SUZETTE Shim will be crowned Miss Guyana World 2004 and represent Guyana at the prestigious Miss World Pageant in China on December 4.
The local pageant committee announced yesterday that Shim who secured the second-runner spot at last year’s Miss Guyana World pageant, was chosen over some twenty other ladies who applied for a spot in the ‘winners row’ of the local pageant and will officially begin her reign sometime in August when she will be crowned by reigning queen Alexis Glasgow.
At a press conference yesterday, K. M. Chung Promotions informed the media that after Shim, a University of Guyana Business Management student, applied and excelled at the selection interview, the committee reviewed her performance at the 2003 pageant and found that she was the most suitable of those they screened to represent the country.
“She was a very disciplined and strong contender and a review of her performance showed that she performed consistently well in all areas of that pageant, placing second to Alexis in the Evening Gown competition , and winning the on-stage interview.”
It also stated that she is already in training for the pageant and the committee is confident that she has the ability to represent the country well.
“We are convinced that Suzette will represent our country well and we have already begun the process of grooming and preparing her for the Miss World contest.”
Shim will be groomed for the international pageant by committee members. She is scheduled to travel to New York later this year, where she will be further groomed and go on a shopping spree. She will also participate in a fundraising fashion show featuring designs by the pageant’s national Artistic Director, Derek Moore, and travel to London, England in October where a reception will be held in her honor by Laleshwar K.N. Singh, Guyana’s High Commissioner to that country. She will also be guest of honor at a dinner and dance sponsored by the Travel Shop in London, before leaving on November 11 to contest the Miss World pageant.
The committee said reigning Miss Guyana World Alexis Glasgow who represented the country at last year’s Miss World “has fulfilled her role with distinction.”
“Alexis performed extremely well in China and was among a small group of contestants chosen to have dinner with the Miss World Chairman, Julia Morley. Alexis did not place, but we are extremely proud of her performance,” the committee said.
The Urban-Therapy spokeswoman frequently travel throughout the Caribbean to represent the company and has been a role model especially to residents of her hometown New Amsterdam, Berbice.
Shim who stands at 5 feet 9 inches told Chronicle although she knew she had a good chance of being selected she was surprised when she got a telephone call from an executive member of the pageant committee informing her that she was the chosen one.
was surprised, shocked, excited and I was very happy. I was speechless for a while (and) the first thing I did was call Shauna (her closest friend).” She said her friend too was very excited and when she informed her family they celebrated also.
Shim stated she is prepared to take on the new queen role and is ready to be further groomed to represent her country at Miss World.
She feels that physically she already is a true representation of Guyana since she is mixed with Chinese, East Indian, African, and European, and is a patriotic citizen.
K.M. Chung secured the Miss World franchise four years ago and has since sent three beauty ambassadors to represent Guyana at Miss World. In 2001 the country was represented by Olive Gopaul, and reigning Miss Guyana Universe Odessa Phillips participated the following year. Phillips crowned Glasgow last year.