A radiant smile, a warm personality, and a stunning evening gown saw the crowning last Saturday evening of New Amsterdam beauty Alexis Glasgow as Miss Guyana World 2003.
A 21-year-old flight attendant with Universal Airlines, Alexis has won the right to represent Guyana at Miss World to be held on the beautiful Chinese resort island of Sanya, early December.
During a brief press conference after she was crowned, Alexis, who also won the "Best Smile" prize, told reporters she would do her best for Guyana and would rely on prayers.
Two crowd favorites, 22-year-old law student Nevillean Dundas, and 18-year-old High Court Registry worker Suzette Shim placed as first and second runners-up respectively.
Alexis had a less that desirable answer to the final question asked by Chief Judge, Claudette Singh, the acting Chief Justice of Guyana. However, before the question was asked, patrons were informed that the judges were not looking only for a good answer, but that they were looking for a delegate who could best represent Guyana at Miss World.
Asked if given the opportunity to be President of Guyana for one day, what important decision she would make, Alexis said simply she would bridge the "racial gap". The audience could not believe that that was the answer, but realized it soon enough when she smiled and walked off stage.
In what was truly a spectacular show that saw the best of local talent in song and dance performed amidst an Orient-style setting, Alexis walked away with the $200,000 cash prize and trips to New York, London, and of course one-month in Sanya, China.
The half-packed National Cultural Centre showed their appreciation for the entire programme, minus some uncalled for comments by Prime News reporter Maliza Walton, who co-hosted with Kaieteur News reporter Mondale Smith.
After the creative introduction segment, the interview segment and evening gown parade, local singer Chris Wilson belted out his upbeat "Sugar, Sugar", bringing life to the audience, boosting their anticipation for the announcement of the finalists.
Of course, here the audience had no problems really.
Apart from the queen, Ms. Dundas and Ms. Shim, the other finalists were former Miss Guyana Talented Teen Shamaine Davis, and sports enthusiast Chelan Yhapp.
Almost all of the delegates gave a less than smooth answer to the final question, but that of Nevillean was liked the most.
Nevillean won the Miss Congeniality prize.
She said if she could be President for one day and had one decision to make, she would agree to the passage of a law that would ensure the protection of Guyana rich biodiversity for future generations.
It was not so much what she said, but the down-to-earth way in which she said it that pleased the audience and so many thought she would have been chosen queen.
First recognizing the importance of women to society, the tall and stately Suzette Shim said she would agree to set up programmes and welfare centers across the country so that women who are abused could get help.
She was the favourite for the crown before the competition even began. Suzette received the Miss Internet prize from votes cast online. IN addition, Acme Photo adjudged her Miss Photogenic.
Miss Guyana World 2002 Odessa Phillips took her final walk, appearing in the competition evening gown that she wore at Miss World.
Given recent criticisms of pageant coordinator and 2001 winner Olive Gopaul being in the spotlight more that Phillips, some held their breaths when the 2002 queen advised the 2003 queen that she will not "reign" in her glory.
Artistic Director Derek Moore pulled off a thoroughly entertaining show to an audience that appreciated the raw Guyanese talent portrayed on stage, making the show a truly Guyanese event, with no international artistes.
Those performing on stage were the Classique Dance Compnay, Let's Dance Studio, a little known singer named "Eddie", former calypso monarch "Tempest", Osie Nedd of "Hooked on your love" fame performed Enrique Iglesias' "Hero", and Candacie Fields who performed "A moment like this".
The delegates who did not place were Angeleena Murray, Ann Lyken, Camilla Patterson, Latoya Pereira, Omega Narine, Quintanila Simon, Shunella Anthony and Tannylee Munroe.
Ms. Simon won the Sedal Best Hair prize.
The new Miss Guyana World will shortly travel to New York for vacation and shopping, after which she will leave for London to attend a dinner in her honour, plus a reception by the Guyana High Commission in London, among other activities.
Ms. Glasgow has to be in China by November 06 when she will be handed over to the Miss World Organisation Committee .