Aquaila Rupan wins Miss Mash crown in stiff competition
finished with ruffles designed by Nelsion Nurse; Romichelle, a black lace gown with gold from the neck to the bust designed by Mark Junor; Ashanti, a pale yellow gown with sequins at the bust designed by Maxi Williams; Aquaila, a pink and gold bedazzled piece and which ended in pink, white and a light yellow chiffon that was designed by her sister Natalya Thomas; and Janeil Cumberbatch, a red fishtail gown that was called ‘Scarlett Hibiscus’.
The stunner of this round was Younette who won Best Evening Gown and with her ravishing smile stole the Miss Photogenic Award as well.
For the question and answer segment, the host, Oral Welshman, provided each of the girls with two questions. The best answers seemingly came from Gabriella and Romichelle which were received well by the crowd. Aquaila, who stuttered in one of her answers, still managed to cop the crown as she would have garnered more points in the preceding categories.
Aquaila’s two-part questions were: “Give us a small quote that keeps you going and what it means” and “Describe Mashramani, comparing it to a Buxton Spice Mango.”
In response she said, “Eventually we’ll all end up where we’re supposed to” before explaining “That means to me that, at the end, we will fulfil our purpose. We just have to work towards what we are, whatever we think is our purpose, and follow God, and believe in God that He will lead us to whatever our purpose is.” In the second part reply as to the comparison of a ‘Buxton Spice Mango’ to Mashramani she responded falteringly, “Buxton Spice Mango is very sweet, and very spicy and it originated in Guyana. Mashramani is a Guyanese thing, it’s spicy, it is sweet, with all the different colours, the Calypso music that we produce. It’s entertaining and very sweet to everyone.”
During interludes the crowd was serenaded by Samantha Grant, Jada Harry (a contestant in the Junior Calypso Competition), Charmaine Blackman and Kenrick Cheeks and dancers.
The night concluded with the crowning of the queen; and because of the 11-year hiatus, Miss Indigenous Heritage Queen 2015 Shenica Ambrose crowned Aquaila as the Miss Mash Queen Guyana 2017.
Aquaila won an undisclosed sum of cash, a trophy among other prizes including jewellery and gift vouchers. She was also awarded Miss Personality. The crown was sponsored by Randy Madray’s Designs. She will represent Guyana at the JC International Mash Pageant at the Miss Caribbean Carnival Show in Antigua at the end of July.
Gabriella (was also awarded for the most ticket sales) took first runner-up and Younette second runner-up.