SVG cops second runner-up title in MCI

A young model and dancer is encouraging young males not to shy away from representing their country in pageants.

Godwin Charles returned to St Vincent and the Grenadines on Friday, after competing in the Mr Caribbean International pageant in Jamaica earlier this month.{{more}}

Despite the Jamaica outing being only his second pageant, the 24-year-old was adjudged Best Talent and walked away with the second runner-up title.

In an interview with SEARCHLIGHT yesterday, Charles expressed how proud he was of his performance, particularly because he was initially intimidated by the other contestants.

“I had never seen the other contestants before until I actually got to Jamaica and when I got there it was a little bit intimidating because the other contestants, they were all big and muscular and I was puny, so to speak. I knew I was a talented guy and I probably would walk away with the talent category, but I was scared with the other categories, including physique and the fitness challenge,” he said.

Despite his fears, Charles was able to place second in the fitness challenge, which included a number of tasks such as pulling a kayak of persons in to shore, lifting weights and running with diving tanks.

“It was things I don’t even do here, because I don’t go to the gym to lift weights. I go to the gym and run on the treadmill and that kind of stuff, so it was new to me. Only lifting I do is when I’m at dancing, I lift the other dancers,” Charles told SEARCHLIGHT.

Having surprised even himself, Charles is happy to have placed third, considering his small stature in comparison to the other men.

“Everybody thought it was just pretty face, put on clothes, walk around half naked, but it’s actually more than that,” he said.

“I want to say to the public that sometimes, there are pageants out there that us males can go and represent our country and that don’t have a negative stigma attached to them. The male populace, they need to open up and go out there. Mr Caribbean International has been going on for a while and they have never had a representative from St Vincent. I actually went out there and did my best, but I’m praying that someone from St Vincent can go next year and do better.”

Charles, who initially had issues regarding sponsorship, took the opportunity to thank a number of entities and persons. Among these was Columbus International Inc, who covered his airfare to attend the show.

“I’m grateful to [Columbus International Inc] for their generosity, Kathy Gunsam of The Trend, Phillip Barnard, Mustique Company Ltd, Guevara Leacock, Simone Williams, Juanita Phillips and the Arabesque Dance Company, friends and well-wishers,” he said.

St Lucia representative Mark Sparks was named Mr Caribbean International 2014 and Jamaican representative Dwayne Walker was first runner-up. Other competitors came from Canada, USA, Guyana and Jamaica.(BK)