St. Lucian wins Miss Carival for the first time

For the first time in the show’s 25-year history, a St. Lucian representative has secured the judges nod to bear the title of Miss Carival.{{more}}

On Friday, July 2, 2010, Iva Satney fought off stiff competition from nine other contestants to secure the crown and the US$4,300 prize.

Elated with her win, Satney told reporters that it was a “great feeling” to have won the competition, which was this year re-named First Citizens Group Miss Carival Beauty Pageant.

“I’m actually the first St. Lucian to win this title,” the 19-year-old beamed. “I feel very proud that I represented my country excellently.”

Satney added that she was not expecting the pageant to be a walk in the park. “I expected to have competition and I did – I expected hard work from each of the girls,” she said.

However, Satney’s participation in nine previous pageants gave her the edge; and in true diplomatic fashion she remarked: “At the end of the day, the best girl won.”

Miss St Lucia also won Best Talent with a dance routine titled ‘Hallelujah’, in which she blended graceful dance moves with gravity-defying acrobatics on a 10-foot wooden cross.

This was not Satney’s first taste of victory on Vincentian shores, however. She won Miss Easterval 2009, held in Union Island, and in 2007, she participated in the Miss Caribbean Fiesta pageant in Canouan.

Miss St Kitts & Nevis, Sudeakka Francis, took the first runner up position and US$1,300 prize, while Miss Dominica Marcia Baptiste was awarded second runner up and US$700, as well as scooping Best Swimwear, Best Evening Gown and Miss Congeniality. The third runner up spot was taken by Miss Anguilla, Sangrena Harris, who also won the Miss Community Spirited award.

Although she did not place in the top four positions, it was a night of firsts for Miss Antigua & Barbuda, Shelana George. She was the first contestant ever to enter the competition sporting a dreadlocked hairstyle, and she took home the first-time award of Miss Glamour of the Caribbean. George also won Miss Photogenic.

Miss British Virgin Islands, Jasmine Perez, won Best Interview.

On the night, there were guest appearances from La Gracia Dance Company; Delroy ‘Fireman’ Hooper; Raejhaun Baptiste and Saeed Bowman (pan duet); Cornelius ‘Poorsah’ Williams; Gamal ‘Skinny Fabulous’ Doyle, and the ever-entertaining ‘Contestant number 12’ – co-host Shevrell ‘Candy Man’ McMillan.

Minister of Culture, Labour and Electoral Affairs, René Baptiste, and Chairperson of the Beauty Shows Committee, Cheryl Rodriguez, were honoured for their long-standing contributions to the Miss Carival pageant.