In the glittering realm of beauty pageants, where grace and glamor often take center stage, there occasionally emerges a contestant whose commitment to nature and environmental advocacy shines as brightly as her beauty. Such is the story of Faydeha King, a Miss Universe Guyana delegate. Faydeha is a proud country girl, as she was born and raised in the ancient county of Berbice.
King stated that she could climb a coconut tree in under three minutes and catch a fish with her bare hands, doing these activities made her develop a deep-seated love for nature from a young age. It also assisted fueling her first appreciation for nature and healthy living, which has now evolved into her platform and a way of life through “IPlant”.
IPlant is a sustainable development project under the pillars of sustainability, healthy living, and beautification, that she intends to share with Guyana and the world using the Miss Universe Guyana stage. It was pioneered in 2019, while she reigned as Miss Earth Guyana and will continue to expand upon. She is passionate about this sustainable development project, premised on planting trees to assist in alleviating world hunger, combat küresel warming, strengthen communities, and improve the surrounding air, soil, and water.
King believes these values should be passed on, especially since Guyana is in an oil-producing era, and the environmental conversation has become even more critical. “I intend to share these values with my son, and future generations,” she stated.
She has always been interested in the Miss Universe Guyana platform because of its advocacy opportunity. However, it wasn’t until the international organization lifted restrictions, that she could jump back into the pageantry.
Faydeha added: “I believe our representative must exhibit beauty, grace, and a readiness to fly our flag high on the international stage, especially at this juncture where the globe has its eyes on us, as the fastest growing economy in the world! Through advocacy, experience, and a passion for my country, I believe this is an opportune time for us to create history together.”
No stranger to the stage
King is no stranger to the Guyanese modeling and pageant community having participated in 10 pageants and won 5 titles while representing Guyana regionally and internationally. In 2019, she was crowned Miss Earth Guyana, representing Guyana in the Philippines.
She noted that preparing for a pageant is never easy, however, she is always committed to the task at hand and has found joy in striking a balance while she prepares for the Miss Universe Guyana pageant. Her daily routine begins with her connecting with God and trusting her plans in his hands. It also includes mindful eating, physical exercise, 1 hour of reading, and drinking lots of water.
“I have been blessed to interact with some of the women on this lineup, and if I am being honest, Guyana is truly privileged to be home to women of such substance. Miss Universe isn’t just a title, it is a lifetime role you take on to be a great voice for your country.
“It requires a queen whose life experiences have prepared her, but also one that embodies what it means to be a true Guyanese girl who understands the evolution of her country, but also knows how to screw the bulb and stir the pot,” King told this publication.
She is honest, personable, resilient and a modern-day woman balancing many caps, and she believes this is what the international franchise now desires.
Fashion icon Randy Madray is Faydeha’s inspiration. According to her, he is considered a national treasure. “He is not only a friend and coach, but he has also revolutionized the pageant industry with his iconic designs, idealistic standards, and unique eye for talent. It is no secret that he is celebrated not just in Guyana, but across the world, and I am not only inspired by his work and legacy, but I am deeply grateful to have him and his expert team on board as my chaperone and support during this journey,” she mentioned.
Faydeha describes her pageant experience as rejuvenating. Since revealing that she’s a contestant in the pageant, she has received tremendous support from Guyana, and acting as extrinsic motivational factors fuels King’s drive. As with every pageant, there are challenges. One of her biggest challenges is sponsorship. At the moment, King does not have a sponsor, however, she has big plans, especially for her platform project. Currently, she travels twice weekly from Berbice to Georgetown to train and is trying to acquire additional sponsorship. However, she wouldn’t trade this experience for anything.
Thankfully, the Ministry of Agriculture and NAREI have recently joined forces to donate seeds, seedlings, and plants to King’s project.
For Faydeha, being on stage is one part of pageantry she enjoys most. She loves the thrill that comes with stepping into her high-heeled shoes, with the focus on her as she struts the stage. “Then when it’s time to speak, I get to say words that will be heard by a nation on a platform of big influence. That is my time to talk about the things that will make our world a better place to live in,” she added.
One memorable pageant experience for her was during her reign as Miss Earth 2019, a few days before flying to the Philippines to represent at the Miss Earth 2019 pageant. She experienced one of the greatest tragedies that can occur – the death of a loved one. She lost her dearest grandfather, her home and so many of her childhood memorabilia in a fire that engulfed her home.
Determination
Despite the trauma and mental weight, she persevered and somehow was able to still get on a flight, mere days after, to represent at the international leg, where Guyana placed top 20 for the first time. This experience soberly reminded King of my resilience and capabilities as a woman, but also her genuine love and commitment to Guyana. “I am proud to say that my character remains the same today,” she mentioned.
Through Faydena’s educational pursuits and advocacy, she has been keen on mental wellness. As with every other venture, pageants present unique challenges. So to stay grounded, she finds time to reconnect with nature, do deep breathing exercises, and set realistic expectations when it comes to her priorities and what she needs to get done.
Faydeha plans to use the Miss Universe Guyana to amplify her platform and advocacy for a more sustainable environment. “As a country, we have been proactively championing the cause of climate change. Our President and many local and international entities have been doing an exemplary job defending Guyana’s Biodiversity footprint, and I intend to lend voice and ambition to this cause. This platform will allow me to be seated in rooms with people positioned with the requisite resources, funding, and knowledge to influence a greener society for all to enjoy,” she said.
Recently, her team collaborated with the Ministry of Agriculture and NAREI, which made the launch of her platform’s ‘Farm to Table’ project possible. Through this collaboration, she was able to distribute seedlings at the recently concluded Miss Guyana Culture Queen Pageant. Those seedlings will aid Guyanese in cultivating healthier kitchen gardens to sustain their families.
King and her team have also embarked on planting 1,000 seeds before the end of 2024. The Agriculture Ministry has already made a sizable donation of fruits and vegetable seeds that will see her dream realised in record time.
“Pageants are revolutionary because they are a platform that gives voice to the voiceless, and one that allows us to advocate for positive changes. Beyond general change, it gives women from all walks of life the opportunity to carve a future that is more inclusive and that makes space for all people to shine,” King mentioned.
For Faydeha, if she wins the Miss Universe title, she plans that she and the committee will organise meetings with the government, corporate Guyana, relevant authorities, and her fellow Guyanese to amplify and solidify support for her project. She believes it’s important for us to share a coherent and cohesive message, and an all-hands-on-deck approach is essential to ensuring that Guyana is represented well.
“Delay is never denial. I am a strong believer that dreams have no expiration date; it is truly a matter of stick–to–itiveness, patience, and unwavering belief in yourself. I want to implore you to follow your dreams, and if perhaps you needed an example, my life should serve as a living testimony,” is King’s advice to young women.