Xamiera Kippins, 23, of Parfaite Harmonie, West Bank Demerara (WBD) was last evening crowned Miss Earth Guyana 2018 and will move on to represent the country on the world stage.
The Miss Earth Pageant is a platform for young women to be the voice of advocacy for preservation of the environment.
Kippins won the gold medal in the majority of the pageantry categories including the best Beauty for a Cause Project.
Dubbed “RE-BUILD”, her initiative is aimed at solving the problem of improper disposal of non-biodegradable waste through recycling and upcycling.
Kippins stole the spotlight in the talent, costume, swimwear and evening gown categories, wooing the small crowd that gathered at the National Cultural Centre for the coronation night.
Her victory sparked uproar in the audience, particularly from supporters of those delegates who did not win.
Anita Baker came in as third runner up, Akisha Payne the second and Luann Pellew the first.
Payne proved herself to be a fan favourite, winning the People’s Choice Award.
Meanwhile, asked by News Room how she feels about winning the crown, Kippins said: “I view it as a great responsibility to be an ambassador for Guyana to the rest of the world. Not only is it a way to give others the opportunity to embrace and appreciate who we are but it is also a way to create avenues for young individuals like myself, allowing for the development of their talents which will contribute and improve society.”
She explained that her journey was not easy and everything she has achieved was done through hard work. “I believe in hard work for achieving the goals we set out for in life. As humans we tend to look for the easy way out of everything. Nothing good comes easy. There are no shortcuts or detours. Much work and effort is required on our part.”
Kippins, who is a model and works in the fashion industry, believes the most important part of being Miss Earth Guyana is her environmental advocacy.
“It is a way to help the environment as well as directly contribute to the lives of youths who need encouragement and role models/mentors,” she expressed.
This young ambitious lady will be going through months of training to prepare for Miss Earth International later this year.