Mother and Daughter pageant is 'Sweet 16'
Stabroek News
April 21, 2007
The producer of the Annual Mother and Daughter Pageant promises the best production ever this year as there will be "delightful and exhilarating" entertainment on show at the National Cultural Centre on May 12 when the pageant will be staged.
It is being held under the apt theme, 'Happy Birthday Sweet 16' as this year is its sixteenth anniversary and will see mothers and daughters squaring off in three segments.
Ingrid Fung, whose brainchild the pageant is, recently told The Scene that the reason the pageant has remained in existence for so many years is because it is a family pageant.
She said it is a pageant that the entire family can enjoy as she offers "wholesome" family entertainment on the side. The pageant is not a profit-making venture, but Fung says she enjoys giving women and their daughters, regardless of what ages they are, the opportunity to enjoy themselves on stage. And she said past contestants, regardless of if they won or not, have become part of the "pageant family" and assist her in the planning of the pageant.
She and her daughter have never entered the pageant, conflict of interest may come into play if they did, but each year they are the ones who do the welcoming and they try to find new and innovative ways to do this every year.
She said the pageant came into existence because she always wanted to do something different, and different it is as the pageant is unlike any other and there has been no controversy surrounding it. The first pageant was actually staged in 1990, but Fung said there was a lapse before the next pageant was staged and as such she prefers to say that it has been in existence for 16 years. She said the pageant is on people's calendar and they attend every year. Most years mothers and daughters would dress alike even though they are not participating.
This year, the audience can expect give-a-ways, 16 lucky patrons will receive gifts as Fung's way of telling them thanks for supporting her pageant over the years. The ticket stubs will be placed in a box and 16 will be drawn. These lucky patrons will place their hands in a bag and will receive whatever gift they draw. Fung did not want to disclose the prizes but she promised that they will not disappoint.
One of the side attractions this year will be mothers and their sons appearing as there have been some calls for this over the years.
The three categories of the pageant are based on the ages of the daughters; three to eight years will see them appearing in party wear; nine to 14 years, casual wear and 15 years and older, evening wear.
Prizes will include trips in and outside Guyana among others. She said the pageant remains well supported not only by patrons but also by the business community. Contestants are usually sought after by Fung and others but there are some who approach her she said. Most times, she has to persuade mothers to participate as the daughters are always ready and waiting.
And those of you who want to participate in this year's pageant there is still hope as Fung said she is still accepting participants and you can make contact with her telephone numbers, 226-2825 or 626-0460 and Dianne Sobers on 223-2811.