minutes after being announced the winner of the pageant (Carl Croker photo)
About 01: 45h on Sunday morning, before a sleepy almost packed National Cultural Centre, Miss Region Five Analisa Andrews, 21, of Moraikabai was crowned Miss Amerindian Heritage 2013 after six hours of exhilarating competition. Andrews, an aspiring accountant, won the judges’ hearts as she mesmerised them from the beginning of the competition to the end.
She sealed the deal when she answered the question: “The theme for Amerindian Heritage Month is ‘honouring our culture, advancing our future’; what does this mean to you?”
Proud of tradition
In response, she confidently and eloquently said: “Honouring our culture means to me that I should be proud of my tradition, my culture, my history, my ancestors and even though changes are occurring everyday in our lives, for example, technology, I shouldn’t forget where I came from by always preserving my culture, but at the same time advancing the future – meaning to take my education seriously, and move on.”
The newly-crowned queen enjoys delicious servings of crispy fried otocuma (tocuma worms), with thin cassava bread and a cool glass of cassiri. She also enjoys making people laugh, and loves a good game of cricket during her spare time.
The beauty believes that youths have an integral role to play in the development of their respective communities; hence, she chose “Youth leadership in Amerindian communities” as her platform, which she competently advocated for during the competition.
Coming in as first runner-up was Miss Region Three, Letitia Sacajawea Daniels, 19, of Santa-Aratak in the Kamuni Creek, while the second runner-up spot was captured by Miss Region Seven, Gleary Williams, 21, who hails from Batavia, in the Lower Cuyuni River, Region Seven.
Copping the third runner-up spot was Miss Region Six, Shevon Hyderkhan, 19, of Siparuta, a tiny village, 53 km down the Corentyne River, and rounding off the top five was Miss Region Eight, Vickiola Aaron, 19, of Paramakatoi.
The Miss Congeniality prize went to Danielle Felicity Graciela Calistro, 19, of Kabakaburi, Region Two while Miss Region Three, Letitia Sacajawea Daniels copped the Best Talent Prize.
Gail Robeiro, 20, of St Ignatius Village, Region Nine, took the prize for Best Traditional Outfit.
Hard work
Speaking with Guyana Times International immediately after being crowned with the first ever traditional crown made from the feathers of four species of bird, including the eagle, Andrews expressed her excitement to have won the title, noting that it was achieved through hard work.
With a painted smiling face, the newly-crowned queen said nothing comes easily, but at the same time she feels blessed to have won the title which will now give her the leverage to work on her public speaking skills.
The title, she added, not only comes with prestige, but hard work, pointing out that her primary focus will be to promote her culture and more importantly, youth leadership development in Amerindian communities.
