Miss India Guyana cops second runner-up spot in international pageant

Miss India Guyana, 25-year-old Canada-based Guyanese Sangeeta Bahadur was on Sunday last crowned second runner-up at the Miss India Worldwide Pageant, when it was held in New Jersey.
Copping the international title was Miss India USA, Madu Valli and taking the first runner-up spot was Miss India France, Stephanie Madavane.
Initially, 27 beauties from around the world were slated to participate in the pageant but due to unforeseen circumstances, including VISA issues and the hurricanes that devastated several Caribbean islands, only 17 delegates took part. The 17 delegates were the cream of the crop and would have competed with dignity and perseverance.
However, at the finishing line, it was Valli, Madavane and Bahadur who wowed the judges with their beauty, charm and intelligence. In the 2016 pageant, Guyana’s delegate at the international pageant, Brittany Singh, was placed in the top 10.
This year, however, Bahadur was also awarded the prize for Miss Congeniality. Miss India USA won the prize for best talent with her melodious voice.
Franchise holder of the pageant, Uma Devi Bux, who travelled to the USA with the Guyanese beauty told Guyana Times Entertainment she was extremely pleased with the performance of the local representative at the international pageant this year.
She noted that she kept her fingers crossed and hoped for Guyana to be placed in the top five but with a lot of emotion, Bux was delighted that Bahadur placed in the top three.
The franchise holder contended that it was a very competitive pageant since all the contestants were gorgeous, intelligent and very talented.
However, she explained that the 2017 format for international pageant was very different from previous years, especially with the newly introduced mandates which definitely took the national directors by surprise.
“I can profoundly say we did not fall short in anyway. We were fully equipped to make a positive impact, which we did. Given the feedback we received from patrons and supporters at the event, one may even say Guyana unofficially won the title,” she noted.
Meanwhile, Bahadur announced her retirement from pageantry but will continue her reign as Miss India Guyana until the new queen is crowned in 2018. Although she resides in Canada, she intends to visit Guyana and more importantly to continue her charity outreaches.
She also hopes to teach dance across rural areas of Guyana. The quest for Miss India Guyana will commence in the new year.