Yadali Thomas-Santos will be representing the Virgin Islands at the 2016 Miss FLOW Caribbean Culture Pageant in Nevis. Photo: Facebook

Thomas-Santos has been receiving much support on Facebook. Photo: Facebook

Following the reveal of the contestants on June 17, 2016 several persons were quick to throw questions at this news site as to what were the criteria that led to her selection considering the fact that there are three queens: Miss BVI Adoria R. Baly, Miss Jr BVI Kiarah Moolnaar and Miss BVI World Sasha O.E. Wintz.

Virgin Islands News Online checked in with Chairperson of the BVI Pageant Committee, Ms Janette N. Brin who said she had no knowledge of how Santos was selected. "Sorry, I'm not aware of the pageant or who from the BVI is participating. It may be something the young lady is doing on her own," Ms Brin said.

It should be noted that it is not the first time the VI (British) is participating in the competition and the promoters out of St Kitts is not required to go through the local pageant committee. As a matter of fact, the territory was represented in 2015 not by a reigning queen at the time. Tacora Morgan of Virgin Gorda had represented.

Thomas-Santos well favoured

Meanwhile, Thomas-Santos is the first runner up of the Miss BVI World 2015-2016 and already her following via social media is showing that she is well favoured to represent the VI on August 1, 2016 in Nevis.

Our local girl was chosen without bias, according to persons close to the pageant who chose not to be named. It was explained that not only reigning queens are given opportunities to represent the territory but runners up as well. "Win or lose, all the girls are automatic ambassadors once they simply participate in one of our local pageants, and I am happy Yadali was given this opportunity because she has been shining since she started participating in local pageants. She has been doing excellently as an ambassador and an advocate on many fronts and I am sure she is who she is today because of the exposures she has been getting. Go Yadali, we know you can do it," said one of Thomas-Santos supporters.

According to face book posting FLOW Miss Caribbean Culture Queen Pageant will showcase twelve dynamic beauties from across the Caribbean.

The pageant as part of its objective to serve as a medium that bridges the gap between the Caribbean islands in the region while creating long lasting friendships has attracted contestants from St. Lucia, Anguilla, Barbados, Antigua, St. Croix (USVI), Dominican Republic, St. Kitts, Trinidad, St. Martin, Dominica, [British] Virgin Islands, and host country Nevis.

This year marks the 11th staging of the Flow Miss Caribbean Culture Queen Pageant.