BASSETERRE, St. Kitts - It is quite common for controversy to erupt over placements in pageants and other competitions after judges’ would have made their decision.
One recently staged Queen Show that had attracted some negative attention by some patrons is the Sweet Dreams Promotions-organised Mother’s Day Pageant.
The Pageant was held on Saturday (May 25) at Carnival Village and was won by Samantha Rochester.
One individual, who reached out to this media house under condition of anonymity, has made allegations that the promoter of the show was bias and unprofessional and those qualities had affected the outcome of the Pageant.
“I hate it when promoters have malice with other promoters or participants that are involved in show promotion or show, that their keeping and trying any and everything in their power to sabotage that certain individual. And let me go on to say that certain contestants were judged unfairly and a lot of shadiness was going on throughout the entire show. And patrons who were in the crowd would contest to that,” the individual claimed.
The individual further said, “I believe if you are a promoter you have no need to be back and forth between the judges, much less assisting contestants with preparations for the show. That's considered cheating, bias and very unfair!”
In light of these allegations, SKNVibes contacted the promoter, Camech Stevens-Smithen, who conveyed puzzlement as to why there are issues of unfairness in the Pageant, especially with her name being called, seeing that she was only focused on putting on a good show for the public.
“I really don’t see the need for all this controversy. What (that person) is doing is offending my judges’ decision. And the judges’ decision is final. What is done is done…there’s no taking back of anything.
“I think the show was fairly judged and so did everybody else who attended the show. So, I really don’t see what all this controversy is about. I was not a judge. I was the organiser of the show.”
The upset individual also told SKNVibes that “contestants received wrong trophies. Yes it’s true …contestant number five Miss Carol Rouse was awarded Best Swimsuit and was given a Best Photogenic trophy”.
Stevens-Smithen was also asked about this claim.
As explained, “the problem with the trophy” was that at one of the business places there was a mistake in having two trophies for Miss Photogenic Award.
“On Saturday morning I sent one of my committee members to collect and she, not knowing what to pick up, Mr. Warner gave her the stack and she did not have a chance to check and see that there was a duplicate inside the box. So on the night when I was giving out the trophies, I was like Best Swimsuit is not here…it’s actually Miss Photogenic,” Stevens-Smithen explained.
Stevens-Smithen further explained that she had called Rouse and asked that she return the trophy so that the flaw could be corrected.
According to her, Rouse said it was “okay” because she was “fed up”, adding that her chaperone wanted the points from the show.
Stevens-Smith claimed to have told Carol “I don’t have the points. I did not deal with the judges. I would not have the points. The only points I would have is of the winner.”
SKNVibes got an insight of the judges’ review on Rouse, especially with the fact that the individual who spoke was confused as to why Rouse did not place since she had won a segment.
It was relayed that Rouse’s Talent segment clocked some 12 minutes, exceeding the seven minutes allotment. Additionally, it was said that the contestant’s backless gown inappropriately exposed a portion of her buttocks.
Stevens-Smithen was also accused of being “missing in action” after contestants would have tried contacting her days after the Pageant via phone calls and text messages.
Furthermore, the individual had claimed that “contestants would tell you that they were instructed not to come out in any nurse, police, doctor etc. wear for the Business Wear segment because those are not business wear”.
The promoter also dismissed those claims.
The matter was further addressed yesterday afternoon (May 30) on a talk show aired on Sugar City FM.
A confirmed BlackBerry Messenger broadcast was being circulated, which read: “Tune in TODAY for the "Up & Live" show with your girl Dj Sudiepop from 3:15-6:00pm on Sugarcity 90.3Fm or www.Sugarcityfm.com! Where this week’s topic will be very interesting "Bias Promoters" and all that title entails! Also in the studios with me will be participants & chaperons from last weekend’s Miss Mothers Day Pageant, we will be discussing the criteria and the judge’s decision! Please Spread the word! Our Sugarcity 90.3FM lines will be open for your views/opinions!”
