The lights were bright. The anticipation was electric. And as the names were called on the final night of the Miss Den Amstel Pageant, Kayla Shelly-Ann Lanferman stood poised, composed and ready to hear her fate.
When her name was announced as First Runner-Up, the moment brought a rush of emotion.
It was not the crown she had dreamed of wearing, but it was a moment that represented something far greater: months of preparation, sacrifice, courage, personal growth and the determination to keep showing up, even when doubt tried to creep in.
“I was proud of myself because I knew how much work, dedication, and growth went into the journey,” Kayla reflects.
And perhaps that is the best way to understand Kayla’s pageant experience. For this young woman, the journey was never solely about winning.
It was about becoming.
A Queen in the Making
With a passion for personal growth, community and service, Kayla entered the pageant carrying ambitions that extended far beyond the stage.
Her heart is drawn to the medical field, particularly nursing, where she hopes to build a career dedicated to helping others. But there is another side to Kayla, the creative, expressive young woman who finds joy in dancing, painting and using her talents to express herself.
The pageant brought these different parts of her personality together.
It challenged her to speak with confidence, embrace her individuality and discover the strength that existed within her all along.
“The pageant taught me that I am more capable and resilient than I sometimes give myself credit for,” she says.
That realisation became one of the most valuable prizes she took home.
When Preparation Meets the Spotlight:
Behind every polished pageant appearance are hours of preparation, rehearsals, nerves and sacrifice. For Kayla, balancing the demands of pageant preparation with everything else happening in her life proved to be one of the biggest challenges.
There were moments when exhaustion and nervousness threatened to take over, but she kept going.
She learned discipline and effective time management. And most importantly, she learned that perseverance often means continuing even when the journey becomes uncomfortable.
Then came the moment she had been preparing for, the stage.
“One of my most memorable moments was stepping onto the stage and realizing how far I had come,” she recalls.
In that instant, the rehearsals, preparation and long hours seemed to come together.
It was no longer about perfecting a routine or preparing for a competition. It was about looking at herself and realizing: I made it this far.
Authenticity Was Her Crown:
In a world where pageantry can sometimes be associated with glamour, gowns and competition, Kayla wanted her experience to stand for something deeper.
She wanted to be authentic.
“I did not want to simply compete; I wanted to genuinely connect with the meaning behind the pageant and use my voice to represent something bigger than myself,” she explains.
That “something bigger” includes her passion for African heritage, young people and personal development.
For Kayla, representation matters.
She believes young people, particularly young women, should be reminded that their circumstances do not have to define their future.
Her message is one possibility: your background may shape your story, but it does not have to determine how your story ends.
She hopes to continue using her voice to encourage young people to embrace their identities, understand their heritage, pursue education, build confidence and become actively involved in their communities.
Beauty with a Mission:
For Kayla, confidence is not about believing you are flawless.
It is about having the courage to stand in front of the world without apologizing for who you are.
“Confidence is not about believing you are perfect; it is about being comfortable enough to stand in front of others and own who you are.”
That lesson may be one of the most significant things the pageant gave her.
The young woman who entered the competition walked onto the stage with expectations.
The young woman who walked away as First Runner-Up left with something more powerful, a deeper belief in herself.
From Competition to Sisterhood:
While the pageant was a competition, Kayla discovered that it was also an opportunity to build meaningful relationships.
Getting to know the other contestants reminded her that every woman had her own story, strengths, dreams and reasons for being there.
Rather than seeing only competitors, Kayla saw young women who were also navigating their own journeys.
The experience taught her that a competition can create something unexpected: sisterhood.
Friendships, encouragement and shared experiences became part of the memories she will carry with her long after the lights of the pageant stage have dimmed.
A Future in Nursing and a Life of Service:
The sash may be a reminder of her pageant achievement, but Kayla’s ambitions reach far beyond pageantry.
One of her biggest goals is to pursue a career in nursing.
She hopes to continue her education, grow professionally and ultimately make a meaningful difference in the lives of the people she encounters.
Her aspirations also extend to youth empowerment.
She wants young people to recognize their potential, understand the value of their identity and have the courage to dream beyond their circumstances.
Her vision is simple but powerful: education, confidence and opportunity can help young people create better futures.
Her Message to the Next Girl:
For the young woman sitting somewhere in Guyana wondering whether she is ready to step outside her comfort zone, Kayla has a message.
Believe in yourself.
Prepare yourself.
Stay true to who you are.
And do not be afraid to take the leap.
“Remember that the experience is about more than winning a crown. It is about growth, confidence, and discovering what you are capable of.”
Those words perhaps capture Kayla’s journey better than any title ever could.
Because on pageant night, she may not have heard her name called as the winner.
But she gained something that cannot be measured by a crown, sash or trophy.
She gained confidence.
She gained purpose.
She found her voice.
And she discovered a stronger version of herself.
The Journey Continues:
Kayla acknowledges her support system, the people who stood beside her throughout the journey, those who encouraged her, believed in her and reminded her to keep going during moments of self-doubt.
Their support became part of her story.
Now, as she looks ahead, she carries the lessons of the Miss Den Amstel Pageant with her.
The First Runner-Up title is certainly an achievement, but for Kayla, it represents only one chapter in a much bigger story.
A story that includes nursing.
A story that includes youth empowerment.
A story rooted in identity, heritage, education and service.
And above all, a story about a young Guyanese woman discovering that sometimes the most beautiful thing you can take home from a pageant isn’t the crown. It’s the woman you become along the way.
