Aphesha grabs Miss SVG crown

Victoria Park erupted into an almost unanimous cheer of support last weekend when Victoria Village resident Aphesha Matthews was announced as Miss St. Vincent and the Grenadines 2010.{{more}}

For the first in a long time, the majority of the more than 4,000 persons present at the Victoria Park on Saturday night seemed to be in agreement with the judges’ decision about who should wear the crown.

In a show that ran almost like clockwork, Matthews, sponsored by Rent and Drive, stayed ahead of First Runner Up Anna Ellis (Miss LIME), Second Runner Up Kimesha Bailey (Miss D’Archeville Construction and Equipment Services LTD) and Third Runner Up Shannon Murphy (Miss Lotto) and six other contestants to take the top spot along with a university scholarship and other prizes.

18-year-old Matthews dominated in two of the four judged categories of the show. In her talent titled ‘We can save St. Vincent’, she portrayed an ex-gang member whose experiences caused her to change her ways and advise young people to follow suit.

The wheelchair-bound one eyed gangster’s skit was accompanied by a dancehall themed song written by Matthews, which encouraged others to abstain from violence and crime, jealousy, bad mind and greed.

She beat out the performances of Breadfruit Girl Bonnie Allicot (Miss Metrocint General Insurance Company LTD) and pan players Anna Ellis and Jodesia John (Miss Super 6).

Matthews also took top points for best interview during which she indicated that if given the opportunity, she would introduce dancehall style dancing in schools, seeing that she was a dancehall writer and singer, as proven in her talent.

Remaining on the topic of schools, when asked if she would advocate the use of cell phones in schools by students, the former student of the Girls’ High School said that as long as cell phones were kept on vibrate they should be allowed in classrooms, in case parents need to contact their children if there was an emergency.

In the other judged categories, Third Runner Up Murphy gained the judges nod for the Best Swim wear and Ellis’ Kimon Baptiste designed, blue laced evening gown proved to be the best of the lot, according to the judges.

Other winners on the night included Bailey who took the Miss Community Spirited award, and Allicot was chosen by her peers as Miss Congeniality.

The other contestants taking part in one of the better pageants in years, according to patrons, were Joevorne Webb (Miss Caribbean Medical Imaging Centre), Ashelle Morgan (Miss Jergens), Hadia Creese (Miss Hafran Caribe) and Patsy Richards (Miss Agricultural Input Warehouse), whom some felt should have been in the top four.

Patrons of the pageant were treated to a more compact show which ran almost on schedule, and saw performances by the Elite Steel Orchestra, 2010 new song winners, Brother Ebony and Skarpyon, Bomani and ‘Contestant number 12’, Shevrelle ‘Candy Man’ McMillan.

The success of the show can be considered a major boost for the Carnival Development Corporation as they welcome another Carnival season and all that comes with it.

The next event on the CDC’s calendar is Fantastic Friday, slated for June 18. It will feature the calypso semi finals.