By Mishael Henry
Sitting on a pageantry throne and bearing the mantle of a king for 365 days is far more than mere display; it encompasses a year devoted to raising awareness and standing up for the voiceless, and advocating tirelessly for those unable to speak for themselves.
This is the notion that has been woven into consciousness in the mind of 23-year-old Anthony Singh, and during a recent interview with Guyana Times, he reflected on his one-year journey of bearing the title Mr India Guyana.
Stating that, upon winning, he had an intense interest and vision to transform lives, he revealed that he was cemented in the ideology of raising awareness for various community and societal issues.
“As I won the competition and I had the continuous support of people, I said maybe this is a good way that I could raise awareness for something that I see society is lacking; because my ultimate goal was to help society, or to be a figure that people can look up to,” the king shared.
Cultural
ambassador and advocate
Promoting Indian culture and the Mr. India Guyana pageant simultaneously has been a fulfilling aspect of Singh’s journey while the crown has been on his head.
“Guyana itself is embedded with all these diverse cultural practices,”Singh declared.
As a Christian of Indian descent, Singh emphasizes the inclusivity of Indian culture.
“Indian culture is not just Hinduism, but it entails Muslim, it entails Christian. I’m a Christian, but I’m still Indian,” he declared.
He pointed out that the pageant allowed him to showcase the richness of Indian traditions and holidays, such as Phagwah and Diwali; and he said he sees his participation as a way to help others understand the broad nature of Indian culture.
“It helps people to see that Indian culture is not just rooted in Hinduism, but also stretches to Christianity and Islam,” he disclosed.
Breaking stigmas and raising awareness
Singh says his one-year journey has been marked by raising awareness of, and promoting, Indian Culture, and he revealed that he has also been on the path of shifting negative societal perceptions of male pageantry.
“Male pageantry has a negative stigma to it,” he acknowledges. Society often labels male participants as feminine, but Singh sees his role as an opportunity to change this narrative.
Additionally, he believes that when that stigma is removed, people would be helped to see that pageantry is not just about modelling and showcasing your body, but standing up and advocating for the rights of persons.
Personal growth and public speaking
Although 12 months are designated for him to carry the title, he revealed that within this time frame, he has significantly increased his public speaking skills.
“For me, I grew in a lot of ways; I’m able to be more social (and) I’m able to have better public speaking. The way that you grow is outside of your comfort zone. If you stay in your comfort zone, you’re going to stay the same way,” he explained.
Fully convinced that a poignant quote had something really big to say for young males who would like to join the realms of pageantry, Singh said, “Dreams without goals are just dreams, and ultimately, they fuel disappointment. Along the journey, we must apply discipline, but more importantly, consistency. Without commitment, we’ll never start; without consistency, we’ll never finish.”
As the Mr. India Guyana pageant turns three, Singh envisions a bright future for male pageantry. He advocates taking the pageant to an international level, putting Guyana on the map, and further breaking down negative stigmas.
“Having this pageant on an international standard would be great. It helps us to see that we’re moving to the next level,” Singh has said.
Third edition of Mr India Guyana
Celebrating its third year, the Mr India Guyana Pageant is slated for November, and promises to be a milestone event. The competition would, for the first time, be hosted independently, reflecting its growing popularity and significance. Unlike what had obtained in previous years, when it had been blended with the Miss, Mrs, and Teen India Guyana Pageants, the Mr India Guyana would now have its own exclusive night of competition.
This year’s event is open to single men aged between 18 and 30 years old, marking an extension of the age category to encourage more participants. This new age range is designed to provide opportunities for a broader spectrum of young men to showcase their talents and advocate for important issues. Applications are currently open, and would be closed on August 10th.
