Candidates' Stories No. 1

Guyana may not ring a bell when it comes to beauty pageant but this South American yet English speaking nation has its own ambitions and goals. Last year Arti Cameron was a hopeful young woman ready to compete at Miss World. But it was a heartbreaking story peppered with a dash of controversy and stirred intently by the media and gossip-mongers. Let's skip the who's to blame chapter. We all know Arti failed to show up in London for Miss World 2011 because she failed to get a visa.

And now here's a young woman sashaying onstage with her shades of red figure hugging gown. It was a festive creation with hues from fuchsia to pink. Arti must be proud to have represented her country, a dream that was taken away from her in 2011. She may not win, she may be a favorite but she is finally here at Miss World. Like in Olympics, it may not be so much about winning but it is more about participating.