Ten countries will compete this year for the prestigious title of Miss Carival 2015 — under the the theme ‘30 years of exquisite pageantry.’

With a prompt 8 p.m. start time, the pageant will be held on Friday, July 3, at ‘Carnival City,’ Victoria Park, and will see stiff competition from beauties {{more}}around the region, as they seek to take over the crown from Miss Carival 2014 Francine Baron, of Dominica.

This year’s contestants are Miss Anguilla Shereena Richardson, Miss Antigua and Barbuda Leanda Norville, Miss Barbados Heidi Barrow, Miss Dominica Odessa Elie, Miss Dominican Republic Lesleybell Troncoso Rijo, Miss Guyana Alicia Bess, Miss St Kitts/Nevis Tishima Browne, Miss St Lucia Crystal Octave, Miss Trinidad and Tobago Afeya Jeffrey, and Miss St Vincent and the Grenadines DeYonte Mayers.

Contestants will appear in four judged categories: Swimwear (25 points), Talent (20 points), Evening Gown (25 points), and Interview (30 points).

The winner of this year’s pageant will walk away with US$4,300; first runner-up, US$1,300; and the second runner-up will receive US$700 from the Carnival Development Corporation. All contestants will receive gifts from business houses in SVG.

ANGUILLA – Shereena Richardson

Age: 24 years old

Occupation: Currently in her senior year at Georgia Southern University in Statesboro, Georgia, where she is reading for a Bachelor of Science degree in Public Health

Interests: debating, singing, literary and fine arts

Awards: Most Outstanding Graduate at secondary school; Best Speaker at Leeward Islands debating competition (2008); National Junior Calypso Monarch (2007 & 2008); National Female Calypso Monarch (2011 & 2012); Senior Calypso Monarch (2012); and Miss Anguilla 2014

ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA – Leanda Ann Norville

Age: 23 years old

Occupation: has her sights set on studying Performing Arts, and one day being able to open her own performing arts school in Antigua and Barbuda.

Interests: Singing, modelling, dancing, acting

Awards: 2nd runner-up in Mr and Miss Sunny Dale Pageant; 2nd runner-up in the Miss Labour Queen Pageant 2013; and 1st runner-up in the Queen of Carnival 2014 pageant

BARBADOS – Heidi Sherisse Barrow

Age: 20 years old

Occupation: second year student of the University of the West Indies, Cave Hill Campus. She is studying Medical Sciences, with the aspiration of becoming a paediatric psychiatrist

Interests: swimming, dancing, reading, creative art, and baking

Awards: six distinctions and three merits in the Royal Academy of Dance ballet exams; in 2008 she represented Barbados at the CARIFTA swim championships in Aruba, and also set a new regional age group record; recipient of a silver medal at the Barbados National Independence Festival for the Creative Arts (NIFCA) 2012; ‘Kolij Queen’ of 2012; 1st runner-up in the Miss Easterval Pageant 2013, Miss Aquaval 2013, and the Digicel Haynes Smith Miss Caribbean Talented Teen Pageant

DOMINICA – Odessa Marah Elie

Age: 20 years old

Occupation: teacher at the Convent High School

Interests: reading, dancing, and debating

Awards: Head Girl in her final year of high school; Miss DSC Mas Jamboree 2013; Top Performer in Computer Science at the Dominica State College 2013 Commencement Ceremony; and Miss Dominica 2015.

DOMINICAN REPUBLIC – Lesleybell Troncoso Rijo

Age: 18 years old

Occupation: Law student at the Catholic University of Santo Domingo, and model at the Gaviotas Isabela School

Interests: dancing, reading, exercising, hanging out with family/friends

Awards: a brown belt in Tae Kwon Do; Miss Christmas Dominican Republic 2014

Age: 25 years old

Occupation: peer educator; ACCA and ABE student — intending to read for her Master’s in Business Management; Administrative Manager at AU Drilling Inc; and Executive Aide at the Australian Honorary Consulate

Interests: dancing, theatre arts, singing

ST KITTS AND NEVIS – Tishima Browne

Age: 20 years old

Occupation: aiming to become a pediatrician

Age: 23 years old

Occupation: Office Administrator at Tyrone’s Wrecker Services and Frontline Trucking Services

Interests: dancing, cheerleading, sports, singing, reading, shopping and watching television

Awards: 2nd runner-up in the St Joseph’s Convent Carnival Princess Pageant; 1st runner-up in the St Lucia National Carnival Queen Pageant 2014

TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO – Afeya Aaneisha Jeffrey

Age: 23 years old

Occupation: past secondary school teacher; currently pursuing a second degree in Physical Therapy at the University of the West Indies, Mona Campus

Interests: dancing, fashion, modelling

ST VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES – De Yonte Azannia Mayers

Age: 19 years old

Occupation: supervisor at the Chill Spot Bar and Grill; intends to pursue a career in Medicine — especially in the area of cancer treatment

Interests: reading, dancing, listening to music and exercising

Awards: Miss SVG 2015