By: Precious Mills
BASSETERRE, St.Kitts (JANUARY, 2018)- “I am really excited and happy only because my message was St. Martin will smile again and I know St. Martin is smiling.”
So said 18-year-old Tasyanna Clifton, a citizen of the hurricane ravaged island of St. Martin (hailing from the French side) in speaking to reporters moments after being crowned the 2017/2018 teen queen from a field of six (6) finalists of the 38th annual Miss Haynes Smith Caribbean Talented Teen Pageant held on Saturday 30th December 2017 at the St.Kitts Marriott Resort located at Frigate Bay-symbolising hope for her country in its continued recovery efforts.
Clifton who had to evacuate her country after the passage of hurricane Irma, was crowned by the St.Kitts-Nevis Prime Minister Dr. Timothy Harris following her outshining pageant participation.
With an overall score of 464 points, she won two out of the four judged segments namely Best Theatrical Appearance (124 points) and Best Evening Wear (67 points).
Miss Anguilla 15- year- old Deztynee Bryan placed first runner-up (461.5 points) followed by 2nd runner up Miss Barbados 16-year-old Meghan Green (439 points).
Miss Anguilla won Best performing Talent (221 points) with a dance presentation while Miss St. Lucia 18- year- old Cathlina Lawrence captured Best Interview in giving an eloquent response in giving her view on the how pageantry can help to positively shape the lives of girls and women.
The other contestants were host country Miss St.Kitts-Nevis 16-year-old Dolicia Barry and Miss Antigua and Barbuda 17- year- old Zaria Bideau. Miss Guyana 18- year -old Melissa Ferreira did not participate.
Miss St. Maarten’s winning dress was a forest green shimmery ball gown which represented the presence of nature which survived the passage of hurricane Irma in giving the people of St. Martin that there was hope and that they will smile again one day.
When asked how preparations for the show had been, chaperone Carlishia Phillips informed this media house that: “This year was a tough one as Tasyanna portrayed throughout the whole night about Hurricane Irma. She had to evacuate out of the island to further her education; her home was damaged so it was a bit difficult for us to prepare for this pageant because she was off island at the time. She came in about a week and a half before the show so it was a lot of cramming but she was very determined- she was like ‘I have to this’….’I want to do this.’ At one point we were like I think we should just sit it out this year because things are going all crazy but she was like ‘No, we got this; we gonna do this’ and she wanted and she got it and I couldn’t be more happy. I can’t even catch my breath.”
An emotional Phillips said further: “She came here and she said she was going to make sure that we smile again and this just a step forward for actually making us smile again. Things are not perfect or how it was and she just gave the island hope…she just showed the island that we are down but we will get back up. It’s not how you fall but how you get back up.”
Notably, for Miss St. Martin’s talent performance, through dramatisation, she portrayed the character of hurricane Irma laughing at the devastation she caused in the region. However, hurricane Irma soon realized that the strength of the people to rebuild after the destructive impact was more powerful than her.
“Neighbours helping neighbours?!” was one of the impactful lines used in Clifton’s act.
President of the Haynes Smith Pageant Committee Executive Producer of the show Antonio Maynard talked about the first time hosting of the pageant at that venue compared to the traditional outdoorsy settings as well as the decreased number of contestants.
“I think change was a good one. It was a marketing strategy that we came here and it worked; everybody loved the change and this pageant remains the most prestigious pageant in the entire Caribbean. We lived up to the expectations and reputation of this great show. It’s been 38 years and we have worked hard over those years to gain a particular standard, region wide and Caribbean wide and many young people dream of participating in this great event. This is our contribution to the young people of the region with respect to personal development through culture and education and we are proud to be doing it for 38 years.”
According to him: “We decided to rebrand the pageant moving forward to reduce the contestants to make it a shorter and sweeter, smarter show and it works and it lives up to the expectations of the world and so we are very proud.”
Commenting on what was the though process of the committee in accepting the applications of contestants affected by the hurricane, he shared with this reporter: “It has to do with resilience; some of them purposely participated to show resilience after such shock with the passage of humongous and terrible natural disasters, they decided to still come-Antigua and Barbuda, French St. Maarten. It’s really a great feat.”
A well-known soca sensation from Antigua and Barbuda Ricardo Drue was the guest artiste. He had the audience rocking with hit tunes like ‘Vagabond’ and ID (Stamp Yuh Name) backed by the house band-The Royaltiez Band of St.Kitts-Nevis.
Local popular media personality Jaedee Caines and well-known comedian from Trinidad and Tobago Errol Fabien hosted the show.