By: Antonio Dey | HGP Nightly News |
Miss East Coast Queen 2025, 21-year-old Tatyana Jacobs, is turning her crown into a platform for empowerment, vowing to confront one of Guyana’s persistent social challenges — youth unemployment — beginning in her hometown of Melanie Damishana, East Coast Demerara (ECD), and expanding her efforts nationwide.
The University of Guyana finance major and former Queen’s College student said her initiative will focus on mentorship and career guidance for young people who often struggle to find direction after completing their studies.
“One of the major challenges that affect young people today is a lack of guidance and direction. Some of them are confused as to what to do,” Jacobs told Nightly News.
Jacobs believes that many talented and qualified youths are unaware of the opportunities available to them.
“They have the qualifications, they have the drive, they have the talent — but they don’t know the opportunities that they have available. That is something I advocate for, and that is something I myself experienced,” she explained.
Mentorship Through Experience
Jacobs credits her own success and focus to strong family mentorship, particularly from her aunt Laurieanne, who played a key role in guiding her personal and academic growth.
“My aunt Laurieanne helped guide me, and she came in as someone experienced and was able to tell me what to do. So I’m not frustrated — I know what I want,” she said with gratitude.
Now, the young queen hopes to pass that mentorship forward by helping other youths find confidence and clarity in their ambitions.
“That’s something I want for other youths — that they can confidently take their next step,” Jacobs affirmed.
More Than a Crown
For Jacobs, pageantry is not just about glamour but about purpose and representation. Her passion for advocacy was inspired by other women who used pageantry as a vehicle to champion social issues.
“Seeing other women being a voice for the voiceless motivated me to step forward. This experience has been truly rewarding,” she reflected.
In addition to her social advocacy, Jacobs has a deep love for mathematics, frequently attending math camps at her alma mater. She credits the subject with sharpening her problem-solving and critical-thinking skills — traits she applies to her studies and entrepreneurial dreams.
A Vision for the Future
When she’s not preparing for competitions or mentoring youth, Jacobs enjoys cooking, which she says fuels her creativity. As she looks ahead, she envisions a career as a financial analyst and hopes to explore opportunities in the real estate industry.
The young queen also plans to pursue pageantry at the regional and international level, carrying with her the pride of Melanie Damishana and a mission rooted in empowering Guyanese youth to rise above unemployment through mentorship, awareness, and determination.
