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Xaria Penn crowned Miss Universe BVI

- pageant was held @ Eileene L. Parsons Auditorium last night, September 25, 2021
Xaria Penn has been crowned Miss Universe British Virgin Islands 2021 and is poised to represent the Virgin Islands at Miss Universe. Photo: Facebook
Three contestants vied for the crown and it was Miss Xaria Penn, centre, who came out the winner. The other contestants were Lia Claxton, right, and Kasaddi Chalwell. Photo: Facebook
Three contestants vied for the crown and it was Miss Xaria Penn, centre, who came out the winner. The other contestants were Lia Claxton, right, and Kasaddi Chalwell. Photo: Facebook
With former Chairperson of the Virgin Islands Festival and Fairs Committee (VIF&FC) Alicia Hamm refusing to give up the Miss Universe Pageant franchise and denying the Miss BVI Queen the opportunity to represent the VI at Miss Universe as has been the tradition, Hamm staged her own pageant last night, September 25, 2021. Photo: HLSCC/File
With former Chairperson of the Virgin Islands Festival and Fairs Committee (VIF&FC) Alicia Hamm refusing to give up the Miss Universe Pageant franchise and denying the Miss BVI Queen the opportunity to represent the VI at Miss Universe as has been the tradition, Hamm staged her own pageant last night, September 25, 2021. Photo: HLSCC/File
PARAQUITA BAY, Tortola, VI- With former Chairperson of the Virgin Islands Festival and Fairs Committee (VIF&FC) Alicia Hamm refusing to give up the Miss Universe Pageant franchise and denying the Miss BVI Queen the opportunity to represent the VI at Miss Universe as has been the tradition, Hamm staged her own pageant last night, September 25, 2021.

The pageant was ‘secretly’ held at Eileene L. Parsons Auditorium, H. Lavity Stoutt Community College (HLSCC) campus in Paraquita Bay. The media was not informed of the event.

Xaria Penn is Miss Universe BVI

Three contestants vied for the crown and it was Miss Xaria Penn who came out the winner.

In a social media post, the organisors said Xaria Penn was crowned Miss Universe British Virgin Islands 2021 and is poised to represent the Virgin Islands at Miss Universe.

It said Xaria won Best Swimwear, Best Evening Wear and Best Interview.

The other contestants were Lia and Kasaddi Chalwell.

Controversy

There has been controversy surrounding the Miss Universe franchise.

According to reports reaching our newsroom, Miss Hamm was removed as Chairperson of Miss BVI Pageant Committee; however, she did not relinquish the franchise for Miss Universe BVI.

This was confirmed by former Director of Culture Luce D. Hodge-Smith, who spoke to JTV News in her personal capacity on September 25, 2021.

Hodge-Smith said Hamm actually decided on her own that she was going to proceed with being the franchise holder and that would have begun this year when she selected miss Sabree Frett to represent the Territory at Miss Universe some months ago.

She explained that the person representing the Festival and Fairs Committee on the Miss BVI Pageant Committee usually leave everything, including the Miss Universe Pageant franchise when they exit the committee and this has been done in the past with all the former pageant committee chairpersons.

“When they left they turned over everything.”

Hodge-Smith said when the former Chairperson had left Ms Hamm took over the Miss Universe franchise and added that even though the agreement with Miss Universe would not be in the VIF&FC’s name, “it is understood, it is agreed and it has happened over the years, it is traditional, that the Festival Committee would organize the pageant and it has always been the prize or given that Miss BVI would represent the territory at Miss Universe and it has happened over the years.”

Due to the actions of Miss Hamm, the Miss BVI Pageant Queen who will be crowned on October 17, 2021, will not be heading to Miss Universe as has been the tradition for years.

11 Responses to “Xaria Penn crowned Miss Universe BVI”

  • hello? (26/09/2021, 15:02) Like (19) Dislike (9) Reply
    This sounds like pure madness to me. I nam very sorry. Don't mean to insult anyone but ...
  • Could the BVIF&F not simply have paid the franchise fees over the years and put it in their name???? (26/09/2021, 15:17) Like (21) Dislike (3) Reply
    "Hodge-Smith said when the former Chairperson had left Ms Hamm took over the Miss Universe franchise and added that even though the agreement with Miss Universe would not be in the VIF&FC’s name..."

    This, right here, is the crux of the matter. To get the Miss Universe franchise, along with the lease rights to use the official logo and the name, etc., YOU HAVE TO PAY THE FEE. Forget 'tradition', forget 'it's what has always been done'.... WHY IS A GOVERNMENT ORGANISATION DOING THE WRONG THING FOR DONKEY'S YEARS AND BAWLING LIKE TEN TARZAN WHEN THEY GET CALLED OUT ON THEIR ISH????

    Whole committee needs to be audited and investigated now. A tradition of doing the wrong thing for donkey's years doesn't make it suddenly right. And if it is that the committee CAN'T put it in their name or purchase the franchise legitimately (for bad debt or other reasons, like their other 'tradition' of not paying Festival vendors until long after festival), then investigate that ish too. Plenty more in this mortar than the pestle. Let the whistles blow.
  • Ahhhh... (26/09/2021, 15:51) Like (20) Dislike (3) Reply
    She is a very pretty young lady, congratulations Ms Penn
  • hgfhgfrtregf (26/09/2021, 16:04) Like (4) Dislike (4) Reply

    VIRUS

  • WHAT IS GOING ON ? (26/09/2021, 17:40) Like (10) Dislike (1) Reply
    IS THIS OUR CULTURE OR TRADITION OR ANYTHING GOES NOW ? WHO IS IN CHARGE ?
  • ?? (26/09/2021, 19:20) Like (1) Dislike (4) Reply
    All three contestants look alike.
    Thus is shjsness to the max.
  • Lord help the bvi (26/09/2021, 20:05) Like (2) Dislike (1) Reply
    People we are only here on God's earth for a time. So msy live longer than others but when it all boil down if we dont stop the nastiness we are doing remember all we taking with is these things, Love for money, wickedness, selfishness, greediness. We better look to God and stop this amount of fighting for these thing that is taking us straight to hell. Power hungry people. Remember everything has an end one day one day.
  • smh (27/09/2021, 02:12) Like (5) Dislike (1) Reply
    Pageants still around?
  • Supporting women (27/09/2021, 03:14) Like (8) Dislike (4) Reply
    I congratulate you for taking on the mantle Ms Hamm. You have maintained the opportunity for these young women to participate in something meaningful that will also build their confidence. Good that it was kept private because the last thing needed was some political photo op. Good job to all the participants. I hope that you take with you everything you have learned as you go on to achieve greater things. To the winner, Ms Penn, congratulations on your success. May your journey continue to be a successful one.
  • Disservice (27/09/2021, 09:42) Like (14) Dislike (7) Reply
    This petty infighting has done a disservice to the BVI pageants and contestants. No disrespect to the contestants, who are not accountable for the confusion and ineptitude of the organizers, but this is really a sham. Holding such a prestigious pageant between 3 people in secret is not going to be viewed as legitimate or even a true representation of BVI. Looks like they need their own COI


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