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.... Local News

10th July 2012
JANELLE RULES!
Stan Bishop

Twenty-one-year-old Janelle Desir emerged winner of the 2012 National Carnival Queen Pageant held last Saturday evening at the National Cultural Centre.

The Soufriere native, representing Super J IGA, beat out her six competitors to earn the coveted title. Desir, who was consistently superb in all five categories of the competition, also picked up awards for the People’s Choice and Best Performance in Costume.

Miss Cultural Community, Sadia Hippolyte, won second place, winning trophies for Miss Congeniality and Best in Swimwear. Third place went to Miss Colombian Emeralds International, Kershara Williams, while Miss Gros Islet Business Community, Tamica Gaskin, picked up fourth place and the Best Interview trophy.

Miss 1st National Bank, Shena Francis, copped the trophies for Outstanding Talent and Best Performance in Evening Wear. Miss Piton, Sherwinner Eleuthere, won the trophy for Miss Photogenic.

The other contestant on last Saturday’s card was Miss Castries Business Community, Ashlei Alcide.

The seven contestants were adjudged in the Swimwear, Talent, Costume, Evening Wear and Interview segments. Six of the contestants performed dramatic pieces as part of their Talent segment; one did a song. And talented, they were.

Sadia, dressed in the main political party colours of Saint Lucia, played a character looking for a job. Shena’s character lamented the virtual death of Saint Lucia Carnival of late. Janelle played the role of a girl wanting to assume boyish qualities albeit at the expense of her parents’ wrath. Tamica’s character was a former beauty pageant now feeling insecure and unwanted due to the effects brought on by breast cancer.
 
 

Kershara played a woman who has had just about enough from a nosey society intent on judging a book by its cover. Ashlei did a cover of Sam Cooke’s “A Change Is Gonna Come”, changing the lyrics at times to suit the Saint Lucia situation. Sherwinner’s character was a woman who was forced into prostitution at a tender age “due to circumstances.”

As in years past, the interviews proved challenging for the contestants, most of whom fumbled whilst responding to the questions posed by the judges.

Hosted by MC Pringles and Miss Universe 1998, Wendy Fitzwilliam of Trinidad and Tobago, the show seemed to have fallen in favour with the audience, many of whom pointed out that the standard of the pageant has upped a few notches in key areas this year.

As part of her prize, Desir, employed as a front desk agent at Discovery at Marigot Bay, will receive $10,000 in cash and a partial scholarship towards tuition from Monroe College.

Entertainment on the evening came via musical performances from DYP, Teddyson John, Cristal Bailey and Ricky T; spoken word from Headphunk; and dances performed by Silver Shadow Dance Academy, as well as Germaine and Bianca Alexander.

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