St Lucia recaptures 2017 Miss Easterval crown

Miss St Lucia Bernella Velinor is thrilled to take the 2017 Miss Easterval crown back to St Lucia.

“I feel so excited to take the crown back home. I’m very, very, excited,” Velinor commented, after being crowned by Miss Easterval 2016, Miss Barbados Mariah Greenidge, at the Ashton hard court in the wee hours of Sunday, April 16.

Velinor said that while this is her third pageant, this is only her first crown and she is glad that she won it on Union Island. The other pageants she took part in were the St Lucia National Carnival Queen pageant and the Miss Caribbean Culture pageant in July 2016.

“I have an extra reason to come back next year,” she commented.

The beauty queen said that her plans include taking part in other pageants and she currently has her eyes set on the Miss World and Miss Universe pageants.

“I’m refining my skills, so that I can represent some more,” said Velinor, noting that young women who want to take part in pageantry must apply themselves “and always carry themselves in a positive way.”

Velinor also won the best interview category and was judged Miss Photogenic.

In second place was Miss St Vincent and the Grenadines Laurie John, who won the judges’ nod in the ambassadorial speech and evening wear categories.

Third place went to Miss Barbados Thea Semple, who also won best swimwear.

Miss Union Island Danniela Alexander was said to have performed the best talent, while the Miss Congeniality award went to Miss Carriacou Oshen Maturine.

The other contestant was Miss Grenada Charlana George.

The Miss Easterval Pageant was followed by the Carnival Development Corporation’s (CDC) “Reunion” show.

Reunion was the third event on the CDC’s 40th anniversary calendar of activities and saw the coming together of Roses Crew with performances by original members, “Fireman”, “DJ 20”, “Rawlo” and “Chainsaw”.

Apart from Roses Crew, there was also a 45-minute performance by Alston “Becket” Cyrus.

The artistes were backed up by the Kinetic Band, while other performances came from Rodney Small, Hance John, Keido Foster and disc jockeys DJ Q and DJ Shady.

The event was sponsored by, among others FLOW, the National Lotteries Authority (NLA), NBC radio, Star FM and the St Vincent Tourism Authority.