Mothers, daughters sparkle in return of Mother and Daughter Pageant

By Shane Marks

After a forced two-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Mother and Daughter Pageant returned to the National Cultural Centre on Saturday evening for a night of pageantry in anticipation of Mother’s Day.
On Saturday evening, the National Cultural Centre was transformed into a red-carpet affair as the excited audience filled the seats for the 29th edition of the Mother and Daughter Pageant 2022, under the theme “The Inescapable Spring of Love.”

Star Rental Middle Category winners, Natoya Hamilton and her daughter Nia

Twenty pairs of mothers and daughters took the stage separated under three categories; GTT’s Junior, Star Rentals Middle, and Chung’s Global Inc Senior Category.
Decked and embraced by stunning gowns and trend-worthy outfits, the ladies competed for the judges’ scores and the audience’s cheers using their creativeness, uniqueness and their vogue-like modelling ability.
Competing under GTT’s Junior Category was Roshini Boodhoo-Persaud and her daughter Jeeya, Yonnette Holder and Jayla, Judith Sullivan and Jayda, Priya Baldeo and Arianna, Tesia Ellis and Xael, and Alana Gravesande and her daughter Ciara.
Yonnette Holder and Jayla took the coveted first place spot in the junior category with mother and daughter pairs Judith Sullivan and Jayda, and Priya Baldeo and daughter Arianna copping second and third places, respectively.
Yonnette and Jayla’s unexpected wardrobe change during their presentation to the judges is what earned them the “crowd favourite” of the night.

Chung’s Global Inc Senior Category winners, Melissa Smartt and her daughter Irwena (Tourism Guyana photo)

Faith Chesney-Sampson and daughter Janeyka, Natoya Hamilton and Nia, Ernella Garner and Erndestia, Vivette Boyer and Ja’Na, Tashika Fisher and Tashika, and mother and daughter Alana Gravesande and Nafonah were contestants under the Star Rentals Middle Category.
Natoya Hamilton and daughter Nia stole the show with their graceful stage presence and breath-taking ‘tea party’ attire, taking first place amongst second place winners Faith Chesney-Sampson and third place winners Ernella Garner and Erndestia.
For the much more mature category, contestants Sally Gail Mathoo and Sallyandra, Indira Mangru and Dhanwantie, Melisa Smartt and Irwena, Alicia Lawrence and Kayla, Tian Edwards and Teija, Sookrane Boodhoo and Roahini, Tessa Persaud and Dianty, and Faith Chesney-Sampson and daughter Janaye were competing under the Chung’s Global Inc Senior Category.

GTT’s Junior Category winners, Yonnette Holder and her daughter Kayla (Tourism Guyana photo)

Mother and daughter Melissa Smartt and Irwena were crowned winners of the category. Sookrane Boodhoo and Roshini arrived in second place with Faith Chesney-Sampson and daughter arriving in third.
The pageant was judged by an eight-member mother and daughter panel – Visva and Kiran Mattai, Duanne and Dueva Lewis, Natasha and Victoria Najab and chief judges Rev Jacquelin and Melissa Bourne.
The National Cultural Centre’s seats were filled with mothers, daughters and sons who came out in support of the efforts of Guyana’s largest pageant competition, produced by Ingrid Fung and Dr Sulan Fung.
The surprise of the evening that seemed to entertain the audience in between segments was the appearance of sons with their mothers.
The likes of bodybuilder Kerwin Clarke, local musician Drew Thoven, sports journalist Rawle Toney, politician Daniel Seeram, fashion designer Quinton Pearson and famous gospel singer Samuel Medas pleasantly entertained the crowd.