Phipps was among eight girls representing different high schools across the Federation of St. Christopher and Nevis.
Representing the Charles E. Mills Secondary School (CEMSS) was Vernecia Wyatt, providing representation for the Gingerland Secondary School (GSS) was Hydeia Tyson, representing the Cayon High School (CHS) was Chadene Connor, Brianda Harvey represented the Basseterre High School (BHS), Dominique Pemberton represented the Saddler’s Secondary School (SSS), Nekirah Nicholls represented the Washington Archibald High School (WAHS) and Zaeisha Joseph provided representation for the Verchild’s High School.
The eight eager young ladies made appearances in four segments the first of which was the Ambassadorial Wear and Ambassadorial Speech segment, followed by the Performing Talent segment, which led to the Formal Teenage Wear segment and culminated with the Onstage Interview segment.
From dancing to singing to a monologue on the recently-introduced Value Added Tax (VAT), the young ladies entertained the crowd from beginning to end in their quest to prove why they should be adjudged winner of the competition.
The interview segment proved challenging for all, although some more than others. However, at the end of the evening, amassing a total of 336 points, Phipps snagged the crown.
Her closest competitor was Nicholls of the WAHS who captured the 1st runner-up position with 327 ½ points with CHS’ Connor and GSS’s Tyson captured the 2nd and 3rd runner-up positions respectively. Their points were 324 ½ and 321 ½ respectively.
In addition to capturing the crown, Phipps won the Ambassadorial Speech Segment with 71 out of a possible 90 points and the Onstage Interview segment, scoring 82 of a possible 120 points.
First runner up, Nicholls, also won two segments: the Performing Talent segment with 118 out of a possible 150 points and the Formal Teenage Wear segment amassing a total of 67 out of 75 points.
Connor won the Ambassadorial Wear segment with a total of 23 ½ out of 30 points.
All contestants were awarded extra points for their punctuality.
Miss WAHS seemed not too thrilled with her 1st runner-up position and while the coronation was taking place, she broke into tears and left the stage. However, after regaining her composure, she returned to the stage and congratulated Phipps with an embrace.
In an exclusive interview with MiyVue.com, Phipps expressed her elation, not only with winning the crown, but with being the first to represent the Immaculate Conception Catholic School since it was renamed.
She recalled that the journey to her win was “rough, good, sometimes we laughed and sometimes we had to get back down to business. All the hard work paid off. There was a point in the competition where I thought I would not win and that was during my performing talent when I stumbled a bit.”
Phipps expressed thanks to her supporters and all those who assisted in preparing her for the competition.
An aspiring psychologist, Phipps offered words of advice to her peers to “not be afraid to talk to your parents. If you are, I will be the future psychologist for you to speak to.”
Phipps succeeds Zinga Imo, also of the Immaculate Conception Catholic School.