Miss Global International 2024, Arian Dahlia Richmond shares her success story

With beauty that transcends physical appearance and a mind packed with intricate knowledge of Guyana’s tourism products and much more, Arian Dahlia Richmond has emerged as winner of the Miss Global International Pageant 2024.
Queen Arian did not only bring home the crown, but she also won awards for Best Interview, Best National Costume, Best Evening Gown, Best Talent, and Best Smile.
This competition, which began with 55 contestants in Guyana vying for a top spot in the Miss Global International pageant, ultimately boiled down to one champion rising to claim the prize in the Cayman Islands, where the finals were held.
Amidst the busy schedule of managing her business, Queen Arian shared details of her journey throughout the competition. From the onset of her journey into pageantry, she emphasized, the importance of community work, in which she was very much involved, became obvious.
“As my journey in pageantry began, I initiated a month-long summer camp focusing on holistic education. Since then, I have competed in many pageants, including Miss Emerald International and Miss World. I was also First Runner-up at the Miss Caribbean Culture Queen Pageant hosted in St Kitts and Nevis, and most recently, I earned the Miss Global International Crown,” she detailed.
Despite her extensive experience, Richmond faced numerous struggles, and had to overcome the preconceived notion of what pageantry is all about that many Guyanese harbour in their minds.

“People often misunderstand pageantry. They see the glamour, but don’t recognize the countless rehearsals we endure while managing our personal and professional lives. They don’t see the personal doubts and challenges we face,” she declared.
Further, she noted the pressure of public scrutiny that those into pageantry endure.
“People hold you to a different standard. Yes, you can choose to avoid the spotlight, but we are all in the public eye in some way, whether we like it or not. Is that a reason to not live your life? Is it an excuse for others to be harsh or bully you? No, it’s not. Pursuing your dreams requires sacrifices, whether it’s time, energy, or resources,” she disclosed.
She says this competition has brought out the very best in her, as she has had opportunity to travel to the administrative regions of Guyana to augment her knowledge of Guyana’s tourism products.
“A pageant queen is akin to an athlete: she must be fit, intellectually sharp, and always prepared for her events. In the Miss Global Pageant, we participated in several preliminary activities, including visiting schools to give educational talks,” she detailed.
Having had opportunity to tour Guyana, Richmond revealed, she was also judged following her interactions made from her tour.
“We conducted mini geography lessons, and our interactions were judged at both grassroots and national levels. We were also evaluated based on our community service in our country. I have been involved in community work for the past six years through my organization, Youth Development Guyana, which focuses on holistic education,” she disclosed.
Coupling many forms of skills to achieve her goal is no strange task for Richmond, and she has also set out on a tour to sensitize people about nurturing children.
“Out of the 10 regions in Guyana, we have conducted multiple youth development activities in four. (We aim) to reach all 10 regions and eventually spread the message throughout the Caribbean: that every child is smart, we just need to find the right way to nurture their abilities. The competition is very holistic,” she has said.
On pageantry night, she says, all her hard work culminated in her claiming the title of Miss Global International. However, she noted that various forms of growth are still needed for the Guyanese population; most especially, the amount of support persons who go away to showcase Guyana need.
“I feel our country needs to honour our sportsmen and pageant queens in ways that truly reflect the work they put in for Guyana. They don’t say my name; they say, ‘Guyana wins’. But when I return home and reach out, the support doesn’t reflect that; which is saddening,” Queen Arian has disclosed.
In comparing her experience with those of persons from other countries who placed in the top five, she said, “The support for them is overwhelming! Their home countries celebrate them extensively. I believe Guyana is still in the early stages of recognizing and honouring its ambassadors. I urge people to express this diplomatically, as it’s crucial for our nation to wake up and appreciate the achievements of our representatives.”