Miss Guyana Universe contestant Katherina Roshana has expressed gratitude for the overwhelming support she received from Guyana and further afield as she heads back home from Russia.
According to a release, Roshana having experienced the international pageant, has seen movements and situations that have caused her to reflect. The release said attention is given to those countries which pay higher pageant fees and the bigger, more recognized countries are treated with favoritism.
Roshana firmly believes that the time has come for the government to create a budget to assist international pageantry, as is being done by numerous countries worldwide.
Money, the release said has a lot to do with the results. Roshana highlighted Guyana in a magnificent manner, using her unique style and dynamic ways. She has also amplified the great work done by earlier queens and saluted their great work, despite their challenges.
Roshana is encouraging private enterprises and the government to work as a team, since beauty ambassadors add to the vitality and popularity of a nation. Most countries, she said finance their queens as they showcase their countries. It would be prudent for the government to look at this as part of a ministry’s budget.
“It is not only about beauty and talent alone, but that queens are made (through constant training and availability of resources) queens,” she said. Roshana is advising that a good strategy for the franchise holder is to skip one year, and start early the next as this gives an entire year to showcase the current queen and to building the infrastructure and budget, encouraging the private sector to be vibrant in their support, and convincing the government to come on board to help Guyana’s fledgling beauty ambassadors.
Since Miss Guyana Universe, Miss Guyana World and Miss India Worldwide are international pageants; Roshana believes that these should also be budgeted for by government, each event, according to their magnitude, and support by their sponsors. She pledged to assist any future local queen with counsel and friendship and believes
Guyana has the capacity to win the Miss Universe sooner or later, “but as a people, as a nation, we have to help make her!”
She also said, “We must stop complaining that a person is too fat or too thin, or too white or too black. These are frivolous, and whoever wins must receive national support from all Guyanese… as a people, we must mature and grow, and cease behaving as if everyone is a pageant specialist.”
While in Russia, Roshana presented gifts of Guyana to many individuals she met. These gifts included Bank of Guyana mint coin sets, souvenirs made of coconut shells, and polished Amazon jungle log pieces (key chains). She also gave photos and cards of Guyana, to highlight the country’s contribution to eco-friendliness. I did it for you, Guyana.
You have given me the chance to highlight Guyana on the map.
“Guyana let me say to you a most heart-felt thank you!” Roshana said.