The much-anticipated Independence Pageant unfolded at the National Cultural Centre on Sunday, February 19 and the event saw 10 young women competing for the coveted title. This year contestants included Candy Albert; (Miss Canaries), Tracy Nicholas; (Choiseul), Tricia Edwards (Gros Islet), Sherwinner Eleuthere; (Babonneau), Armani Mathurin; (Vieux Fort), Linette Rammeau; (Dennery), Hannah Glasgow; (Micoud), Michelle St Clair ;(Castries), Sadie Descartes; (Mon Repos) and Nathalia Auguste; (Rodney Bay).
According to organizers the show was not only focused on glamour and excitement, but about sharing information and celebrating St Lucia. Pageant organizer Gregory Lorde felt the overall attendance for the afternoon affair left much to be desired.
“As anything else, most of the Independence activities were not well attended,” he expressed. “Not even the Flag Raising Ceremony. That seems to be the nature of St Lucians and there is still work to be done to foster the development of national pride.”
On the upside Lorde says the show has received positive reviews from attendees. The organizer was pleased to report that participants truly embraced the event’s theme: ‘Esprit de Corps: Developing National Pride for Independence 2012’, in that they produced talents based on love for various aspect of their home country.
“I was totally impressed with the performances,” he said. “None of the girls made any mistakes in their speeches or talent. The promotional speech is the most intellectual part of the show where contestants really have the chance to speak their mind and let their intelligence and personality shine though.”
Third runner up was Tricia Edward, Miss Gros Islet, who’s talent was a Calypso entitled “Proud to be St Lucian. Tricia’s talent earned her the Best Talent award. Second runner-up was Michelle St Clair, Miss Castries, sponsored by Bay Walk Mall. Sadie Descartes, Miss Mon Repos was first runner up and the pageant winner was Sherwinner Eleuthere, Miss Babonneau (sponsored by Choice TV) who also won prizes for Best Introduction, Best Evening Wear and Miss Photogenic. Sherwinner’s promotional speech was based on development and the contestant highlighted a range of issues her island faced and in the end she urged St Lucians to unite for the greater good.
Of Sherwinner’s win pageant organizer LordE had this to say: “Sherwinner’s talent was very interesting. Sherwinner is dynamite; she’s a great performer and she shines on stage. All the girls are beautiful but you can see a different light in her. Hers was about appreciating St Lucian music and she spoke of the way St Lucians tend to gravitate toward Jamaican music. It was a tough competition. All of the girls were prepared; we don’t just do a lackluster pageant. We equip the contestants with the necessary skills and make sure they understand the concept of the show.”
Other awards included Best Promotional Speech, won by Armani Mathurin, Miss Vieux Fort, Miss Congeniality (Linette Rammeau, Miss Dennery) and the Executive Queen title, a prize given to the contestant who overall portrayed the message and image of the pageant within their performance. That award went to Michelle St Clair.
“Government played its part and assisted us with the show,” Lorde told the STAR. “I want to thank Darryl Montroupe from the prime minister’s office in particular. He was the reason the show came through and without him I don’t think there would have been a pageant this year. Thanks a million. I’d also like to thank Commerce Minister Emma Hippolyte for her support. She attended our dinner with the contestants, was at the show and was there with us wholeheartedly. I want to thank Health Minister Alvina Reynolds for embracing Sherwinner at the Babonneau Sports Meet on Independence Day where the crowd gave her a standing ovation.”
“I’m hoping next year it will be a better show; we realize what needs to be done to make it better,” Lorde continued. “This show is building momentum and we’ve already started putting things in place for next year’s event. I want to make the Miss Independence pageant the biggest and best in St Lucia—the show to set the standard for other shows, a top class event.”
Pageant winner Sherwinner Eleuthere will set off to represent St Lucia at her first regional pageant (Queen of the Caribbean) in the British Virgin Islands in May.
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