BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – THE National Carnival Queen, Iantavian Queeley left the island yesterday (June 27) to travel to St. Vincent for the First Citizens Miss Carival Pageant to be held on Friday (July 1) at Carnival City.
Queeley will compete amongst ten beauties from around the Caribbean. The participating countries are: St. Lucia, Anguilla, Trinidad and Tobago, Dominica, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Dominica Republic, Venezuela, Jamaica and Barbados.
The delegates will compete in four judged segments - Swim Wear, Talent, Evening Wear and Interview but they will also appear onstage in two other segments - Fanfair and the introductory appearance in National Wear.
St. Kitts and Nevis has not won the Miss Carival title since 1997, therefore the onus is on Queeley to end the 14 years hiatus.
A recent press release stated that Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Culture, Sharon Rattan had indicated that Queeley, accompanied by her chaperon Ozelle Martin, would travel to St. Vincent where they would be involved in a number of activities to ensure that the public has an opportunity to interact with the contestants.
The release further stated that the packed agenda includes visits to media houses, business institutions and to government officials including the Honorable Prime Minister of St. Vincent and the Grenadines Dr. Ralph Gonsalves and members of his cabinet.
In a press conference held in St. Vincent last Tuesday (June 21) pageant committee members indicated that 21 countries were sent invitation letters; and they were informed of the committee’s policy of nine first-come-first served overseas contestants will be accepted if they registered by June 1st 2011.
They said plans are well in place and going great for the Caribbean’s premier pageant which will be hosted by MC E.B. John and Maurice Horne.
The pageant is being held as part of the 2011 Vincy Mas celebrations. The reigning queen Iva Satney, hails from St Lucia.
