In a dazzling display of culture and talent, the Orealla Village Council successfully hosted its annual Region Six Indigenous Heritage Pageant on Saturday, culminating in the crowning of a new queen in the early hours of Sunday. 19-year-old Shania Peneux of Orealla captured the title after impressing both the judges and the audience with her confident answer during the final question segment.
Top 3 delegates, Shania Peneux( Left), Britney Sarius (Center), and Queeneth Miguel ( Right).
Competing against four other contestants, Peneux stood out for her poise and insight. When asked by the judges about two strategies she would use to boost tourism in her community, her thoughtful and inspiring response earned loud applause from the enthusiastic crowd, propelling her to victory.
The pageant, an integral part of Region Six’s Indigenous Heritage celebrations, featured multiple segments in which the contestants vied for the prestigious crown. The competition included an introductory segment, talent showcase, evening wear, intelligence round, and traditional wear. Each contestant was scored in these categories, and their performance determined who advanced to the final round.
The top three contestants—Shania Peneux, 17-year-old Queeneth Miguel, and 21-year-old Britney Sarius—were revealed in no particular order before advancing to the final question round. It was during this decisive stage that Peneux’s articulate answer helped her emerge as the front-runner.
Once the final scores were tallied, Britney Sarius was named second runner-up and received a cash prize of $125,000. Queeneth Miguel secured the first runner-up position and was awarded $150,000. The night, however, belonged to Shania Peneux, who was crowned Miss Region Six Indigenous Heritage Queen 2024. Along with the coveted title, she took home a cash prize of $200,000 and will go on to represent Region Six at the National Indigenous Heritage Pageant later this month at the National Cultural Centre in Georgetown.
In addition to the main prizes, several special awards were also up for grabs. Britney Sarius, despite placing as second runner-up, swept the additional awards, winning Miss Congeniality, Best Evening Wear, Best Talent, and Best Traditional Wear.
The event was a celebration of Indigenous culture, talent, and beauty, and Shania Peneux’s victory symbolizes not only personal achievement but also the pride of her community. As she prepares to represent Region Six on the national stage, the region rallies behind their new queen, hopeful that she will shine just as brightly in Georgetown later this month.
Miss Region Six Indigenous Heritage Queen 2024 surrounded by the judges.
