UPDATE - Indigenous Sharie deCastro captures Ms BVI crown!! [Gallery Included]
Contestants in last night’s pageant were Lavantha Thompson, Michelle Parsons, Latoya Donovan, Ana Christina John and Sharie deCastro.
The new queen captured the majority of prizes on offer including Miss Congeniality, the People's Choice award, Miss Poised, Best Talent, Best BVI Promotional Speech, Best Personal Interview and Miss Intellect. deCastro won for herself a car, scholarship, trip with the BVI Tourist Board and $5,000 in wardrobe.
First runner-up in the pageant was Anna John, while the second runner-up position went to Michelle Parsons.
The pageant consisted of a total of six segments, namely the Introduction, Swimsuit, Cultural/Historical Costume, Talent, Evening Wear and Question and Answer, where each of the five contestants were assessed by a panel of judges.
The contestants hit their stride instantly in the Introduction segment, each being required to give a good account in informing the judges and audience about their backgrounds and reasons for being in the pageant.
They each followed this emerging in exciting pieces for the swimsuit segment; twirling their way on stage and mesmerizing the crowd. They each wore an orange swimsuit of their own choice; some opting for two pieces while others wore single strapped pieces. They all looked outstanding.
This segment was immediately followed by a heartfelt and accomplished rendition of Adele’s “Someone Like You” by Monique Chapdelaine.
The girls were next required to display costumes depicting their culture/heritage. It was difficult to distinguish which one was better than the other as each one seemed just as beautifully designed as the next. The judges however, had to base their rankings on how best the pieces were presented and had a tough ask in doing so.
Sporting costumes depicting aspects of the VI culture and history, each of the girls strode onstage in dazzling fashion offering backgrounds of the Territory’s historical development and national emblems and how they impacted on life in the VI.
A short break followed and the crowd was entertained by a short dance piece from the JD dance group.
The Talent segment came next for a total of 100 points; here the girls were looking to each separate themselves from the other contestants by putting on elaborate shows that were intended to wow the audience and judges alike.
Thompson emerged with a representation of an interactive Facebook page appealing to audience members about finding their culture and heritage from days of old. She followed this up with a short dance sequence.
Parsons a decided on an interpretive dance, emerging from behind a flag screen for additional dramatic effect.
Donovan opted to begin her piece with a soliloquy while listening to an apparent radio broadcast depicting a crime and its consequences. This was immediately followed by another interpretive dance to a gospel track entitled “I Believe”.
John, at her turn, decided to pull out all the stops in an elaborate display of her versatility in the playing of the steel pan instrument. She came out bedecked in layers of tops designed in the flags of various Caribbean countries playing songs associated with each island.
deCastro did an amazing poetic piece delivered with a great amount of passion and centred around the theme from the Wizard of Oz. “Oz is not our home” she repeatedly said. She followed this up with a display on violin of “Somewhere over the rainbow”. She concluded with another dramatic poetic piece introspectively asking “how much do I make” in a figurative manner with the use of money. She ultimately summed up the change each of us can bring about in society.
The evening wear segment was next to come where contestants each wore shimmering dresses to bedazzling effect.
Lavantha Thompson sported a white bodice bedecked with glimmering stones and an open back. Parsons emerged in a sequined strap gown which she themed purple passion while Latoya Donovan emerged in a form fitting sequined magenta piece reminiscent of bougainvillea flower which she said represented universal harmony. John meanwhile decided on a glittering open backed golden dress she said was inspired by Grecian mythology. deCastro sported a quartz and topaz open backed design described as couture at its best.
Final question separates queen from the rest of the pack
“How do you believe competitions such as the ongoing London Olympics are essential to international relations?” was the question posed by the MCs of the nite, Rachael Pryce and Trefor Grant, to each of the girls vying to take home the crown.
Their varying answers left many an audience member agog and even in stitches, that is, until deCastro came forward.
Displaying an enormous amount of poise and grace, she gave her answer “I believe that it is imperative that we understand that in going to events such as these as well as hosting them, we open a new era and realm of relationships that are built...” ultimately she said, "people will be able to learn more about countries around the world".
The crowd began screaming their approval even before she was able to finish her answer. The choice of queen from thereon seemed a foregone conclusion.
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