14 to contest Miss Carival

by J. Soso-Vincent

Since its inception some 23 years ago, the Miss Carival pageant has grown in leaps and bounds. St. Vincent has always been the host country, which makes the victory all that sweeter whenever SVG wins the top prize. The crown has been kept locally five times – by Donna Young in 1985, Roxanne Israel in 1987, Laferne Fraser in 2002, Shivern Peters in 2003 and, most recently, Casynella Ollivierre in 2005.{{more}} Miss SVG 2008 Ronique Dellimore is determined to make this year the sixth local win, when she competes tonight, July 4th, against a whopping 13 contestants.

The contestants taking part this year are as follows: Kafi Gumbs – Miss Anguilla, Tasheka LaVann – Miss Antigua & Barbuda, Kazherea Rolle – Miss Bahamas, Leilani Stevens – Miss British Virgin Islands, Marah Walter – Miss Dominica, Clary M. Peres Linares – Miss Dominican Republic, Meleesa Payne – Miss Guyana, Monique Prescott – Miss Jamaica, Rosaura Latorre – Miss Puerto Rico, Marice Roberts – Miss St. Kitts & Nevis, Soriah John – Miss St Lucia, Katrina Geetooah – Miss Trinidad & Tobago, Sirenia Cedeno Lopez – Miss Venezuela, and our very own Ronique Dellimore – Miss SVG.

Contestants, as well as Miss Carival 2007 Leandra Lander, began arriving in the island on Tuesday, July 1st and are expected to leave on Saturday, July 5th. Should the winner not be local, she will remain here until July 9th, to appear and officiate at functions over the Carnival season. Their sojourn in SVG will be spent at the Young Island Resorts.

Following a busy schedule of visits to Mas tents, business places, Radio Stations and Government officials, the contestants wrapped up their public appearances with an official motorcade, yesterday around Kingstown.

Guest appearances at the show will include Nikki Crosby, Avenue Dancers, Winston Soso, Dani O and Syl McIntosh, amongst others. The Carnival Development Corporation (CDC) and the Beauty Shows Committee (BSC) are appealing to the public to patronize the pageant and show their support for Miss SVG. Tickets costs $25 and $40 for the reserved stand.