Warsaw’s `Chocolate Lady’
By Neil Marks

DESSIA Braithwaite has come back from Poland, delighted to have had “the experience of a lifetime” but unhappy at not making a mark, as has been the case with Guyana’s recent contestants to the Miss World pageant

In 2001, Olive Gopaul was revered by the international press, but the judges’ vote denied her a place among the finalists, and since her time, no other local girl has managed to steal the media spotlight of the world’s oldest and biggest beauty pageant.

Chocolate lady

Dessia says the one month she spent in Poland was an experience of a lifetime, having been able as she puts it, travelled half way across the earth and experienced the ultures of more than 100 countries.

She says her most memorable experience was on a visit to the Polish capital, Warsaw, when an old woman asked her for an autograph. She couldn’t understand what the woman was saying, but she knew it was something pleasant judging form the broad smile on her face.

When she asked Miss Canada to interpret, she soon learnt that the woman was referring to her as a “chocolate lady”. Dessia says it was amazing, as well as amusing, that there were people in Poland who had never seen “dark coloured people.”

Dessia says she particularly admired the way Polish citizens were in touch with their history. She said the experience at the Warsaw Rising Museum was a humbling one for her. She says she was moved at the sight of the grew granite stone in the museum where the names of thousands of insurgents killed defending Warsaw were engraved.

For Dessia, as well as the other contestants from Africa and the Americas, the museum was a powerful and poignant introduction to some of Poland’s darkest history.

The experience of placing her ears to a vibrating wall, symbolising the heartbeats of those killed, was an experience like no other.

For their final evening in the city, the Miss World Contestants were invited to join guests on the grounds of Krakow’s Archaeological Gardens. It ranks as the most enjoyable events Dessia attended.

As the sun set, the contestants were treated to a delightful smorgasbord with an array of lobsters, prawns, beef and more. There was also a ballet display that included acrobats and jesters performing around giant works of art. A famous Polish singer and trumpeter played wonderful melodies that moved everyone.

The Mayor of Krakow thanked the girls from Miss World for bringing such beauty to this magnificent city and announced a surprise firework display on the river.

Dessia said it was the most spectacular fireworks displays she had ever seen. On the shores of the River Wista, music, fireworks and lasers filled the sky. Spotlights illuminated several incredible inflatable dragons and other animals mounted on boats.  Music and a voice over told the legend that surrounds Krakow and the dragon of the river. 

“Krakow was my favourite place; I will never forget it,” she says.

Dessia says on pageant night, she went on stage and performed her best.

“This is one big night; you don’t get to do it again. So I went out there and had fun,” she says.

However, not being called among the finalists was not a surprise for Dessia.

For the rest of her reign, Dessia says she will start concentrating again on her studies in social work and perform whatever duties are required of her.

She says she would like to talk to young people, who seem not to be getting the seriousness about HIV/AIDS.

She says it is evident that there is a huge campaign to stop the spread of the disease, but there are many who still engage in risky behaviour. According to Dessia, young people should be given a voice in the fight against the disease. She also wants to work with juvenile delinquents.

“When my reign is over, I want to be remembered as someone who represented my crown well,” Dessia says.