SAINT Lucia 2016 Carnival Queen Tyler Theophane will be representing Saint Lucia at the Miss World Contest in San Juan, Puerto Rico on December 16, 2021.
She was announced winner of the auditions that took place at Sandals Halcyon last Sunday May 22,2021 to select someone to represent Saint Lucia at the contest.
Theophane was first announced as the second place winner however her designation changed when auditors of the contest, CTA Solutions, reported that a system error resulted in the complete scores from the talent segment not being fully tabulated in the auditors master spread-sheet, which was used to compile the total scores for each segment as well as the total scores for each contestant and their placing in the auditions.
The Events Company of St. Lucia Inc. acquired the Exclusive and Official Licence for Miss World 2021 international pageant on April 29, 2021. The basis for this acquisition was predicated on a need to:
• Create a wider scope of opportunity for participants/contestants.
• Inspire each contestant to achieve their personal best in all areas of endeavor.
• Empower the young women of Saint Lucia to attain the highest results possible in the world of pageantry.
• Elevate the brand of Miss Saint Lucia and by extension the Saint Lucia destination brand and product.
• Add greater value and brand equity to Saint Lucia’s pageant product and in so doing elevate the brand positioning for all associated stakeholders to include sponsors and partners.
• Create a diverse international network of event industry partners to create opportunities for the development and exchange of skills through association with world-class events such as Miss World.
• To optimize the country’s visibility in an international forum to promote the culture and tourism product of Saint Lucia.
In preparation for this exciting undertaking, Events Company of Saint Lucia proceeded to put wheels in motion to identify a candidate to represent Saint Lucia at the Miss World Contest to meet its obligations to Miss World Limited and to optimize the Miss World 2021 franchise for the benefit of Saint Lucia.
The call for auditions is customarily done as a national campaign, inviting eligible young ladies from across the island to enter and participate in open competition at a designated central point. The staging of this event typically attracts large numbers of entrants, supporters as well as the media.
However, in 2021 with the current COVID-19 protocols which prohibit mass crowd gatherings, as well as promote social distancing, the method for auditions and selection of a participant for Miss World 2021 was modified to ensure that there was no breach of these mandatory requirements by the Ministry of Health.
The approach, therefore, was a direct call to former pageant winners, 1st Runners Up and Carnival Queens of the last four pageants to include 2016, 2017, 2018, and 2019 to participate in closed/private auditions on Sunday, May 23, 2021 at the Sandals Halcyon Mirage Lounge.
Selecting a representative who is “pageant ready” or has pageant experience was also critical to this process especially given the caliber of the Miss World Contest and the short planning cycle of six months to the Miss World Contest scheduled for December 16, 2021, in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
The following is a list of the participants who auditioned for the title of Miss Saint Lucia World 2021:
• 2019 Carnival Queen – Miss Wenia Verneuil
• 2018 Carnival Queen – Miss Earlyca Frederick
• 2017 Carnival Queen – Miss Chancy Fontenelle
• 2017 1st Runner Up – Claire-Marissa Smartt
• 2016 Carnival Queen – Miss Tyler Theophane
The Miss Saint Lucia World Auditions for 2021 was held at the Sandals Halcyon Mirage on Sunday, May 23, 2021, at 2 PM. Present were the participants accompanied by their assistants. Also present to witness the proceedings were members of the board of the Events Company of Saint Lucia Inc. and partners with Events Saint Lucia in this initiative namely: Invest Saint Lucia, Export Saint Lucia, Cultural Development Foundation, and Citizenship by Investment Saint Lucia. The Saint Lucia Tourism Authority is also a partner with Events Saint Lucia and is responsible for rolling out a regional and international campaign to promote Saint Lucia’s participation in the Miss World Contest.
Judges for the auditions were: Mrs. Raymona Henry-Wynne Executive Director of CDF, Ms. Sunita Daniel CEO of Export Saint Lucia, Mr. Jahn Sifflet member of the ECSL Board, Mrs. Siobahn James-Alexander CEO of the Millennium Heights Medical Complex and Head Judge Mrs. Lydia Theobalds retired Banker and Miss Carnival Queen 1981.
The participants were judged in the following categories of competition each with allocated percentages accordingly: Introduction 5%, Swimwear 10%, Talent 30%, Beauty with A Purpose Video 15%, Evening Gown 15%, and Interview 25%. The final scores were:
• Fifth Place: Miss Claire-Marrissa Smartt with 374.7 points
• Fourth place: Miss Wenia Verneuil with 376.55 points
• Third Place: Miss Chancy Fontenelle with 382.7 points
• Second Place: Miss Earlyca Frederick with 392.1 points
• First Place: Miss Tyler Theophane with 405.1 points
Events Company of Saint Lucia Inc. would like to thank all the participants who took part in the Miss Saint Lucia World 2021 Audition and to congratulate the National Winner Miss Tyler Theophane.
“We were in awe of all of the participants and the level at which they presented themselves. We have a deep appreciation for the seriousness and respect with which the art of pageantry is carried out in Saint Lucia,” Mrs. Lorraine Sidonie, CEO of Events Company of Saint Lucia noted. She went on to add that more value, to not just the lives of those who participated, but to all who, in one way or another lend their skills and expertise to this art form and who have contributed to its success in Saint Lucia, is being derived because of the collective efforts of those who contribute to this art form.
CEO, L. Sidonie added, “We also feel disheartened about the situation surrounding Miss Earlyca Frederick who was announced as the National Winner at the close of Sunday’s auditions, a placement which was subsequently retracted when Events Saint Lucia was advised by the auditors of the contest, CTA Solutions, that a system error resulted in the complete scores from the talent segment, not being fully tabulated in the auditors master spread-sheet, which was used to compile the total scores for each segment as well as the total scores for each contestant and their placing in the auditions.”
CTA Solutions has since issued a written public apology to the participants and Events Saint Lucia for this mistake and has provided full disclosure in this matter. “We are deeply sorry for the distress that this has caused Miss Frederick and by extension her family and well-wishers. We remain available to her and her family as they reconcile the outcome,” the CEO concluded.
A public introduction of the National Winner, Miss Saint Lucia World 2021 Miss Tyler Theophane is planned for June 1st, 2021 at a time and place to be advised. Miss Saint Lucia World will be fully engaged in a six-month training and development program to prepare her to compete at the Miss World Contest in San Juan, Puerto Rico on December 16, 2021.