TEN radiantly beautiful delegates took to the stage on Sunday last in an epic battle among beauties from the countryside vying for supremacy in the Miss Mahaicony Earth 2014 Pageant.

While a massive crowd buoyed by a festive mood gathered at the Mahaicony Community Centre Ground to support their favourite delegates, almost every section of the audience lamented the very late start of the event and the fact that Pageant Coordinator Corine Gravesande chose to officiate as the night’s MC, a task she certainly executed dreadfully.

In the long run, she infuriated both the judges and the audience, and caused fiery verbal confrontations with the daredevils of such gatherings, who were all fuelled up from the insults thrown their way.

Nonetheless, the ten lasses put on quite a show, save for instances when a few messed up terribly in the intelligence segment, and a few dance presentations that were certainly lacking.

In the end, it was the stunning and obviously intelligent Kataina Phillips who carted off the coveted crown, with the bubbly Ashley Rockcliffe taking the first runner-up spot. In second runner-up placement was Tanacey Booker, while Shalynn Nicholson and Tianna Charles took third and fourth runner-up positions respectively.

Nicholson took home the award for Best Gown, Rockcliffe whisked away the prize for Best Smile, while the queen took home prizes for the Most Intelligent Delegate and Best Introduction; but it was the feisty and spirited Hollyon Shepherd who was adjudged the Most Congenial Delegate.

Let the show begin!!!
The show opened with the ten delegates taking to the stage to perform a stirring dance selection. Attired in colourful African print costumes (in keeping with emancipation festivities), the ladies twirled and sashayed gracefully across the stage as they displayed a gratifying presentation of ethnic fusion.

The audience shrieked in dismay as the ladies came to a point in their dance which necessitated energetic gyrations and jumping, sending the steel-framed stage swaying dangerously, creaking and groaning as though it would come apart at any moment. Luckily, the ladies finished the dance in safety, and the audience heaved a sigh of relief.

First up was Ashley Rockcliffe, who presented a splendid introduction which affirmed that she had indeed rehearsed her speech well. She was followed by Central Mahaicony’s Karen James, who was fluent throughout this segment. It was a shock to the audience when she did not place in the top five finalists.
Tianna Charles faltered somewhat during her presentation, and messed up even further when she attempted a poem in the Talent segment. Asha Prince, Tanacey Booker, Tassia Lewis, Yekel Fraser, Kataina Philips, Shalyn Nicholson, and Hollyon Shepherd all made notable presentations during this segment.

The Talent category comprised dances and poems, many of which were performed in a very lackluster manner, save for those coming from the queen, James and Rockcliffe. Shepherd, who decided to perform a song, lip-synced most of it, and sounded quite terrible when the DJ suddenly lowered her track, forcing her to hit a high note as she attempted to hide from the audience that it was indeed the original artiste’s voice that was being ‘ghosted’ as hers.

The Casual Wear segment was used to showcase the contestants’ creativity, and the outfits that stood out were worn by Rockcliffe, Fraser, Nicholson, Phillips, and the eventual queen.

Again, in the evening gown segment, the creative skills of the contestants were tested, and it was Nicholson who shone brightly at this forum in a body hugging white, gold and green off-shoulder ensemble with a frothy, billowing skirting, accentuated with gold heels and accessories. Other notable pieces were worn by Rockcliffe, Charles, and Phillips.

Some ladies indeed shone remarkably, and it was no surprise that the top five comprised Rockcliffe, Charles, Booker, Phillips, and Nicholson.

In the final showdown, many faltered on their questions in the intelligence segment, and were certainly no match for Philips, who was fluent, poised and confident as she delivered a fitting answer to the question, “What can occur if we continue to litter?”
Written By Alex Wayne