Colours to Miss World

Miss World Guyana heads to the 73rd Miss World Festival on a mission to help young women know their worth, voice and value

FOR Kelcia Marie Nelson, representing Guyana at the Miss World competition is about much more than wearing a crown or sash. It is the culmination of years of stepping outside her comfort zone, overcoming self-doubt and building a platform dedicated to empowering young women. On August 7, 2026, the 27-year-old will leave for Vietnam to join contestants from around the world for the 73rd Miss World Festival, with the grand finale set for September 5. Sitting down with Pepperpot Magazine earlier this week, Nelson shared that she is heading into the competition carrying not only Guyana’s colours but a purpose that began long before she entered pageantry.

Born and raised in Linden, Nelson describes her upbringing as the foundation of who she has become. She attended St Joseph High School, spent a year at a British high school overseas and completed a year of pre-medical studies at Texila before pursuing higher education in Canada. In 2024, she graduated from the University of Prince Edward Island with a Bachelor of Arts in Applied Communication, Leadership and Culture, training that gave her the communication and leadership skills now setting her apart on the pageant stage.

She shared, “I am an Executive Assistant and Communications Lead for a group of pharmacies in Canada. My career is new.”

While today she is the picture of grace and confidence, Nelson admits that the young woman now preparing to compete internationally once considered herself very shy until performing arts helped her discover confidence in high school. It was not until the COVID-19 pandemic, while reflecting on her next challenge, that pageantry became a consideration.

She began modelling through photo shoots and advertisements before entering Miss Universe Guyana 2024. Though she did not win, the experience proved to be one of growth.

“I did Miss Universe Guyana in 2024. Unfortunately, I did not win, but I had such a great experience. I met so many amazing girls, I formed a sisterhood and I fell in love with pageantry there,” she said.

Nelson’s shift to Miss World was inspired by both her Miss Universe experience and a childhood memory. As a teenager watching the pageant with her mother in 2015, she remembers being captivated by the Beauty With a Purpose segment rather than the glamour alone, drawn to women who used their platforms to serve others and create real impact.

“After Miss Universe, I deviated and I applied for Miss World because I felt like that was more up my alley. I tried Miss Universe and it was such a great experience, but I feel like that was not for me. I deviated into Miss World, which felt like home,” she said.

Like many first-time contestants, Nelson’s greatest obstacle was not another competitor but herself. Surrounded by talented, accomplished women in her first pageant, she began to question her own ability to win.

“When I did Miss Universe the first time, I was doubting myself. I was doubting whether I was going to win, whether I was not going to win and whether I was a strong contender. This was even after I had put in the work, practised and trained. It was just me doubting myself,” she said.

By the time she entered Miss World Guyana, her mindset had shifted.

“By the time I stepped into Miss World, it was different because I had already gotten over that initial self-doubt. I already had the mindset of, ‘I want them to see me for me, regardless of who I am competing against,’” she said.

When Nelson was crowned Miss World Guyana on May 24, she described the moment as overwhelming: confirmation that every sacrifice and hour of preparation had been worthwhile.

“There are different categories and fast-track events, including the interview, introduction video, Beauty With a Purpose, head-to-head, sports and fitness. None of that was omitted from the selection process. I submitted my Beauty With a Purpose video, my introduction video, my sports, my talent and everything else that was required,” she added.

“There were months of interviews, follow-ups and judging before the winner was announced. We had a coronation on May 24, where the previous queen handed over her crown to me.”

With Vietnam now on the horizon, Nelson’s days are filled with training sessions, rehearsals and preparation for the various aspects of the competition, each one bringing her a step closer to making history for Guyana.

“That journey to Vietnam looks like a lot of practice, a lot of late nights and early mornings, but it is all a part of the journey,” she added.

“It is a very versatile competition where contestants get to show different sides of themselves. Miss World wants to see that a queen is well-rounded, that she’s fit, has talent and can speak well. I have been working with trainers and coaches to get me to that level, hopefully to make history for Guyana,” she said.

While grace, poise and articulate expression matter, at the core of Nelson’s Miss World journey is ‘Her First Lesson’, the Beauty With a Purpose project she developed before earning the national title. Her commitment to service dates back more than a decade, to her teens, when she began tutoring and volunteering with young people, a passion that eventually inspired the initiative.

Her First Lesson is an early-intervention programme for girls aged 13 to 19 that seeks to interrupt cycles of toxic dependency and domestic vulnerability before they begin. It is built around three protective pillars: the Worth Shield, helping girls recognise their inherent worth; the Voice Shield, teaching them to set boundaries and speak up; and the Value Shield, encouraging them to recognise the value of their time, education and labour.

Through school visits and youth sessions across Guyana, Nelson delivers workshops built around these principles. The programme has expanded to include an interactive game; a book, Her First Lesson, which is also available on Amazon; and an online platform at herfirstlesson.org, where young women, parents, educators and community partners can access resources.

Although the programme has already reached hundreds of girls, Nelson believes its greatest impact is yet to come. She hopes to expand into schools throughout Berbice, Essequibo, Linden and Georgetown, train other women to deliver the curriculum, and place her book in schools and bookstores through collaboration with the Ministry of Education.

“So far, I have reached about 200 young women, but compared to the population across Guyana, that’s nowhere close to the goals we are trying to meet,” she added.

“I would also like to do more one-on-one mentorship. When I went into schools, I delivered the programme like a conversation. I shared my story and my experiences and gave them the information raw and honestly. That made a lot of the girls open up about what they were going through,” she said.

As she prepares to represent Guyana on the international stage, Nelson says the journey is one she cannot complete alone.

“As I prepare to represent Guyana, I cannot do this alone, so I am counting on their support in whatever way they can support me, whether that is interacting with me on social media, sharing my content so I get more coverage, or through sponsorship. All support is welcome,” she added.

“I am so grateful to be carrying the spirit of Guyana and representing an entire nation on the international stage.”

Those interested in partnering with or sponsoring Nelson’s Miss World journey can reach the Miss World Guyana team at team@missworldguyana.gy or follow her on Facebook (Kelcia Nelson) and Instagram (@kelciaaaaa).

More than competing for a crown, Nelson hopes to carry the Golden Arrowhead, Guyana’s national flag, while embodying a beauty measured not by appearance but by purpose, service and the impact she leaves behind.