CHARLESTOWN, Nevis – THE Coastal Air Transport-sponsored Charlestown Primary School teacher, Verna Grante, was last night (Aug. 1) crowned the 2010 Culturama Culture Queen.
The pageant, which had seen six beautiful and intelligent young women vying for the crown, was scheduled for 8:00 p.m. at the Nevis Cultural Complex but got off to a late start due to rain. However, at about 1:00 a.m. the results were announced to the bumper crowd.
Miss Dan Backhoe, Trucking & Redimix Ltd. Deslyn Dore tallied 915 points and was adjudged First Runner-up. She also won the Promotional Speech segment while Second Runner-up Miss Carib Brewery SKN Ltd. Trevecia Adams, with 885 points walked away with the Best Evening Wear award and also the non-judged Miss Photogenic award.,
The other contestants were Miss Congeniality, Miss Island Tires & Hardware Ltd. Mary Wangui Ngunjiri, who won the Miss Congeniality award; Miss Development Bank of St. Kitts & Nevis Te-shell Sutton, and Miss Lime Ulinda Warner.
The 20-year-old Grante, who captured the Best Talent and Interview segments and gained 958 points for her efforts, is aspiring to become a trained teacher. She enjoys dancing, playing netball and listening to good music.
Grante has been a member of HOPE Nevis Incorporated since 2008, where she quickly found her place among other individuals who believe in the greater good of seeing others excel. Her work in this non-profit organisation has helped the group grow in its dynamism and ability to assist others.
This year, the Swimwear segment was excluded from the Culture Queen Pageant and given its own show with different contestants, who are into fashion modelling as oppose to pageantry.
According to the Organising Committee, the 2010 Culturama Culture Queen Pageant was intended to focus more on the cultural aspect.
In a past press release issued by the Chairperson of the Pageant Committee, Nicole Williams-Lawrence, the committee felt that the Culture Queen Pageant is intended for intelligent, culturally aware, poised young ladies seeking a platform for their contribution to the development of Nevis.
“We also believe that in the Culture Queen Pageant physical appearance plays a role in the selection process, but the emphasis will be on awareness of the cultural and current events, community involvement, personality and talent,” she said.
