Queeley not only won the National Carnival crown in 2010/11 but she demonstrated the power of her candidacy as a pageant contender when she also picked up the titles of Miss Jaycees Caribbean in Antigua and Miss Carival in St. Vincent. Only Nicole Gumbs has had similar success, winning both Miss Caribbean Tourism and Miss Jaycees Caribbean while also wearing the National Carnival crown, in the same year, (2001). It is the same Gumbs who now heads the Queen pageant Sub-Committee. 

And now that the six contestants have been publicly revealed and presented to the nation at last Saturday’s official launch of carnival, the discussions have intensified with pageant lovers taking an early lead to line-up behind the delegate of their choice.

Photo: (Front Sitting)Jody Carter, Kaila Huggins, Desri Weeks,

 (Back Row)Kysa O’Loughlin, Trevicia Adams, Verlyn Williams

The choice therefore will be made from Kysa O’Loughlin, Desri Weekes, Kaila Huggins, Jody Carter, Trevicia Adams and Verlyn Williams. 

Pageants these days are different in many ways to times past. It is not only the most talented or most beautiful that wins. Rather it is the one who is best prepared and organized and the one who delivers on the competition night. The one who sticks to the plan of their management team has a much better chance at success than the rogue contestant who refuses to take advice and guidance provided by her team. 

The 40 year history of carnival is replete with examples of contestants who have had their own secret agenda to that being planned by their chaperone or management team. The result has always been the same…disaster and failure. 

No contestant in modern day pageantry in St. Kitts and Nevis should have reason though to perform badly in the Carnival pageant, given the program of training and development provided by the sub-committee responsible for organizing the contest. 

To win, the contestant has to be consistent in every segment of the contest. Though being the best in each is ideal, contestants do not have to be topping the points in each to win. Last year, the delegate from St. Kitts in the Caribbean Talented Teen Pageant, won almost all the segments but failed to even place in the top three, because of her disappointing performance in just one appearance. Grenada, on the other hand maintained consistency in the rounds and was eventually declared the winner. The same applies to the National Carnival Pageant…consistency. 

However the spotlight is not only on the contestants but also the committee responsible for organizing and coordinating the contest. For many, the 2010 competition was not only highly competitive but the overall on stage presentation was said to be of a standard not seen in many years. This was partly due to the investment placed in the preparation work of the delegates, their natural talent and intelligence and also the extra effort made by the committee to carefully plan, produce and execute a product that was loved by the thousands who attended the event.

Traditionally, it has been the Senior Calypso Monarch Competition that pulls the biggest audience, but last year, that show was overshadowed by the massive crowd present at the queen pageant-the biggest for 2010. It was the publicity and build-up to the contest that helped in creating the hype that eventually translated into an audience of thousands. 

The public is therefore expecting more this year from the contestants and the committee.

2011-2012 contestants with reigning queen