Aphesha Matthews says she is ready for Miss Carival

With a seven pageants and two titles to her credit, the newly crowned Miss St Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) is geared and ready to take on her next challenge – Miss CARIVAL.{{more}}

“I am ready for Miss Carival,” a tired but confident Aphesha Matthews proclaimed just minutes after being crowned at the Victoria Park on Saturday night.

“With a few more weeks of training, everything will be in place.”

As the new queen was swarmed by family members, friends and well wishers backstage, she expressed her confidence that she will make a greater impact when she next appears on stage during the Friday July 2 regional competition, which will feature contestants from several other Caribbean countries.

Speaking of her winning performances last Saturday, the 18-year-old Victoria Village resident said that she was confident throughout the show that she was going top come out on top.

In a previous interview, she had predicted that she would excel in especially the talent and interview segments – and she did just that.

“I was not surprised at all. I worked really hard for it. I actually did my best tonight,” Matthews said.

The 2008 Miss Diamond queen thanked her sponsors Rent and Drive, her chaperone, Efay Dennie, and all those who came out to support her and in some way made her win possible.

Matthews promised that she would do her best to make her country proud during and after her reign as Miss SVG 2010.

“Vincentians can expect nothing but the best from me. I will do everything that I can to be a positive ambassador for St. Vincent and the Grenadines.”

Meanwhile, head of the Beauty Shows Committee, Cheryl Rodriguez, said that the committee is more than satisfied with the way the show went on Saturday night.

As the first major event since the launch of Vincy Mas on May 8, Rodriguez said that the event could be an indication of what is to come for the rest of the season.

“Except for a few hiccups, everything went really well,” Rodriguez indicated after the show.

“The girls were prepared. They were ready for the stage and they did their best as was expected.”

She said that she believes that Matthews ‘stands a good chance’ in the upcoming Miss Carival Pageant.

“I think she is a good candidate.” (JJ)