On a night when eight teens contended to be the best, 14-year-old, New Guyana School student Aliya Wong stood out and was crowned Miss Guyana Talented Teen 2016, as the curtains came down on the pageant Saturday evening at the National Cultural Centre.
Crowned by 2014 winner Reesa Sooklall, an elated and emotional Wong noted that it was a proud moment for her to take over the title, avowing that this was only the beginning for her. “Winning this pageant has made me feel like a confident, phenomenal young woman, who has achieved so much so far and I am so proud of how far I’ve come in the competition. It makes me so happy, and I know that this is not the end, it’s only the beginning.” A tearful Wong said.
Outfitted in a green Kiesha Edwards’ evening gown, the West Coast Demerara girl prevailed as the best of the final three, triumphing over crowd favorite and eventual first runner up, Jerusha Ferrell and second runner up, Ayanna Glasgow.
Wong was also adjudged “Miss Congeniality,” applauded by host Feliz Robertson for her bubbly personality and warm smile throughout the pageant. In other awards of the night, Ferrell took away the award for “People’s Choice”, through garnering the most votes on social media, and was also the winner of the pageant’s “Cotillion”, while Glasgow walked away with the “Best Gown” award, after gracing the stage in a pink, off shoulder, “can can” Randy Madray designed evening gown. Glasgow also ended as the “Best Talent” winner.
Fifteen year old Ahiesha Antoo won “Best Multimedia Presentation”, and Geetanjali Nauth won “Most Improved Delegate”.
An award was also bestowed upon former franchise holder and mother of pageantry in Guyana, Pamela Dillon of Simpli Royal, who this year handed over the Miss Talented Teen franchise to Imperial House, headed by Wazim Khan.