Ayana Harris, 14, wins Junior Miss Guyana
Stabroek News
November 11, 2003
A new queen: Newly-crowned Junior Miss Guyana, Ayana Harris, 14, takes her first walk as queen, minutes after she was crowned on Saturday night at the National Cultural Centre.
Fourteen-year-old Ayana Harris won the Junior Miss Guyana crown on Saturday night beating out a field of nine strong competitors.
The pageant was staged by the Youth of Worth Committee under the theme, 'All Colours, One Rainbow'. Though not packed to capacity the National Cultural Centre exploded in pageant mania as those in attendance thirsted after the night's activities like famished wolves on the hunt for prey.
Savouring every moment like it was the last, the audience stood neck and neck with the night's proceedings never missing a beat until the curtains came down.
The glitzy ceremony kicked off at 8 pm sharp with the ten delegates parading onstage in white jeans and tie-dyed cold-shoulder blouses, greeting the audience with pre-taped introductions.
Then it was over to the Classique Dance Troupe, which took the audience on countless thrill rides throughout the proceedings.
Proving to be the showstopper for the evening, the talent segment saw innovative dances, dramatic poetry at its best, a moving rendition and a physical display unlike any other.
Finalist, Rehnna Douglas moon-walked her way into the hearts of the audience with her imitation of Michael Jackson during her electrifying dance performance which opened with Whitney Houston's hit song, "Try it on my own". The cultural centre erupted with thunderous applause and begged for a Douglas encore.
The queen also had the audience behind her with her dramatization of the poem "Fourteen and pregnant". The Best Talent prize went to first runner-up, Melissa Daniels who put on an astounding physical display.
The business segment saw sleek pants-suits, skirt-suits and dresses and jackets. The young ladies used that segment to make a portfolio presentation on their respective platforms with some speaking out for homeless children, single-parent families, gender equality, and against crime.
A poised and eloquent Daniels, smartly attired in a brown pants-suit completed with brown pumps easily won the Best Portfolio prize with a direct and compassionate presentation on the decline of moral behaviour in society.
The evening-gown segment saw a stunning display of elegant gowns. A vision of loveliness in her pink, strapless, beaded gown, Douglas walked away with the Best- Gown prize. Douglas, a crowd favourite from the onset, looked a sure bet for the crown having handled every segment with ease. But she failed to make the cut for the final three after misinterpreting her platform question.
Thirteen-year-old Nkechi Carter who turned 14 on Saturday carried herself with enough grace to rival the competition despite being the baby in the pageant.
The final three, Carter, Daniels and Harris, answered the question, "As a teenager, if you were given the opportunity to do something significant for your country, what would it be and why?
Carter, who emerged second runner-up, touched on her platform saying she would build a home for street children and provide them with an education.
Daniels said she would use such an opportunity to represent Guyana at an international pageant and be the best ambassador she could be. Harris confidently said she would take on the role of President and strive to unite the peoples of Guyana. She looked a hot favourite for the crown after her response drew thunderous applause from the crowd.
Harris was later crowned queen by the judges and the audience. Paul Giddings, owner of Giddings Payday Pawnshop was so impressed with the quality of the show he witnessed that he pledged $50,000 to the queen in addition to her many prizes. The queen, who attends Central High School, was crowned Miss Junior Central High last year.
Tonya Morris, Alicia George Ann-Marie Satnarine Ruth Rampersaud, Keisha Smith and Domanique Cameron were the other delegates at the pageant.