Miss St. Kitts-Nevis (seated crowned) won the Miss Caribbean Diva Pageant and is flanked by her runners-up and other contestants in the show. Photo compliments VI Platinum News

ROAD TOWN, Tortola – THE St. Kitts and Nevis representative in the Miss Caribbean Diva Pageant, Shinika Mercer, has captured the prestigious title from a field of nine contestants.

The pageant, which was held at the Briercliff Hall in Tortola, got off to a late start but ended with Mercer not only capturing the title but also walking away with the Miss Congeniality, Miss Intellect, Best Seller of Tickets, Best Diva Wear and Business Wear awards.
According to VI Platinum News, Mercer expressed happiness over her win and assured that she would fulfill her duties.

The online media company noted that Mercer said the competition was tough, but she is happy that she came out the winner after all her hard work.

In the First Runner-up position was Miss Grenada Arianna McQuilkin, who also copped Best Ambassadorial Speech, Miss Popularity and Second Best seller of Tickets, while the Second Runner-up position went to Miss BVI Andrea Howe who also won the Miss Poised award.

Miss Dominican Republic, Darys Smith, who secured the Third Runner-up spot, also won the Best Evening Wear award, while Miss Trinidad and Tobago Mickisha Gould-Foster copped the Fourth Runner-up position and the Third Best Seller of Tickets award.

The crowning was done by the first Miss Caribbean Diva, Krystal Maduro, who reigned for the past three years.

Rashidi Clenance was the host for the evening while the Judges were Nadia Harrigan, Purnel Thomas, Dionne Mitchelle, Xavier Pemberton and Karia Christopher.

There were special appearances made by Miss BVI and Miss Teen Diva contestants.

The pageant was first held in 2006, but because of financial difficulties the event was not staged in 2007 and 2008.

Shevone Thomas, organiser of the Miss Caribbean Diva Pageant, explained that the sole purpose of the event was to showcase the creativity of young women who are sometimes marginalised because of their nationality.

“Being in the BVI, we’re very diverse in culture, and some of the young ladies are unable to vie for the Miss BVI Pageant without being marginalised because they are not from here,” she said. “So, the show is to also create a positive unity and to market the different countries. It’s about fashion, culture and creative style.”

The theme of the pageant was “The positive passion you see, reflects the true Caribbean Diva in Me”.

The contestants were drawn from the Dominican Republic, Trinidad and Tobago, British Virgin Islands, St. Lucia, Grenada, Haiti, Dominica, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and St. Kitts and Nevis.