Young women between the ages of 18 to 27 are being encouraged to apply for the Miss Rural West Pageant.

“It’s always been important for us to empower women. That’s one of the things that we wanted people to leave with when they hear this pageant. It’s something that we hope will inspire the new, the next generation of women and we really wanted to take that step using pageantry because we love pageantry in Antigua and Barbuda and it’s something that has continued to push our women forward and given them proper platforms so that they’re able to, you know, send off positive messages and be role models.

“So, that’s one of the things we wanted to come forward but we also want to put community pride on the map. We’re seeing so many beautiful people come out of Rural West, and we want to continue to celebrate them, and we know that pageantry is one of the ways that we can do that. So, we thought, why not put them in a position where not only they’ll be able to have a platform, be able to speak to another generation of women but also to showcase the talent that comes out of Rural West as well,” Desrie Markham, one of the organizers of the pageant said when asked about the motivation behind the pageant.

Desrie Markham

Although this will be the first time the Miss Rural West Pageant will be held, it is not the first community pageant from that area. Several years ago, the Miss Grays Green Pageant used to take place but had halted for some time. ‘

With the resurgence of pageantry in the community, it is the organizers hope to give young women a new platform to shine.

There are no specific parameters to sign up. Women of all body-types are welcome.

All women are advised to take advantage of the life-changing opportunity.

“There’s not really any particular quality because anyone can be molded and we want to run with that idea that you don’t have to be a certain way as long as you are ambitious and you’re dedicated and you’re intelligent, you can be moldedand you will be trained and you will leave the pageant being more empowered, have been more poised, be more courteous. So, don’t come in thinking, youknow, I have to be beautiful, I have to be able to walk,” one organizer said.

The deadline is November 16. Interested person can fill out the form below.

👉 https://forms.gle/DtqkXTVSmj8RZaWc9

Or by contacting Aaliyah Taylor at 780-5260, Eddenya Aska at 723-6093 or Janelle Haynes at 776-6916.