Miss Lethem’s Mission to Empower Women

LETHEM, one of Guyana’s most beautiful townships, is home to captivating people. Among them is Nickell Pugsley, the most recently-crowned “Miss Lethem”. An ambitious young woman with a passion for pageantry, she is using the support garnered from her crown for an even bigger project. As a young woman growing up in Region 9, her childhood was characterised by adventures and big dreams. As she grew older, however, she soon realised that for some women in her town, achieving their goals might come with challenges. Since her win, Nickell has been on a constant mission to empower and educate women in her region, encouraging them to educate themselves and believe in their potential.

Talking about her childhood, Nickell shared, “I was born and raised in the beautiful township of Lethem. My childhood was pretty adventurous and a childhood that moulded me into the person that I am today,” she said. Growing up along the banks of the Rupununi River, Nickell’s early years were marked by family fishing trips and swimming adventures. “I remember my childhood being very, very adventurous. Always going somewhere, always doing something,” she says, her eyes lighting up at the memories.

It was during these early years that Nickell discovered her passion for performance. “I had to be a tambourine princess. I had to dance for a Mashramani competition,” she recalls. “I remember being so nervous, but I wanted to make my teachers proud, my parents proud, everyone proud.”

This early exposure to the stage ignited a love for performance. “Since then, I always took part in dancing, in concerts. I also used to recite poems. I grew up being a very competitive person,” Pugsley explains. Her love for dancing, in particular, has remained constant throughout her life. “I think dancing is something that is my passion and it is something that I will always love and always do.”

From spectator to competitor
Despite her early comfort with performance, entering pageants was still a big step for her. She shared that she overcame many challenges before deciding to take the leap into pageantry. As she explained, “I always loved pageants. I always watched Miss Universe pageants. My mom would always take me to all these pageants—Miss Rupununi, Miss Amerindian, Miss Rodeo,” Nickell shared. However, fear of judgement held her back until her mother’s encouragement finally pushed her to compete.

Once she made the decision, however, she approached it determined to make her family and community proud. As she shared, “In my mind, I said, I’m not going to go for experience. I’m going to win,” she stated firmly. Her preparation was thorough and constant. “I practised my introduction in the shower, on my way to work… I was determined to win this pageant. I was determined to take the crown and make my mother proud; my family proud.”

A platform for change
Nickell’s pageant win has become more than just a personal achievement; it’s a springboard for her mission to empower women in her community. “I think my platform—Economic Empowerment in Women in the Township of Blackfriars—is something important. I thought of ways where I can spread awareness and use my influence too,” she explained. Taking concrete action, Pugsley created “Empower Home FM,” a platform showcasing women entrepreneurs. “So far, I have featured two businesses, and I plan to do more.” She further added, “I love to empower women. I believe women need to be acknowledged more for their hard work and their achievements.” She said.

A legacy of leadership
Nickell’s drive to serve her community is deeply rooted in her family history. Her late grandfather, a Toshao and church chairperson, left an indelible mark on her approach to leadership. “My grandfather taught me that no matter what, you always go above and beyond for what needs to be done,” she stated.

Nickell’s mother’s entrepreneurial personality and drive also shaped her interest in women’s economic empowerment. “My mother is very hardworking. I remember in primary school, she would sell icicles to make extra money. She’s a teacher, but she always did business to provide for us.” Moving forward, Nickell hopes to see her venture extend beyond pageantry to inspiring the next generation. “I feel like younger girls need to be empowered. From what I have learned from a young age, I think younger girls need it too,” she asserted.

As she continues her work, Nickell remains grounded in her passions and principles while still appreciating the people who supported her. She encourages other women, regardless of their age, influence, or background, to be brave, work hard, and always strive to make a difference in their community. As she stated, “When I won this title, I gained a lot of influence. And the little girl in me, who was seven years old on stage, is proud, because look how far I’ve come.”