Mélange Travel & Lifestyle Magazine January 2019 | Page 26

Mikeela shared with Mélange . . .
”
About her background
I was born in Anguilla to
Guyanese parents, who
are two former Guyana
Defense Force officers, and
are now civil servants in the
Government of Anguilla.
About her early pageant
influences. I grew up
Mikeela Skellekie
Miss Anguilla 2018/2019
watching broadcasts of Miss
World and Miss Universe
as a young girl. My parents
always pointed out the
personal achievements of the
contestant rather than their
physical appearance. It sent
a strong message that these
women were excellent role
models who offered more to
the world than just a pretty
face or a stunning physique.
Performing for teen pageants
with the All-ah-Wee Young
Theatre Players brought me
even closer to the pageant
scene in Anguilla. Several
of my fellow members
competed in these events
as well as the Miss Anguilla
Queens Pageant, and we
were always there to show
our support.
My most recent influence
was the illustrious Dee-Ann
Kentish-Rogers and her
historic win at Miss Universe
Great Britain this year. She
encouraged me to enter
Miss Anguilla and it was a
decision I did not regret. Her
determination to do things
that were unheard of in
Anguillian history, influenced
this girl - who grew up a
tomboy - to use pageantry
as a tool to inspire and
encourage others.
About her motivation
to get involved. This
was my very first pageant!
Over the years, I became
so engrossed in academics
that I found myself longing
to become active again
in the performing arts. It
also became very clear to
me that pageantry was
an excellent avenue for
bringing awareness to the
causes closest to my heart.
The Miss Anguilla Queens
Pageant is one of the long-
standing highlights of the
Anguilla Summer Festival, a
season that brings the entire
island, and many of our
neighbors, close together in
a wash of vibrant color and
celebrations of life. I used
this opportunity to present
a platform advocating for
mental health awareness,
and gender equity. It also
allowed me to continue my
involvement in activism,
which was a significant part
of my University career while
living in Canada in the 4 years
leading up to the pageant.
This also presented
opportunities to engage
in lots of self-reflection; to
meet fitness goals that I
procrastinated on; and to get
back into the performing arts.
About her fondest
pageant memories. My
most memorable moment
was modelling my evening
wear. By that segment of
the pageant, it no longer
felt like a pageant, but like I
was a caterpillar becoming a
butterfly. When I saw myself
in videos later, I couldn’t
believe it was me.