Proud to represent Guyana internationally

COURAGE manifests in myriad forms, from battle-hardened soldiers to resilient single mothers. We all embody bravery at some point, but inspiring others to be courageous is truly exceptional. Arian Dahlia Richmond, the newly-crowned Miss Global International – Guyana (MGIG) shared her journey, challenges, and vision for inspiring fearlessness with the Pepperpot Magazine.

Unbound ambition: From Bartica to the global stage
Arian’s mother instilled in her the power of big dreams and the audacity to pursue them. Born in Bartica, Arian relocated to Region Four when her mother boldly decided to advance her education. Arian recounted, “I moved to Georgetown in primary school. My mom, a teacher for 30 years, teaches Spanish and English. We moved because of the lack of proper schooling and jobs in Bartica. She now has a Master’s in Education and Childhood Development.”

In school, Arian’s passion for people and the spotlight blossomed. A St. Stanislaus College President’s College alumna, Arian explained how her high school years nurtured her love for the arts. “At President’s College, I was a long-distance runner, a poet, and a debater. These activities gave me a lot of self-confidence and self-esteem, which [are] so important,” she reflected.

Post-high school, Arian initially pursued law, a path society expected of her. However, staying true to herself, she left law school to follow her passion for makeup artistry. She explained, “I did study law but dropped out in my final year. Now I am attending University for a Degree in Tourism and Hospitality Management on a government scholarship,” Arian explained.

This bold decision proved to be one of her best. Today, Arian is an entrepreneur with a thriving business and new horizons ahead. She added, “For the past eight years, I’ve been doing makeup professionally. I am certified. I love entrepreneurship, especially for Caribbean youth, because it’s important to learn how to make money for yourself. It’s important to not depend on people but know how to work with people.”

Arian exemplifies excellent entrepreneurship and champions the field. She firmly believes success doesn’t require traditional academics or a 9-to-5 job. Moreover, she embodies entrepreneurship at its finest. As she stated, “Not everyone who makes money is a ‘book and pen’ kind of person,” she said. “I love working with people. Being a lawyer wouldn’t necessarily allow me to do that.”

Breaking the streak of seconds: Arian’s pageantry journey
Over six years ago, Arian embarked on her pageantry journey, starting with winning Miss Bartica Regatta. Seeking to do more for her community, Arian explained, “In 2018, I wanted to do a youth camp in Bartica. I was the first queen from Miss Bartica Regatta to ever do a community service project. We did a month-long summer camp with sports, arts and crafts, Spanish, English, and sexual education.”

True to her belief in diverse opportunities and skills, Arian’s work in Bartica covered a wide range of topics aimed at developing children’s essential skills. “We focus on literacy because in Bartica, children don’t focus much on academics. We push learning English and public speaking in fun ways. We formed a non-governmental organisation, Youth Development Guyana, and have done camps in various regions.” She stated.

Over the past six years, Arian has taken the modelling world by storm, breaking records and raising the bar. She shared, “I was chosen to be the national representative for Miss Guyana Culture Queen and placed second in St. Kitts and Nevis. It was the first time in 14 years that Guyana placed in that pageant. I did Miss Emerald International, a virtual pageant during COVID and placed second. I also competed in Miss World and placed second. I really want to break my streak of seconds in this pageant.”

Her recent Miss Global International-Guyana win was unique. Beyond representing Guyana on the global stage again, the local leg saw Arian reinvent herself. Arian also explained that the Miss Global International-Guyana Pageant’s structure is quite different from her previous experiences. “For Miss Global International Guyana, 50 girls applied. For the first round, we were judged based on interviews. I was in the top three, and we were then invited to compete in four categories that assessed our walk, our public speaking, our talent and our Final Question capabilities,” Arian explained. “The MGIG team designed the pageant to be a hand-selected process rather than a full-fledged event. They explained to us that they wanted to meet and closely assess each young woman who applied to ensure their selection was the best possible option to represent Guyana. I appreciate this unique and direct approach that the team has. Throughout the process, I was nervous and did a whole rebranding, trying different things. I stepped out of my comfort zone and I am happy I did.”

The way forward: Arian’s next steps
Moving towards the world stage, Arian aims to continue her winning streak and collaborate with visionary businesswoman and national director of Miss Global International Guyana, Reneé Chester. Arian stated, “You can expect me to continue working with Reneé Chester. Reneé and her team have done a phenomenal job at respecting Guyana’s women. Moving forward, she also sees the pageant as something that benefits Guyana society. Aside from my project that she’s supporting, which is our annual summer camp for youth development in Guyana, we have a rich calendar of activities planned, including an educational school tour, food and clothing drives and other charitable ventures.” As she prepares to represent Guyana in the Cayman Islands later this year, Arian revealed that she will also be exposed to comprehensive training in modelling, posing, etiquette, public speaking, fitness and other tasks to hone her skills for the international stage.

Arian’s message to young Guyanese is to believe in themselves and have the courage to pursue happiness. As she says, happiness is pursuing one’s dreams. “People told me that you’re not bigger than your environment. But look outside for inspiration. There are people with disabilities in governmental positions, people who have been raped and now have billion-dollar empires. It’s not easy, but it’s worth it. Build a legacy you’re proud of. Love yourself the way you love others. This economy strips self-love from children, teaching them that either you’re successful or you’re scum. Success is about pursuing your dreams regardless of obstacles.”