With no less than Iris Mittenaere in attendance, Rafieya Husain was crowned as Guyana’s representative at the Miss Universe 2017. Rafieya is famously known for ending the decades-long drought of Guyana at Miss World when she made it to the Top 11 in 2014.
Born in Guyana and spent much of her young life in the country, Rafieya Husain later moved to the United States where she pursued her higher education. She joined in the Miss Universe Guyana 2016 pageant but failed to win the title. Perhaps inspired by Miss Universe 2015 Pia Wurtzbach’s 4-time attempt, Rafieya tried her luck again this year. This time around, the 25 year old beauty prevailed.
The Miss Universe 2017 pageant is scheduled to be held on November 26 but there is no official announcement yet about the host city. There are rumors though that it will be in Phoenix, Arizona after the attempt to have it in Hawaii failed.
No Guyanese beauty queen has ever made it to the semis at Miss Universe. There were high hopes though back in 2012 when Ruqayyah Boyer made an indelible impression when she fell down during the gown prelims, ala-Miriam Quiambao. Still, Ruqqayah’s courage was not even enough to penetrate the semis.
