T&T’s Carnival is synonymous with mas in Port-of-Spain, but the spirit of the season was present on Saturday night when the Borough of Point Fortin crowned it’s fifth Carnival Queen.
For the eight delegates who lit the runway at the Egypt Government Primary School, it was not just about good looks and physique.
It was about being an ambassador of culture and community spirit, and no other exemplified this than Miss New Lands/Mahaica Alysha Wilson.
As with most pageants, the judges looked for a mixture of beauty, brains and talent and found it with the 23-year-old University of the West Indies student. Currently enrolled in a BSc in Political Science with a minor in International Relations, the Mahaica beauty was able to manage her studies while engaging in community work.
Wilson was a clear winner after taking the prizes in the categories: Ms Carnival Spirit, Best Swimsuit, Best Gown, Ms Elegance, People’s Choice and Ms Intelligence.
“This pageant has been a beautiful experience. It has helped my growth and development as a young woman in Trinidad and Tobago and as I move forward to represent the country internationally. I am just very thankful and I would like to tell all young women out there to never give up. You can do it, keep pushing, anything is possible with God,” Wilson said.
She will now represent T&T against 65 other countries at the Miss Sea Beauty International pageant in Barranquilla, Columbia from November 24-December 1.
Miss Cap-de-Ville Leslie-Ann Meade was the first runner-up followed by Miss Point Liguore Celine Bonaparte.
Pageant director Yolandra John said the show was not only about showcasing the Borough’s beautiful women but providing them with a wealth of knowledge. This was done through the community work they had to carry out with the councillors of the Point Fortin Borough Corporation and their involvement of community activities.
“This year, we looked for an individual who worked in their community so that they can be an ambassador of goodwill,” John said.
The delegates were judged on evening wear, swimsuit, knowledge and their portrayal of Carnival costumes which were sponsored by Legacy Carnival. So impressed was Legacy’s band leader Michael “Big Mike” Antoine that he offered all the delegates free costumes for his band’s 2020 presentation, Amour.
The top five, including Karen Fay Rampersad and Akeenia Sinclair, were invited to the semifinal rounds of the Miss Supranational T&T pageant which will be held later this year.
The pageant followed Friday’s launch of the Borough’s Carnival celebrations at the Victor Chin Kit Park.