Miss World BVI Rikkiya A. R. Brathwaite, centre, seen here with Miss World BVI 2016 Kadia K. Turnbull and presenter of 284 Media, Ms Jovan Wilson, on her return to the Virgin Islands on December 17, 2019. Photo: Provided

22-year-old Miss World BVI, Rikkiya A. R. Brathwaite had advanced to the Miss World Top 40 by winning the Sports Challenge. Photo: Miss World

Miss World BVI Rikkiya A. R. Brathwaite placed second in the Miss World Talent Competition, which was won by Miss Jamaica, Toni-Ann Singh, who went on to be crowned Miss World. Photo: Miss World/Facebook

Brathwaite was greeted by a contingent of family and friends at the Road Town ferry dock on December 17, 2019 and said she was very happy to be back home and “very happy to see my family and love ones out here, adding that she was so tired “I don’t know how I am even speaking right now but I am so very glad to be back home.”

She also related she couldn’t wait to get down on some “home food” and to enjoy Christmas among her Virgin Islands family.

Major accomplishment

The 22-year-old Brathwaite was one of 121 young women the Miss World Organisation and thousands around the world were having an eye on from the get-go of this year’s pageant, owing to her fluency, magical voice, talent and athleticism having won the Sports Challenge.

She gained a spot in the Top 40 but didn’t make it through to the semi-finals, although placing second in the talent competition, which was won by Miss Jamaica, Toni-Ann Singh, who went on to be crowned Miss World on December 14, 2019.

Brathwaite had also placed among the lead singers for the World in Union feature.

Valuable experience

“I am so very tired, I am exhausted but I am so happy to be back home. I am so very happy to accomplish everything that I have,” Brathwaite commented.

Among her cherished accomplishments, Brathwaite said: “Honestly, meeting 120 girls from around the world. I was in a room with the world and I can say if I am to go anywhere in the world right now I know that I have a bed to sleep on. I am friends with each and every single one of them and I know each and every one of them by their name and that’s the most valuable experience.”

Brathwaite said the most memorable of her accomplishments in London was winning the Sports Challenge. “Honestly it was a surprise to me and I think it was a memorable one because that just advanced me to the Top 40 immediately and that was in the first week.”

Advice

In her advice to pageant hopefuls, Brathwaite encouraged them to “Be mentally prepared to come. Know your strengths. Know what you have to take away and be confident in that and carry that through. And know that it’s not about you, it’s about the BVI.”   

Braitwaithe said the continuation of her reign as Miss World BVI 2019-2020 will she her diligently working on her Beauty with a Purpose Project, which is to raise awareness about the performing arts, providing support and networking for persons in the Territory who have a passion for it and a desire to advance in that field as a career.

“I will be going into the schools and talking with the children, letting them know its ok to pursue the arts as a career,” Brathwaite, who recently signed a contract with talent management agency in New York, CLA – Cyd LeVin and  Associates to manage her career in the arts, said.