successful! It was all about body positivity and representation. I would like to think I was successful in that.”

And successful she was, because that night, Aliya walked away with the Miss Bikini Novice title. An award-winning karateka and fitness aficionado, Aliya is no stranger to the stage, having won the 2016 Miss Talented Teen Pageant. But her passion for sports and fitness was especially highlighted during her participation as a Quarterfinalist in the Miss World Guyana 2020 pageant through her Beauty With A Purpose project ‘Youth Development Through Mentorship and Sports’. Nevertheless, seeing Aliya dive head-first into this fitness-centred role gave a slightly different view when compared with her stint in an arena usually characterised by heels and dresses.

“I am no stranger to fitness and sports, in fact, my whole life revolves around it! I have always had an athletic build as long as I know myself and the gym was just another place I found comfort in developing my skills and physique,” Aliya told the Pepperpot Magazine. She admitted though that the thought of competing in the fitness industry did not cross her mind though she had been encouraged to participate for years in the Miss Bikini Novice competition. But she finally gave in this year after receiving an encouraging push from her personal trainer, Michael Sampson and another friend.

But Aliya knew that this was no regular pageant and competing would require a greater investment into her diet and her daily fitness routine. “The transition was smoother than I expected, since I was already incorporating weightlifting and powerlifting into my gym routine. As for diet, I am not one to eat unhealthily, but this was stricter than my usual,” she explained. “I trained three to four hours for the working week and six [hours] closer to the competition date. It was bittersweet; there were days I questioned myself and others where I couldn’t have helped feeling proud of myself for taking on another challenge in a completely new industry. It was an ideal combination of some of the things I am passionate about, modelling and fitness. I like to think of it as a pageant but with a more toned and built physique.”

A natural competitor, Aliya stated that she aims to leave a lasting impact and do her best and that effort has taken her a long way in the past, so when she entered the Novice competition, she admitted that winning was part of the goal, but that she also wanted to enjoy and learn throughout the journey. “I wanted to absorb every aspect of this industry as well since it is a new one to me, but it was more than just winning and gaining experience.”

The importance of fitness
Aliya’s journey to this point is not just because she is a mere fan of fitness, but according to her, she eats, sleeps and breathes it; it is a love that grows every day. “It is important to me to be an advocate for fitness for I am a living testimony of its benefits …My life has been impacted positively, holistically. It played a part in self-discovery, strength building as well as skill-building; emotionally aided me throughout a lot of dark times in my life and mentally keeps me grounded,” she said. “It instilled discipline that is practised daily and developed relationships that have lasted years and of course lifelong experiences such and travelling and job opportunities.”

Aliya used this passion for fitness as a starting point for working with young people in showing them the importance and benefits of being involved in fitness and sports. This determination resulted in the launch of The Youth Development Organisation (YDO) in 2019 which focuses on positive youth development through mentorship and sports. “This has been my heart’s desire for years, but I chose to use the platform that the Miss World Guyana pageant offered as a way to have a successful launch and marketing. This was created to be a home away from home for youths, a beginning for most into a journey that they will forever cherish; somewhere that they too can reap the benefits of sports and fitness while being mentored by qualified individuals who seek to help them grow graciously into the positive individuals that can give back to society,” she explained.

Though she has big plans for YDF, many of the activities were put on hold due to the pandemic, but she shared that she and her team have been learning about how to modify their activities to keep them within the existing COVID-19 guidelines, so a launch of new activities is sure to be seen soon.

Plans for pageantry

As with almost everything else in the world, the pandemic also affected the Miss World Guyana pageant which saw the organisers cancelling the event and while there may be plans of hosting the pageant in the future, Aliya is not sure if she will take part in the pageant again- but that is all dependent on what’s happening within her five-year plan, she said. More than that, she is comforted that she still has a few years of eligibility yet and is likely to be more qualified and “decorated with accomplishments” should she decide to vie for the crown once again in a few years.

“I love pageantry for the platform it provides that allows you to be heard; a space to represent not only your country but also your passions and persons that aren’t in the position to do so and of course how can we forget the overall personal development one gains from participating in such a journey,” she said. In fact, she is still quite interested in pageantry as a whole, adding that there is a list of pageants she hopes to compete in to represent Guyana.

“After all, there is a lot of progress happening in the industry such as the famous crowning of the international Queens of African ethnicity who represented immaculately with their natural hair. Strides like these make it more desirable to enter into these pageants knowing this time you can be fully accepted and don’t have to worry about impartiality. I don’t see myself not being interested in pageantry anytime soon!”

Aliya believes that every pageant experience has impacted her growth as an individual and that she has always ended her journey with positive personal development after every pageant. She credits the workshops, training, team building and mentorship opportunities that participants are exposed to during these events. “I am grateful for the business opportunities that were provided to me as a result of my networking abilities and public appearances. This has caused me to gain professionally, instilled and perfected skills in business and other areas and of course helped me to grown overall.”

So as her five-year plan unfolds, Guyana can expect to see much more from this vibrant, budding talent both in fitness, youth development and pageantry.