Keithryll Miller takes crown back to her Alma Mater

Keithryll Miller only began preparations to take part in the 2015 Scotiabank National Secondary Schools’ Miss Heritage Pageant four weeks ago, but that did not have a negative effect on her performance and as a result, the Girls’ High School (GHS) student has taken the crown back to her Alma Mater.{{more}}

Miller, who is from Belvedere and a form five science student at the GHS, eased away with the Miss Heritage title in the wee hours of Sunday, November 1 at the Victoria Park, after the judges’ score cards determined she was the best.

Miller, who is the daughter of Cheryl Bacchus and former police commissioner Keith Miller, apart from being crowned by Miss Heritage 2013 Latifah Noel (also from the GHS), also came out of the pageant with the sashes for best interview and best ambassadorial speech.

She also won the Digicel viewers’ choice photo contest and placed second in the promotional DVD aspect of the competition.

After winning, an emotional Miller said that she was overwhelmed by what she had accomplished.

“…it is indeed hard work that brought me to success. Having entered the pageant at a very late stage, I was very nervous and I thought that I would not be able to pull through, but I prayed a lot and I had the support of my friends and my family and I did it,” said the petite lass after being crowned.

She thanked Shevrelle ‘Candy Man’ McMillan for writing her winning ambassadorial speech, her mother for giving permission to enter the pageant, “and my dear Aunty Karen and everyone else who helped me. My team, Miss King, everybody else.”

Miller was chosen to take part in the 2015 pageant after Keneshia Llewellyn, the original contestant fielded by the GHS, was blocked from participating. Miller, the first runner-up in the school’s internal pageant, was chosen to be Llewellyn’s replacement.

“I thank God for giving me a second chance because I always wanted to be on this big stage for Miss Heritage,” said Miller, who has plans to enter the Miss St Vincent and the Grenadines pageant in the future.

Coming in second in the keenly contested pageant was Rondine Browne of the St Joseph’s Convent Kingstown. Browne also won the cultural wear segment of the competition.

“I felt that I could have been in that chair and not Keithryll, but I guess that she got a couple points higher and I did my best and I know that I have done my best and I worked really hard, but I was expecting to get the crown and not first runner-up”, said the SJCK representative.

In third place was the best talent winner, Ulrica Gaymes from the Central Leeward Secondary School. Gaymes sang three songs during her talent presentation. She said that she knew from the start that her talent was her strong point, so she went into the show feeling confident.

“My talent was my strong point. I know I could sing,” stressed Gaymes, who performed ‘I Rise’, ‘August Town’ and ‘Smile for me, Jamaica’.

She added, “I am very proud of myself because I placed and I knew that I could have been in that chair, but that’s not how it is. Thanks to everybody who helped me and I am proud because I placed and I made my mother proud and everybody proud.”

Fourth place went to Jo-Anne Andrews of the St Joseph’s Convent Marriaqua. She also won the best promotional DVD aspect of the competition.

“I feel relieved to know that it is over and all the hard work is gone and its time to get back to my school work. I think that I could have done better, especially for the talent because there was a mistake in the talent and of course, I could have answered the interview questions better,” Andrews told SEARCHLIGHT after the show.

The pageant, which had nine contestants, saw Gabricia Yorke from the Bishop’s College Kingstown placing third in the promotional DVD aspect of competition and Azinza Browne from the Dr JP Eustace Memorial Secondary School given the Miss Congeniality award. Jakida Olliverre of the Bequia Community High School received an award for being the most disciplined contestant.

The other contestants in the keenly contested pageant were Terrece John from the Intermediate High School and Julia Lewis from the St Clair Dacon Secondary School.

The theme of the pageant was “Our Colloquial Legacy – Parlay Palang in Vincy Twang”. It was organized by the National Heritage Organization.

The event saw guest performances from local pannist Rodney Small, the Quilt Performing Arts Company out of Jamaica and the reigning Miss Caribbean Talented Teen, Miss St Maarten D’Shnay York.(LC)