Teen queen finds balance between pageantry and studies
By Zoisa Fraser
Stabroek News
January 13, 2007
You won't find many 16-year-olds attending Guyana's highest learning institution, but Miss Guyana Talented Teen 2006 believes starting advanced studies young could open many doors for her in the future.
On the night of December 3 last year 16-year-old Jenel Cox, a University of Guyana English major, outshone seven other contestants and comfortably glided through the two and a half hour show at the end of which she was crowned queen.
Winning the crown has brought her instant stardom, the aspiring lawyer said, and the entire pageant experience has moulded her into a better young lady and has allowed her to set higher goals for herself in the years ahead, though her daily life is pretty much the same as before winning the pageant.
"Life for me hasn't changed much except for popularity and a boost of my self esteem," she said.
Jenel, can be called level-headed as she knew just how to manage her studies and pageant preparations.
At present she is preparing for another semester, which will begin at the end of this month and on completion of her English degree, Jenel plans to begin reading for her law degree.
During a recent sit down with The Scene, Jenel said that moving to university right after high school was her decision and with seven subjects at the CSEC examinations under her belt, she approached her parents with it. "I made that decision to go to UG because I wanted to further my studies. I don't want to be old and still studying."
She said her parents were very supportive and agreed that it was a good idea.
The former St Stanislaus College student was a lover of English Language throughout her school life and always regarded it as her favourite subject. So when she took the step to attend university this subject area was the natural choice for her. Since her enrolment at university she has grown to love poetry and it was she who composed the dramatic piece she performed on pageant night. Dressed like an old woman and carrying a basket on her head, she lamented the behaviour of today's youngsters moving the audience to demand an encore.
Although she has not found her English courses difficult, Jenel admitted that she has met more challenges with the language at university level than she did in high school.
Attending university on the whole is a new challenge for Jenel and she said that because of her hectic schedule, which included studying, learning ballroom dancing and other pageant preparation, she has not had the opportunity to make lots of friends. Hopefully that will change this year, though she will have to do another balancing act some time during the year. Part of her prize as Miss Guyana Talented Teen involves representing Guyana at an international teen pageant this year. Reminiscing about pageant night Jenel said she was confident but nervous, as to her each girl had an equal chance of winning the crown. But once Marsha Chester and Ashma John, the first and second runners-up respectively were announced, Jenel knew the crown was hers.
The Miss Guyana Talented Teen pageant is the second she has entered and the second she has won-in August last year Jenel was crowned Miss Guyana Anglican Youth Diocese-and the double recognition has made her a more confident person. Her experience in the Miss Guyana Talented Teem pageant especially, she said, has boosted her self-confidence and made her bolder in her overall performance and interaction with people.
Although it has been some time since the pageant, Jenel and the other contestants still say in touch. They came together and hosted a party for pageant co-ordinator Pamela Dillon in December.
This young lady who also plays an active role in her church-the St James the Less Anglican, where she is an altar server-said that since the pageant her parents have given her a bit more freedom in terms of going out with friends. Zoisa_f@yahoo.com