SLATED for the Arthur Chung Conference Centre on May 31st, this year’s celebration puts young girls centre stage.

For the last decade, Kids Fest Guyana has been a staple for Guyanese children and has become one of the year’s most highly anticipated events. This year, however, the event intends to break the mould by being bigger, better, and packed with a slew of new additions.

Speaking to Pepperpot Magazine about this year’s event, the woman behind the venture, Natalya Thomas, says that families can look forward to Playtopia, slated for the Arthur Chung Conference Centre on May 31st. The event will bring refreshed vibrancy to the well-known Kids Fest.

Moreover, a main highlight of this year’s event will be the Princess of the Safari Pageant. Speaking on the highly anticipated competition, Thomas noted that the pageant seeks to bolster and hone the creativity of young girls, ages 5 to 14, as they compete for the title of Miss Kids Fest Safari Princess.

Noting that it is a collaborative event, she said, “The pageant brings families together and helps young girls become more confident and vibrant.”

The event aims to be a platform for vibrant, creative young girls, as she added, “There are many girls who have potential, talent and skills, but they do not always have a platform to showcase themselves. Through the Kids Fest pageant, a space was created for them to express themselves and build confidence.”

The event also comes as Kids Fest turns 10 years old and, in many ways, celebrates the ones who made it a success: the children. Describing the journey as fulfilling, Thomas noted that the pageant seeks to make children more than spectators but a part of the excitement itself.

As she shared, “This year marks 10 years since the event has been hosted. It has been a rewarding and fulfilling journey, with many young girls returning year after year to be part of the pageant.”

She added, “That continued interest reflects the excitement surrounding the event and the positive impact it has on the participants.”

The pageant aims to help girls develop confidence and express their creativity through the themes of nature, safari, and the outdoors. While the competition is still in its early stages, with the photogenic competition now underway, Thomas noted that it has already helped several girls come out of their shells.

As she added, “Some participants are naturally shy, but once they step onto the stage, they become bold and expressive. It allows them to showcase themselves in a supportive environment.”

Against this backdrop of creativity, confidence-building, and celebration, this year’s delegates each bring their own unique personality, talents, and safari-inspired identities to the stage.

For 8-year-old Amarah Zuri Nala, a delegate in the 8–10 category, the pageant is a way to showcase her creativity. She describes herself as the daughter of the Golden Savannah and Empress of Roraima. She sees herself as a joyful lioness who loves dancing, swimming, and learning, with dreams of becoming a teacher. She presents herself as brave, kind, and full of energy, believing in working hard and shining brightly.

Stepping into the older category, another competitor, Renee Wilson, is 13 years old and competes in the 11–14 group. Wilson shared that she identifies with the spirit of a dancing jaguar, which represents confidence and the essence of the Guyanese people. She describes herself as bold and expressive, someone who brings her own spark and story into every space she enters.

Similarly, Gabrielle Apple Singh is 11 years old and is also part of the 11–14 category. She is passionate about drawing and painting, using art as her main form of self-expression. As she moves ahead in the competition, she hopes to highlight creativity as a key part of who she is, as she enjoys turning everyday inspiration into artwork.

Also flying the flag for creativity is Christella Bacchus, a 13-year-old student of Zeeburg Secondary School. She enjoys painting and spending time with animals, and also has a strong interest in fashion, dreaming of becoming a fashion designer in the future, hoping to create confidence and beauty through her work.

In the 8–10 category, Dalecia Arokium is 9 years old and presents herself as Princess Dora, aiming to bring an adventurous, fearless character to the safari stage. She enjoys dancing and describes herself as kind-hearted, fashionable, and full of light wherever she goes.

Among the youngest competitors making their presence felt, Nathalia Abrams is 8 years old and also competes in the 8–10 category. She describes herself as Zahara, ruler of the giant trees, inspired by the giraffe. She enjoys dancing and gymnastics and sees herself as strong, graceful, and determined, with dreams of becoming a beautician or teacher.

Six-year-old Aashriya is also an art lover. As she shared, she enjoys drawing, colouring, and painting. She describes herself as a brave and strong little lioness who loves creativity and dreams of becoming a tourist and business owner when she grows up.

Bringing a flair for performance to the competition, Isabella Barbie Singh is 9 years old and competes in the 8–10 category. She loves dancing and has a passion for performing, enjoying a range of dance styles, including ballet, hip-hop, and contemporary, often combining them in her performances.

Rounding out the older group, Jezel Kessa Singh is 14 years old and competes in the 11–14 category. She enjoys dancing as her main hobby and uses it to express herself. She describes herself as energetic and confident, embracing performance as a core part of her identity.

The younger end of the field brings its own burst of personality and spirit. Nevaeh Dandrade is 6 years old and presents herself as a joyful safari princess. She enjoys making friends, dancing, and art, and describes herself as a leopard-inspired princess, strong, graceful, and full of confidence.

Alejandra October is 7 years old and enjoys singing, dancing, and spending time with animals. She represents herself as a jaguar-inspired princess who is confident, brave, and full of personality, believing in standing out with courage and kindness.

Francia is 4 years old and describes herself as a warrior princess of the Savannah. She enjoys singing and expresses herself as brave and kind, comparing herself to a cheetah, with speed and courage, and a small but strong presence with a “tiny roar.”

Equally spirited, Amarah Pile is a young delegate who describes herself as a happy lioness. She enjoys dancing, swimming, and learning. She presents herself as brave and kind, always doing her best and embracing life with a positive, energetic spirit.

This year, 13 delegates are competing for the title of Miss Kids Fest Safari Princess across three age categories: 5 to 7, 8 to 10, and 11 to 14. Winners in each category will receive a trip to Panama, along with other prizes.

The competition includes three segments: talent, creative wear, and evening wear. Delegates will present a talent within two minutes, model a costume based on the safari theme, participate in the evening wear segment, and introduce themselves.

The pageant is not heavily focused on question-answering, but rather on confidence and how the participants present themselves.

As Playtopia draws closer and excitement continues to build, it is clear that this year’s Kids Fest is shaping up to be more than just an event; it is a celebration of a decade of memories, milestones, and the fearless spirit of Guyanese children.

Whether they roar like a lioness, glide like a giraffe, or leap like a jaguar, each delegate stepping onto that stage on May 31st will carry with her a story worth telling, and an audience ready to cheer her on.