BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – SEVEN beauties, ranging in age from 20 to 25, will be competing in this year’s Antigua Queen of Carnival Pageant scheduled for Wednesday, July 28.
The contestants, who all hail from various communities in Antigua, are 22-year-old Daina Barnes of St. Pauls, 25-year-old Jamella Isaac of All Saint Village, 20-year-old Shenique Barry of Parham Town, 20-year-old Dorri Benjamin of Belmont, 24-year-old Kerry Shaw of Union Road, 25-year-old Azara Lavia of All Saint Village and 20-year-old Diana Dupie of Falmouth Village.
The contestants will compete in five segments - Best Talent, Best Interview, Best Eveningwear, Best Swimsuit and Best Costume.
Last year, the Best Costume segment was not judged because one of the contestants (Melissa Bird) fell during her appearance.
The outgoing queen is Shelano George, who hails from the Clare Hall community in Antigua. George was 21 when she captured the crown and will be making her final walk on that night. The dreadlocks George also went on to capture the Miss Jaycees crown in the same year.
The winner of the pageant will compete in the 49th annual Miss Jaycees Pageant, which will be held two days after the Queen of Carnival Pageant.
In an online poll posted on www.dadlicarnival.com, the official website of Antigua’s Carnival, the question was asked: “Who will become Queen?” And of the 17 512 votes Shaw gained 7 700.
