On Sunday, just before sunset the high glam affair known as the Carnival Queen show got underway at Samaans Park. The contestants came onstage with fitted suits and donned top hats and black ties for their dance introduction. After a well-executed opening dance to Michael Jackson’s Smooth Criminal, contestants made individual introductions and promised to show the audience the true meaning of carnival beauty.

Swim wear was the first segment and wearing a two-piece was vital. Contestants were judged on their figure, poise, beauty and physical appearance. The identical pink and green sporty bikini was not the most flattering cut on all contestants but out of the eight girls, a confident Miss CES; Iva Satney, curvaceous Miss Super J; Alisha Hunte, toned Leona Sandiford, and a vivacious Velma Soody, stood out.

Talent was up next and Miss Babonneau, Oneka Mckoy was up first. The experienced pan player who has taken part in Panorama started with a short skit on how disappointing it was that there was no real steel pan competition this year then executed her pan piece.

Then came Miss Paint Shop, Lasha William with a talent about being African despite having fair skin, and the 24-year-old had the audience in hysterics, as she danced to songs like Ziwah.
“You’re a womanizer and a liar!” Opening lines to Leona’s dramatic piece where she played the part of a woman getting beaten by her man. Most of the performance was spent crying and screaming leaving the audience begging for her to get to a point that would not come.

Cotney John’s performance was all about—Cotney! The skit started in a hair salon as Miss Fond Doux Plantation found her “true self.”
Iva was valedictorian and after addressing her graduating class; she stripped off her graduation robe and danced to John Legend’s If You’re Out There. A flowy white dress was ideal for precise and practiced moves and for Iva, a senior member of the Silver Shadows Dance Academy; obvious talent won over the audience.

Ras Isley joined Miss HTS and CIE, Patrish Lionel, onstage for her piece entitled Cry of the Civil Servants, while Alisha enticed with her sultry voice, singing Stand Up For Love. Velma paid tribute to African culture with a dance/song combo.
In the costume section, the costume size was reduced dramatically and the usual Queen of the band costumes were absent this year, replaced by more reveler appropriate costumes by 2009 carnival bands.

The contestants dazzled in the evening wear segment, then it was interview time. Judges posed questions like, how to deal with crime in the country, what was next after the pageant and why they’d taken part in the show. Even with simple question, most contestants fumbled through while Iva, Oneka and Alisha pulled through with short but accurate answers.
In the end the Miss Photogenic prize went to Oneka, best swim wear and costume to Velma, best dress designer and interview Leona and best talent, or the Virgie Alexander Trophy, to Iva. Alisha Hunte was the third runner up, Oneka Mckoy second runner up, and Leona Sandiford the first runner up. Iva Satney was crowned St Lucia’s 2009 carnival queen.