BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – FIVE talented teens from Basseterre High School will be vying for the institution’s coveted Talented Teen title at Carnival Village on Friday, October 30.
The pageant will be held under the theme “Generation Next, Embracing the Virtues” and each contestant will be representing one of the virtues.
The contestants who will be taking centre stage are: Roshanni Hazel, Miss Determination; Rae-Dawn Thomas, Miss Honesty; Kyanna Pinney, Miss Courtesy; Cinnamon Matthew, Miss Excellence; and Yulaiki Santiago, Miss Responsibility.
Pageant Coordinator and teacher at the school Jennifer Belle said that with the exception of last year, the theme has always been used since the pageant was introduced.
She explained that for this year’s pageant, young business and professional women have been visiting the school and speaking to the students on the importance of virtues because they were also inspired to reintroduce the old theme.
The principal, staff and committee members of the pageant believe that in order to become great leaders, the young ladies must be well-rounded and possess the ability to speak effectively.
The contestants will be judged on Promotional Speech, Creative Wear, Performing Talent, Teenage Formal Wear and onstage Interview. They will also participate in a production number.
Belle said that as part of the preparatory phase of the pageant, the contestants had participated in several development sessions including Public Speaking, Modelling Tips, Question and Answer Skills for the Interview segment, and Etiquette.
The contestants will also be engaged in a number of activities to help encourage camaraderie among each other. These activities include a day at the Spa, a night out at Ma Pau and another night out for dinner at a venue not yet named.
On the night of the show, the Calypso Competition will also take place and side acts will include Infamus, Toxic, C-Money and house band Grand Masters.
“We have an interesting group of young ladies representing a wide cross section of the school populace, so it will be a good showcase of talent,” said Belle.
The reigning Miss Basseterre High School, Berriscia Byron, will take her final walk as queen on that night as she prepares to represent St. Kitts and Nevis in the Digicel Haynes Smith Miss Caribbean Talented Teen Pageant during National Carnival in December.
