By Faith Greene

TWENTY-TWO pairs of mothers and daughters will be competing for top prizes in this year’s Mother and Daughter Pageant, which will be held on May 13, under the theme, “The year of the Pearl, Our Love is Thirty”.

The creation of Supa stylistics, the affair promises to be breathtaking, fun-filled and competitive.

This year will be the 30th production, making it the oldest locally produced pageant in Guyana.

Aside from the COVID-19 period when everything was at a standstill, the founder, Ingrid Fung, a well-known educator, ensured that it was held every year since 1990.

“I sit here today as a symbol. A symbol through this very, very interesting journey,” Fung said during a press conference held recently to officially launch this year’s pageant.

She said that while at the Saint Joseph High School (she is the school’s former principal and English Language teacher), herself and one of her colleagues would ponder and think of ways to make life better.

They had successfully held the ‘Miss St. Joseph’ pageant but wanted more.

Miss Fung as she is popularly called, recounted that the first Mother and Daughter Pageant was held at the National Sports Hall. Today, she is astonished that she was able to pull off 29 productions after that.

She stated that it is not just she and her daughter, Dr. Sulan Fung, who have worked hard to give mothers and their daughters such a bonding event to look forward to. She credited her family members for the integral role they have played in the successful staging of the pageant.
As she spoke, she pointed out her son who was also present at the launch, and mentioned other family members who had worked hard behind the scenes to ensure the pageant was successfully held.

Sulan, who has stood beside her mother on stage over the years, spoke with pride as she emphasised the importance of this year’s production.

“This pageant was started by my mom, in 1990, in a classroom at the Saint Joseph High School. Today, 30 productions later, we are celebrating this huge milestone with the Ministry of Culture Youth and Sport. Together we have collaborated to make one of the most memorable events in Guyana,” she said in her comments.

She said that it was emotional for the family knowing that they are carrying on something that was started by their mother.

Dr Fung explained that they felt that 30 years was worthy of celebration.

“The pearl is one of the most valuable gems known to man, and how lucky are we to celebrate such a gem. We call our pearl, ‘The Atlantic’, for obvious reasons.”

She further stated that thanks to the Ministry of Culture Youth and Sport, the pageant will be taken to another level.

Sulan revealed that for the first time, LED screens will be set up to entertain the audience.

“This year we have on board as a primary sponsor, Mass Global Media, which will be doing all of the animation and graphics for the LED screens, which really brings the National Cultural Centre alive.”

At this year’s pageant, patrons will have an opportunity to walk down Chung’s Global’s red carpet.

The pageant has three categories: the junior category which is for mother and their daughters age four to eight, the middle category which caters for daughters age 9 to 14, and the senior category which has daughters age 15 and older.

Tickets for the highly anticipated event are on sale at the National Cultural Centre ticket booth, and cost $6000, $5500 and $5000.