…Cintiana Harry crowned Miss Eco-Guyana
After a night of entertainment and glamour, 26-year-old Faydeha King was crowned Miss Earth Guyana 2019 on Saturday evening, after dominating all categories and wowing the judges with a fiery red evening gown.
In a grand coronation ceremony at the National Cultural Centre, the Berbician competed against seven other delegates to win the coveted crown. Amelia Baksh, Annesa Vansluytman, Cintiana Harry, Kataina Phillips, Maricia Meusa, Phelicia Adams and Selena Guyadeen were the other delegates who worked endlessly to execute their routines to perfection.
This year, the theme circled around the celebration of flora, prompting the ladies to represent flowers that are native to Guyana. The theme was displayed in its entirety during the costume segment, as the stage was transformed into a garden. Vansluytman gained first place for her hibiscus costume, and King and Harry emerged second and third respectively.
This was followed by the resort wear, in which King once again achieved gold, Adams won silver and bronze awarded to Vansluytman. For the People’s Choice Award, Baksh gained the highest number of points for likes, comments and shares on her social media photo.
For the talent segment, which was judged prior to the coronation ceremony, King also secured the first prize. It focused on the significance of the waves which form throughout the waterways of Guyana and was demonstrated through drums.
Lastly, the evening gown segment did not disappoint the audience, who witnessed fabulous gowns from local designers. As expected, King’s dress was a step above the rest with a flowing trail and ensemble, designed solely by Randy Madray. Over the years, this local designer has been on the forefront in promoting fashion here in Guyana.
Vansluytman’s shiny white gown gained her the silver award, and Harry third.
However, the deciding factor to determining the winner depended on the question-and answer-segment, which saw four women – King, Baksh, Harry and Vansluytman – trying their best to define the beauty earth warrior.
King answered, “I’m the definition of the beauty of an earth warrior. You can also be the definition of a beautiful earth warrior. You just have to listen to what Earth is telling us…She is asking us to start beautifying and stop making her ugly and destroying her because she is here to supply and provide for us.”
For the newly-introduced Miss Eco-Guyana title, Harry emerged victorious. Baksh strutted in as first runner-up and Vansluytman was second runner-up. The winner was crowned by last year’s queen, Xameira Kippins.
It was a tedious process of judging each piece with the relevant criteria, which prompted the pageant coordinators to source qualified individuals, with knowledge about Guyana’s natural features and ways to preserve it.
To date, King has competed in 11 pageants. She participated in the Skeldon High, Miss Corriverton, Miss Region Six, Miss Bartica Regatta, Miss Caribbean Culture Guyana and Miss Black San International Pageants, all of which she won. She gained first runner-up for Miss Jamzone 2013 and second runner-up for Miss Universe Guyana 2015 and Miss Global International Guyana.
The Miss Earth Pageant represents the most beautiful women of the Earth to serve as role models dedicated to advocacy to preserve and restore Mother Earth.
Miss Earth is the largest environmental event in the world, channelling the beauty pageant entertainment industry as an effective tool to promote environmental awareness.
The Miss Earth Guyana and Miss Eco-Guyana crowns were made with recyclable materials and semi-precious stones.
Last year, Kippins won the title of Miss Earth Guyana 2018, and later represented the country in the Philippines, bringing home the gold medal for her Ole Higue costume. Later during her reign, King too will represent Guyana on the international stage alongside 102 other countries.