ROAD TOWN, Tortola – A bevy of beauties from the region will be contesting in the June 28 Miss Caribbean Diva Pageant to be held in Tortola, and among them is the Federation’s Shinika Mercer.
Mercer, who has been living in the British Virgin Islands (BVI) since October 2006, will be representing St. Kitts and Nevis in the pageant which seeks to showcase the talents and beauty of foreign nationals residing in the BVI.
Representatives from nine countries will be competing in the pageant which comprises five segments.
According to Shevone Thomas, Chairperson of the Organising Committee, foreign nationals are sometimes marginalised when they vie for the Miss BVI Pageant and, to remedy this situation, the Miss Caribbean Diva Pageant was introduced to assist in the creation of positive unity among them while marketing their countries.
In an exclusive interview with SKNVibes, Mercer said she was born to Yvette Francis and Albert Mercer 20 years ago in Tortola but was raised in Dieppe Bay, St. Kitts.
She is employed as a Corporate Receptionist at First Caribbean International Bank in Tortola and attends a college on a part-time basis, where she will be majoring in General Business.
Mercer said that she enjoys shopping, meeting new people, travelling, dancing and reading. In response to how she views St. Kitts, Mercer said that she enjoys the people, food and culture as well as the music, especially from the Nu Vybes and Kollision Bands.
“It is a wonderful place to visit and live,” she said. “I always encourage people in the BVI not to give Saint Kitts a bad name because of the crime rate, but to come and see for themselves what makes Saint Kitts stand out from other Caribbean islands. For example, our historical sites, our music festivals, five star hotels and lot of places to go shopping, and a wonderful night life.”
Although Mercer is unable to visit her homeland as often as she would because of her job, she still manages to visit at least twice a year, especially during the National Carnival season.
When asked who in St. Kitts and Nevis is her most admirable icon, she said, “The Prime Minister.”
Her favorite food is Shrimp Pasta and her favorite drink is a Virgin Pinacolada.
In 2003, Mercer was the First Runner-up in the Sandy Point High School Queen Show and she repeated this performance at the Miss Festival De Capisterre in 2006.
