GEORGETOWN: Pageant finalist using ‘Women Empowerment’ platform to help other girls

GEORGETOWN: BIBI Aarifa Sahadeo, a
participant in the Miss/ Mrs/ Miss Teen/ Mr. India Guyana Worldwide Pageant,
says she believes that empowering girls is the key to economic growth,
political stability and social transformation. As such, the 22-year-old mother
of one who was raised at Industry, East Coast Demerara, has chosen ‘Women
Empowerment’ as her platform in the pageant, for which she is a finalist in the
‘Mrs. India Guyana Worldwide’ category.
“Empowering women is essential to the health and social development of
families, communities and countries because when women are living safe,
fulfilled and productive lives, they can reach their full potential,” Sahadeo,
a former student of Cumming’s Lodge Secondary told the Buzz this week.
An official date for this year’s pageant has not yet been set due to the
unstable climate that the Coronavirus Pandemic has created.

Sahadeo,
who is high in praise of the pageant, offered that it creates a unique platform
for women of Indian origin. “I truly admire its rich Indian cultural diversity
because in my eyes, it’s not about just winning a crown or a title but it is so
much more of what you gain throughout the pageant journey,” she said.
Courage, stronger self-esteem, growth, and the bond that sisterhood brings are
just some of the perks of participating in the pageant, “and that’s the best
part of it!”
Sahadeo, who also attended the Government Technical Institute, plans to use her
platform on women empowerment to give those females in need a chance to educate
and train themselves. “I intend to reach out to orphanages, school dropouts,
women in abusive relationships, women in financial crisis, etc. Using my
business, knowledge and talent, I will be able to educate them in fields that
they are comfortable working with.”

The
self-taught cosmetologist/beautician who is the owner of Makeup by Aarifa
(Salon & Spa) is also a graphic designer for the past six years with dreams
and work in progress to create her own brand of make-up and products line.
Growing up, Sahadeo always nurtured an interest in being able to work
independently, as opposed to being bossed around or being subject to a company.
She’s also been able to learn from her mom, Ansuya Anita Bachan, who has been
into cosmetology for the past 15 years.

As an
only child growing up, Sahadeo was quite shy since she was from a Muslim home
where it was just about going from school to lessons and then home. She started
a family at a very young age. As time passed by, and seeing how “phenomenal”
pageantry is, and with the encouragement of her husband Parmanand, she decided
to give it a shot.

Marrying
her first boyfriend from school is a decision that Sahadeo does not regret.
Today, they are parents to four-year-old Tia. “My life was never limited
because I was truly blessed to have a husband with a beautiful soul. I was
given 100 percent of his support in every step that I wanted to take in life
and with his great motivation; I achieved all my little goals. My husband
motivated and guided me in a way that it’s impossible for me to ever give up
and I am beyond grateful to him,” she said. She is also grateful to her
mother-in-law, Hemwattie Mala Sahadeo, for the success she’s achieved so far.