Miss India Worldwide pageant

Surinamese captures crown, local queen could not compete

– U.S. visa denied

Suriname girl crowned Miss India Worldwide

Fareisa Joemmanbaks

British India   Bollywood  Suriname

Suriname is now enjoying international pageant success through one of its beauty ambassadors, 17-year-old Fareisa Joemmanbaks. And from all reports hers was a well deserved win.

However, while many from the neighbouring Republic are celebrating, local queen 21-year-old Ann-Marie Paul is disappointed and waiting for a chance to represent her crown.

The Alexander Village resident and graduate of St Joseph High School was scheduled to represent Guyana at the International Pageant in the United States but was unable to do so.

She explained: “I was ready to represent Guyana but I was denied a visa. My application was made on Tuesday April 3 and they (American Embassy officials) said I don't have enough social ties to Guyana nor the USA and so they denied the visa.”

“The denial in my opinion was not fair as all I wanted to do was represent my country and it was disappointing that the officials did not see it fit to grant even a temporary visa. I wasn't going to do anything illegal.”

She continued, “I would have loved to represent Guyana , but life isn't always fair, so I was only able to hear that Miss Suriname won.”

The Gemini-born Paul boasts vital statistics of 36, 28, and 38.

Guyana 's Coordinator, former Miss India Worldwide Asha Hanif, an International Director was present at the show. She described the visa denial as unfortunate.

However according to Hanif , Guyana was represented at the pageant by a New York-based beauty named only as Anushi. She was to have competed in the Guyana leg but did not make it to Guyana in time.

Anushi did not place in the international pageant as according to Hanif “competition was stiff baby.”

Hanif leaves for Paris on May 10 to be part of a production out of Bollywood then she heads to Spain with the group for other performances.

This was her first attempt at pageantry and she says her friends were the driving force behind her entry.

Meanwhile, Joemmanbaks, a student of tourism from Paramaribo , topped 19 other contestants in Fords, New Jersey to lift the crown. She captured the title ahead of South Africa 's Nadia Vorajee and Sapna Sehravat of Canada , according to the Indo-Asian News Service.

Joemmanbaks' belly dance talent piece may have helped seal the deal for her.

The show is in its 16th year and has been presented annually by New Yorker Dharmatma Saran. Contestants must be of Indian origin, regardless of their place of birth, and should be between 17 and 27 years of age.