Miss Guyana Universe, Leanna Damond, is expected to leave this morning for Panama where she will be competing for the Miss Universe title.
The queen, who hails from New Amsterdam, told a press conference yesterday that she would be doing her best and thanked all Guyanese for their support during her training.
Just back from the USA where she underwent some additional training, Damond said there was nothing more she could do “but to compete strongly. I would put my best foot forward and make all Guyanese proud.”
But if Damond really wants to make it big in Panama she would have to show more attention to punctuality. She kept the media waiting for 30 minutes.
She arrived only seconds before Prime Minister Samuel Hinds who was there to present the national gift which all contestants have to have, at the Water Chris Hotel and was immediately confronted by a furious franchise holder, Odinga Lumumba.
The excuse given by him that he was the one who was late did not hide the fact that Damond was reduced to tears and had to have her face made up once again before facing the cameras.
She was able to manage a smile as she received the gift from Hinds - a jasper stone set in gold.
The queen also received a first class ticket from BWIA to Miami and she will receive another ticket compliments of Federal Management Systems from Miami to Panama.
Lumumba said that Nickolet Trotman-Lumumba would accompany Damond while chaperone Pamela Dillon and public relations officer Steve Ninvalle would follow later.
According to the franchise holder, Damond was better prepared than former queen Mia Rahaman as they had learnt a lot from the experience with Mia.
The queen has her wardrobe ready and yesterday designer Dereck Moore dressed her in the national costume dubbed `Land of Many Waters.’
Speaking about plans for the next pageant, which is expected to be held in December, Lumumba said organisers have recruited the services of Patricia Woolford and Andrea McAdam.
He noted that while the present committee had tried its best sometimes one’s best was just not enough and since he was approached by the two women he has decided to have them responsible for recruiting the next set of delegates.
He said that they would be working with a yardstick in terms of the height, age and qualification of prospective delegates.
Lumumba said that the recruitment process would be completed by the end of July and the girls would begin training immediately.
Another designer, Jackie Bourne, has been added to the committee.
Woolford said they would be looking for girls who were polished and articulate as well as beautiful and intelligent.