BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – NOTWITHSTANDING that she won only the National Pride (Costume) segment, Miss Development Bank Kalia Huggins’ overall performance in the Sugar Mas’ 40/40 National Carnival Pageant won her the coveted 2011/2012 Carnival Queen title.
Before hundreds of patrons at the Sugar Mill, Warner Park last evening (Dec. 27), six sensational Sugar City beauties vied for the title making appearances in five judged segments - Swimwear, National Pride, Talent, Evening Wear and Interview.
The luscious beauties were: Huggins, Miss LIME; Markysa O’Loughlin, Miss St. Kitts Music Festival; Jody Carter, Miss National Bank; Desri Weekes, Miss St. Kitts-Nevis National Carnival, Verlyn Williams; and Miss Carib Brewery, Trevicia Adams.
The competition was a close one, with the First Runner-up, Adams, totalling 425 points, fell by a mere 5.5 points behind the queen; while Weekes was adjudged Second Runner-up with 424 points.
The six ladies first appeared onstage with the 2010/2011 National Carnival Queen, Iantavian Queeley, performing their fanfare piece then it was down to business.
Swimsuit was the first judged segment and, according to the judges, Adams, with her light blue and silver one-piece ensemble was the best of the bunch. She amassed a total of 94 points for that segment of the competition.
She also won the Evening Wear segment, sporting an aqua number which fitted her snugly at the top, flaring at the waist area and featuring a train. Using a portion of the train as a veil, the true beauty of the dress was not revealed until moments after she entered the stage and removed the makeshift headpiece.
For this segment, she was awarded 93.5 points.
Huggins’ National Pride Costume was red, orange and green in colour, which signified a beautiful La Poinciana flower and drew the most points - 85 - from the judges.
Weekes, winning the Talent segment with a total of 90 points, portrayed a woman imprisoned for stabbing her husband after he had sexually molested their 10-year-old daughter.
Bedecked in a black and white striped prison uniform, she vowed to exact further revenge after being released from prison. And, as she warned in her calypso, “change you mind ‘cause I’m prepared to do d’ time”.
Carter, who tallied 93.5 points, was declared winner of the Interview Segment.
The Miss Photogenic Award was presented to O’Loughlin, while Carter won the Miss Amity award and the Chairman’s Award went to O’Loughlin and Huggins.
The titles of the Miyvue.com Best Radio Interviewee, Best Television Interviewee and the People’s Choice for both interviews were all won by O’Loughlin.
The National Carnival Queen 2011/2012 was sashed and robed by Queeley and crowned by Prime Minister The Right Honourable Dr. Denzil L. Douglas.
In addition to the crown and two other awards, Huggins has won herself a brand new lime green 2011 Hyundai Accent.
The show was hosted by the lovely producer and hostess of Tempo’s Downtown Island, Jeanille Bonterre, and entertainment was provided by house band The Royalties, Chairperson of the Pageant Committee Nicole Gumbs and her dance partner Rawlston Liburd as well as former National Carnival Queen (1973/74 ) Marguerite Arthurton.
