Miss SVG Pageant just one week away

The allure of a one-year university scholarship, attractive prizes, and the opportunity to be the next Miss St. Vincent and the Grenadines are some of the reasons that ten of this country’s ambitious young ladies have braved criticism and embraced the support of friends and family members to appear on stage on May 29, 2010.{{more}}

For the last few months, the women have been preparing for the event in which a combination of passion and brilliance is being promised.

The ten contestants: Bonnie Allicot, Kimesha Bailey, Hadia Creese, Anna Ellis, Jodesia John, Aphesha Matthews, Ashelle Morgan, Shannon Murphy, Patsy Richards and Joverne Webb, met the media for interviews and a photo shoot at the Young Island resort last Saturday.

The contestants confessed that preparing for the pageant is a rigorous and strenuous exercise which they accept, knowing that the proverbial “end justifies the means”.

Best summed up by Miss Lotto Shannon Murphy: “It’s an eye opening experience with its ups and downs, but nothing good comes easy,” she said when asked.

The preparation may come a bit easier for Murphy, who has had some past experience in the world of pageantry, having been a contestant in Miss SVG Teen and Miss St. Joseph’s Convent Kingstown pageants some years ago.

She is joined by four other contestants who have graced stages before.

These include Miss LIME’s Ellis, the current Miss SORESCO and Miss Rural SVG winner, Miss Agricultural Input Warehouse’s Richards, the current Miss P’tani and 1st runner up at Miss Rural SVG, six time contestant Miss Rent and Drive’s Matthews a former Miss Diamonds, Unity Youth and North windward contestant and D’archeVille Construction and Equipment Services Ltd’s Bailey who was a contestant in Miss Heritage Teen and Miss SVG Teen.

The five other first timers are not deterred by their lack of pageantry experience, claiming that they have as good a chance to wear the coveted crown as any other contestant.

“It’s my first, and seeing all that pageantry entails, it’s much harder than it looks… but I am going to go ahead, do my best and try to bring it home,” Morgan said.

With a bit more expected of her than the other contestants is Bailey, who has the task of making it three in a row for her sponsor, D’archeville Construction, which has placed its weight behind the two previous winners: Ronique Dellimore in 2008 and Veronique Williams, who won last year.

Bailey insists that that is not a heavy weight to bear, since she is up for the challenge.

On their way to being crowned Miss SVG, their aim is to captivate the audience during all the appearances that make up the show, and the contestants claim that they will be doing just that.

Some contestants are looking forward to some areas more than others, while others are looking to taking the full package.

“I don’t want to win one segment. I want to win all,” says Richards, who warns patrons not to expect Patsy when she performs her talent, while Webb says that she will be bringing “everything that is expected and more” to the Victoria Park.

While their personalities, expectations, talents and ambitions may vary, the one thing that all the contestants have in common is the dream of being crowned Queen of the Night, and with that the university scholarship.

With their sights on careers in law (Morgan, Bailey and Allicot) psychology (Richards and Murphy) accounting (Ellis, Matthews), Tourism (John) and even a private investigation (Webb) and dietician in the mix (Creese), the ladies are promising to do their best in an effort to get closer to their dreams.

They insist that they will be putting their “best foot forward” in one week’s time, in an event that can be considered a major stepping stone to the rest of their lives.

According to Ellis: “This is such a life changing experience, that at the end of it all, I will consider myself a changed person.

The contestants have since been on a road trip to the Windward side of the island, and have been engaged in a number of follow up interviews.

Along with their continued training, they have met with the stage manager at Victoria Park, visited schools and sponsors.

They are expected to embark on another motorcade around Kingstown tomorrow, as well as a road trip to the Leeward side of the island on Sunday.

They can also be seen at the launch of the Youlou Pan movement’s Carnival Program, the Fisherman’s Day prize giving on May 24 and a visit to the Cabinet on May 26. (JJ)