BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – AFTER 12 long years of being overshadowed, the twin-island Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis is beaming with pride and excitement as National Carnival Queen Iantavian Queeley was this morning (July 2) crowned the 2011/2012 Carival Caribbean Queen.
The prestigious First Citizens Miss Carival Pageant was held last night at the Victorias Park in St. Vincent and featured 10 intelligent and beautiful young women from St. Lucia, Anguilla, Trinidad and Tobago, Dominica, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Dominica Republic, Venezuela, Jamaica, Barbados and St. Kitts and Nevis.
Information reaching SKNVibes states that Queely was praised for her professionalism and obvious preparedness and was described by commentators as simply “head and heels” over the competition.
She walked away with the awards for Best Swimsuit, Best Talent, Best Evening Wear and Miss Photogenic and was followed by Miss St. Vincent and the Grenadines Aviar Charles and Miss Anguilla Shella Rogers respectively.
Rogers also won the Best Interview segment while Miss Barbados Brittney Worrell was adjudged Miss Congeniality.
This pageant has been a historical one for Queeley and the nation as a representative from the Federation had not won the event since Kamara Louisy in 1999.
St. Kitts and Nevis now joins St. Vincent and the Grenadines with six wins since the pageant was introduced in 1985.
The Federation’s first winner was Haley Cassius in 1988 and she was followed by fellow Kittitians Janetta Maloney in 1992, Anjonette Poujade in 1994, Gloria Esdaille in 1997 and Nevisian Kamara Lousy in 1999.
Queeley was chaperoned by Ozelle Martin of Glittering Reign Pageant Coaching and Consulting, who also coached her in the 2010/2011 National Carnival Pageant.
The contestants participated in a number of activities while in St. Vincent to ensure that the public had an opportunity to interact with them.
Among the activities were visits to media houses, business institutions and to government officials including the Prime Minister of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Dr. the Hon. Ralph Gonsalves and members of his Cabinet.
The show was hosted by MC E.B. John and Maurice Horne and was a part of the 2011 Vincy Mas celebrations.
As usual, the 2010-2011 Queen, Iva Satney of St. Lucia, made her final walk shortly before the crowning of Queeley.
Last year, St. Kitts-Nevis Sudeakka Francis was adjudged First Runner-up at the pageant.
Queeley is scheduled to participate in the Jaycees Caribbean Queen Pageant slated for Antigua on Friday, July 29.
