Melissa Payne… a model, dancer, teacher and humanitarian

Melissa Natasha Payne is a young woman with an extraordinary love for life and charitable causes. Her repertoire of talents also includes fashion design, a skill taught by her seamstress mother, but, the renowned model’s ultimate passion is in her footwork (dancing).

“I could not live without it,” she told Guyana Times International. It also seems that the industry would not be as lively without her. Payne has won dance shows throughout Guyana and has been touring the Caribbean and the United States with The Classique dancers.
Despite her love for dance, it was modelling that brought her popularity in Guyana and gave her a louder voice to sound her beliefs, and the importance of charity.
With her image plastered across billboards and various magazines, Payne is arguably the most popular and recognised model in Guyana. She is surprisingly humble, focused and insightful about the complexities of the industry.
The 5’ 10’’ model, who received her education at the New Campbellville Secondary, the Critchlow Labour College and the Carnegie School of Home Economics, has also graced catwalks in the U.S., Mexico, South America and the Caribbean.
Balancing her dream, while making a living, Payne ensures she has a safety net. A lesson learned from one of her role models, supermodel Iman.
“I love Iman” admits Payne, who was inspired by her position that her agency must pay for her education.
“I always encourage young people to stay focused and know the importance of education, Plan B, as she calls it.” Melissa’s personal drive and ambition does not override her sense of community and collective responsibility, a quality that has been instilled in her by her mother, who cares for the less fortunate.
This humility has guided her in creating Beacon of Hope (bringing smiles to tomorrow’s children), a charitable organisation aimed at helping underprivileged children.
Payne has also been involved in a number of charitable organisations. She expresses her feeling that everyone needs love, support and a helping hand to lighten the load of life’s hardship.
The model is also a domestic violence, child cancer, diabetes, healthy living and HIV advocate.
“I believe every child has the right to a safe and a loving home with a standard education, food, clothing, medical attention and the absolute right to dream of becoming a successful and respected individual in society. It is a must that we provide a healthy lifestyle for our children, ensuring a sense of belonging,” the model reiterated.
She added that children fall victim to many dangers due to neglect, rejection and false love. She believes that with the right moral standards enforced through communication from parents, guardians, teachers and adults, children can be molded to become responsible and positive leaders.
Payne has a vast knowledge in pageantry. She won the Miss Jaycees Caribbean and soon after became an advocate for the rights of the child, and Habitat For Humanity, an organisation that helps the poor to build low income homes.
After being Crowned Miss Guyana Universe in 2007, she was involved in the task of developing the lives of young people through performing arts and skills training.
In 2008, she won the Community Spirited Award at the Miss Carnival Pageant, while in 2010; she donated a quantity of clothing to the children of the Mexico Hospital.
Payne also worked with the team from International Vision Sounds and the government of Guyana to host a concert for the victims of earthquake that struck Haiti in 2010. In 2011, the beauty ambassador hosted fashion shows for Zen, a child who needed money for brain surgery.
She also teaches dancing at the Sophia Special School, and the children of the Drop-In Centre under the stewardship of Pamela Dillon of Simply Royal.
Payne was also the youngest woman to be honoured and featured for her outstanding contributions to charitable causes on the 2006 First Look Guyana Show.