Stabroek News today continues the getting-to-know-you process with four other Miss Guyana/Universe hopefuls.
Eighteen-year-old Melissa Harris has a beauty- pageant face, but this is her first pageant.
Nevertheless, Harris said that she has always had a thing for pageants, as she likes looking at fashion and make-up. Relatives and friends encouraged her to enter the Miss Guyana/ Universe pageant and even though she finds the training difficult she feels it helps her in her discipline and keeps her healthy and fit.
She is a student of the College of Accountancy, Business and Sciences where she is pursuing a diploma in Business Administration. One day she hopes to become an accountant or a manager. Her chosen platform is Nature Tourism and Harris says she chose it because tourism is a big thing in Guyana, especially nature tourism, which can contribute to the development of the economy.
She says she has a wonderful personality, she is kind- hearted, loves socialising, meeting new individuals, and is a "quite a quiet person." This beauty also enjoys reading romance novels. She feels that her personality and intelligence give her an edge over the other competitors and if she could have one wish in her lifetime it would be to see all the races unite in the world.
Harris lives in South Ruimveldt Gardens and is sponsored by Sanjay's Jewellery.
The name Annice Manjet, is an uncommon one, but so is the individual who could be described as a dark and lovely young woman.
Manjet is the reigning Miss Region Three and says she entered the present pageant because she likes competing.
A former Miss Guyana/World, Odessa Phillips, who will also be competing against Manjet in this pageant, coordinates the Miss Region Three pageant. However, Manjet said that she is not apprehensive about this face. She said that the achievements of Phillips and Olive Gopaul, another former Miss Guyana/World queen, have motivated her to work harder and not feel threatened.
Manjet enjoys travelling, cooking and being an everyday teenager, going out to little parties and spending quality time with her relatives and friends.
She hopes to one day become a fashion designer.
She is 18 years old and resides at Stewartville. Her platform is Possibilities for Street Children and she is sponsored by Trans-Caribbean Cargo.
Nineteen-year-old Tenesha Leacock lives in the same village as Manjet and was the second runner-up in the Miss Region Three pageant. Her platform is Teenage Pregnancy and she is sponsored by GG General Construction Services.
Leacock is of the opinion that she has a nice personality and she loves to socialise; she gets along well with others and is a very out-going young woman.
The beauty also loves modelling and said that Miss Guyana/Universe will give her the opportunity to really express herself and to give her views on teenage pregnancy.
She is a first-year communication student at the University of Guyana and hopes to one day become a journalist and a professional model.
The 5ft 9" beauty said that all the other competitors are great, very friendly and the training is also great, according to her.
Eighteen-year-old Zina Edwards is one of the busiest teenagers around town and she took up one more responsibility when she entered the pageant, but she does not mind.
The 2002 first runner-up in the Miss Guyana Talented Teen enjoys cooking and dancing. She dances with the Classic Dance School.
She is a member of the Volunteer Youth Corps, volunteer at the Mahaica Children's Home; she is a friend of the GPHC HIV positive children; an altar girl at the St Sidwell's Church; President of the Sunshine Youth Club; Secre-tary of the Servers Guild and does motivational speaking in schools. She also does some announcing on national radio.
Edwards said that she has the ability to get along with people. Her platform is the eradication of HIV and AIDS and she is sponsored by the American International School of Medicine.
Edwards, a student of the Critchlow Labour College, is pursuing a diploma in International Relations and Sociology.
She said that since life is very precious, everyone should do something to improve the lives of others and she does this by donating a pint of blood every four weeks.
Edwards described herself, as very energetic, one who never walks when she can run, beautiful and intelligent.