Asha performs well overseas; sets eyes on other regional pageants
Guyana Chronicle
May 23, 2004
ASHA Pieters, currently on a hectic schedule, will represent Guyana at two pageants in the Caribbean next month. She also has her eyes set on the Miss India International title.
The former Miss Guyana Talented Teen (2001) queen who performs her ambassadorial duties admirably whenever she represents Guyana on the international pageant stage, was chosen to compete in the Miss Carival and Miss Caribbean Jaycees pageant titles in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and Antigua respectively.
She has returned home from Venezuela just a few days ago, where she copped the first runner-up spot at the Miss Antilles International pageant. She was also adjudged the most elegant and most photogenic delegates at the pageant which she lost to Miss Honduras.
Although she said the experience was good, Asha said being placed first runner-up “is not enough for me”.
She told the Sunday Chronicle she is ready to represent Guyana at the upcoming pageants.
“I am very strong, I am prepared and I don’t want to settle for anything less than the crown,” she stated, adding, “I’ve been out of pageants for two years and I want to come back bigger, stronger and better,” she added.
Fashion watchers described Asha as “promising” after she flew back home from St. Lucia where she represented Guyana last year, wearing the Miss West Indies crown and sash.
The Miss Carival Beauty Show, which is the highlight of the St. Vincent Carnival called `Vincy Mas’ is scheduled to be staged on July 2 by the country’s Carnival Development Committee’s ‘Beauty Shows Committee’ in Kingston, the capital of the main island, St. Vincent.
Sequences include national costume display and delegate introduction, swimwear, talent, evening gown and the interview. The pageant attracts some 13 delegates annually. St Vincent’s economy depends largely on tourism and its week-long carnival attracts a large number of tourists worldwide.
Asha is the third Guyanese beauty to contest the Miss Carival title. Guyana, which began participating in the pageant just three years ago, was first represented by former Miss Guyana African Heritage Shauna Jemmott in 2001, and Miss Guyana Talented Teen 2000, Ulex Atwell in 2002. Guyanese are always known to be favourites at the pageant and receive a lot of support from the large Guyanese population in that country.
Guyana was also represented, in 2000, at the Miss Caribbean Jaycees pageant by Shammane Joseph, who was selected by the local Jaycees (Junior Chamber of Commerce) organisation to represent Guyana in Antigua at that pageant. Guyana has not since sent a queen to compete for that title.
Asha, spotted by Miss Caribbean Jaycees committee members at the Miss West Indies pageant last year, was invited to participate in the parade of queens on July 30, as part of the carnival celebrations in Antigua and Barbuda.
The Jaycees pageant, coordinated by the Antiguan Jaycees for the country’s carnival committee, features each delegate in country costume, introduction, swimwear, evening gown, talent and interview segments. While she is prepared in all areas, Simpli Royal is searching for a costume designer for her ‘national dress.’
For the talent segment, Asha will recite a dramatic poem entitled `I am a Guyanese’ which was written by Kwesi Ojinja. She recited the same poem and won the talent segments at the Miss Guyana Talented Teen and Miss Caribbean Teen pageants in 2002. At the Miss Carival pageant, however, she will perform a dance dubbed `Ethnic Blend’, which highlights her ethnic make-up as well as Guyana’s multi-cultural composition.
First prize for the Miss Carival Pageant is US$4,300, while the second and third place winners will receive US$1,300 and US$700, respectively.
Local franchise holder and Managing Director of Simpli Royal, Pamela Dillon, in an interview with the Sunday Chronicle said both of Asha’s talent pieces provoke response, and that is very important since the talent segment is always a major scorer in both Caribbean pageants.
“Asha is prepared and ready and focused. She is in the time of her pageant life… she does everything right,” Dillon said, adding that the former Caribbean queen has gained experience in pageantry over the years from two local and three international pageants, and has also had the opportunity to grace the catwalks in Miami at the Fashion Week of the Americas last year. Asha also worked behind the scenes in assisting with promoting the Miss Guyana Talented Teen, Miss Guyana Universe, Miss Beterverwagting (BV) and Saint John’s College pageants.
“She is good at Q (question) and A (answer), she knows how to smile… and has stage presence,” Dillon said adding that Asha undergoes a lot of pre-pageant preparation.
She sees Caribbean pageants as learning experiences for the local girls especially if they have their eyes set on the more sophisticated international pageant titles.
Asha made it clear on several occasions that she definitely has her eyes set on the Miss Universe title.
She will be accompanied in St. Vincent by her chaperons, Dillon. Marvin Pierce, another executive member of Simpli Royal, was invited to be a part of the panel of adjudicators of the night’s proceedings.
Asha is still in the application process for the Miss India International pageant which will be staged in Trinidad in November this year. (S.J.)