Miss World finalist hosts health fair

As Guyana gears up to select a queen to represent the country at the Miss World Pageant on the international stage, an 18-year-old finalist on Sunday hosted a health fair to officially launch her Beauty with a Purpose Campaign.

The regional ambassador of Demerara-Mahaica (Region Four), Vena Mookram has embarked on a journey to promote physical fitness and nutrition in an effort to prevent chronic diseases as she vies for the local crown.

Miss World Guyana 2017 delegate Vena Mookram

The event on Sunday was hosted at the M&M Snackette on the East Bank of Demerara and saw the attendance of scores of patrons who cashed in on the services made available at the fair. These included blood pressure and sugar testing as well as dietary and nutritional counselling and advocacy. Members of the National Blood Transfusion Service were also present at the event and even facilitated a blood drive.

In an interview with Guyana Times, Mookram expressed delight over the execution of the health fair and fitness initiative and dubbed the event a success. The 18-year-old explained the objective of the undertaking. “I chose to undertake this project, because the two major chronic diseases in Guyana are cardiovascular and diabetes and they account for the top one and four causes of death respectively in our country. I see this as a major problem.”

The beauty queen went on to say, “Apart from that, I love and I live this lifestyle and I want to motivate and encourage others to do the same. The aim of the fair was to promote good health.”

Mookram pointed out that the event was the result of a collaboration with a number of public organisations and business entities, and expressed her gratitude. “The turnout of about 250 was a lot more than I ever expected, but I was more than grateful.”

The young activist indicated to this publication that in addition to the health fair hosted over the weekend, “I will be having a fitness walk in collaboration with Xtreme Fitness Gym on June 17.” Moreover, “I will be a part of the Miss World Guyana Finalists Beauty with a Purpose Fair in order to bring about awareness to my project and raise funds for my charity,” Mookram related.

She, along with nine other contestants, will be competing for the Miss World Guyana title on June 25 at the Marriott Hotel, Georgetown. The successful queen will go on to represent Guyana, alongside scores of international beauties, in China, later this year.

Anticipating the showdown later this month, Mookram relayed, “Even after the pageant has ended, I will try my best to continue promoting my cause to be a part in making Guyana into a healthier nation.”