MISS GUYANA - 2001

Last year's pageant, which was a great success, was held on Saturday, 08 September, at the National Culture Centre in Georgetown.

I would like to thank everyone in Guyana who helped to make the event such a resounding success, especially the committee members:

Andrea Rohlehr-McAdam -Assistant to the Chairman
Derek Moore - Artistic Director
Phoolkumarie Coopsammy - Public Relations Officer/Pageant Coordinator
Paul McAdam - Press Liaison Officer
Gloria Mittelholzer - Committee Member
Charles Godfrey - Logistics Officer (Security)

All ten contestants were lovely. However, the radiant Olive Gopaul emerged as the clear winner, with Shammane Joseph placed as No. 2 and Ulex Atwell as No. 3.

Shortly after her success, Olive travelled to London, UK, with Derek Moore, arriving on Tuesday 16 October.

She fulfilled a number of exciting engagements while in Britain, including:
Wednesday, 17 October Visit to Copland Community School, Wembley conducted tour by Deputy Headmaster Mr Hakim Ali
Visit to Barclays Bank Stockbrokers
Thursday 18 October Visit to Deutsche Bank, London Wall
Guest at Howard Eastman's Promotion, Elephant & Castle
Friday, 19 October A cocktail party in her honour at the Guyana High Commission in London hosted by His Excellency Laleshwar K.N Singh High Commissioner
Saturday, 20 October Fund-raising dinner at Trini's restaurant, Streatham, London

On Monday, 22 October, Olive and Derek departed for South Africa where the Miss World Pageant was held in neighbouring Sun City. She did not win, but she certainly promoted Guyana at every possible opportunity, as the Guyana Chronicle describes her "The most Glamorous Ambassador".

They returned to London on 18 November.

On Sunday, 25 November at Copland school Olive participated in a fashion show organised by Camilia Craigen-Straughn, with clothing designed by Derek Moore, all proceeds of which went direct to Kids First Fund.
She also made a brief visit to Ireland accompanied by Marion Herbert and Camilia Craigen-Straughn. Olive Gopaul and Derek Moore finally departed for Guyana on 11 December.

Upon her return home, Olive was given a splendid reception hosted by
Minister Gail Teixeira. Also in attendance were Public Service Minister Dr Jennifer Westford, Permanent Secretary in the Office of the President Ms Jennifer Webster, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Tourism, Industry and Commerce Ms Sonia Roopnauth. Olive's father and mother were also there, together with Derek Moore and Andrea McAdam.

Congratulations to Olive Gopaul on being an exceptional Miss Guyana 2001, and being chosen by the Internet magazine, Globalbeauties.com, in the Miss World Top Ten and Woman of Substance 2001 for South America. She also had the privilege of being chosen by Miss World Organisation to have her picture appear in the Gioia International magazine.

I would like to extend a special thank you to His Excellency Laleshwar K N Singh, Guyanese High Commissioner in London, together with First Secretary Ms Marion Herbert who kindly provided accommodation, and who both made Olive so welcome, ensuring that her trip to London was a memorable one, plus all the staff at the High Commission, especially Carol Barker. Also thank you to Ms Camilia Craigen-Straughn, Basil Doobay and Mr Harry Persaud, they made a contribution to the success of the visit, and thank you to everyone that showed great generosity. Thanks to Roopal at the Variety Silk House in Wembley who presented Olive with a gift of a set of jewellery.

Finally, an enormous and heartfelt thank you to Mr Basil Williams, who so ably guided us all through potential pitfalls (both legal and otherwise) and without whom the pageant would not have happened, or been the tremendous success that it was.

I now look forward with confidence to the Miss Guyana 2002 Pageant , which I anticipate will be an even greater success than last year's event with more glamour, glitz and our gorgeous Guyanese girls!

For more details of the 2001 pageant see the link for Miss Guyana 2001, or Miss Guyana 2001, on www.miss-guyana.org, or (Newspapers) archives on the Guyana Chronicle website at www.guyanachronicle.com, or the Stabroek News at www.stabroeknews.com, www.guyana.net.gy/kaieteur (Newspaper). See also beauty pageant sites, Globalbeauties.com, MissWorld.org,