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Everyone in the audience cheered for their favourites and the NCC vibrated with their screams and resounding applause. Miss Guyana, Miss Curaco, Miss St. Lucia, and Miss St. Kitts and Nevis seem to have been evoking the most favourable responses from the audience, but eventually it was the petite and somewhat timid Breige Wilson of Trinidad and Tobago ‘who knocked them for six’ in the intelligence segment to cart off a whopping US$10,000 and other fantastic prizes.
In the first runner-up position was Guyana’s Alicia Bess, while Miss Curaco, Marvia Laurence came in close on her heels. In the third runner-up spot was Miss St. Kitts and Nevis, Zinga Imo, while Miss St. Lucia, Consuelo Dupal placed fourth in the pageant.
Miss Guyana also copped the prizes for Best Fantasy Swimwear and her swimwear designed by Guyanese designer, Jason Shurland was created from one thousand Guyana dollar coins and other accessories. Guyana’s delegate also carted off the prize for Best National Costume.
Winning the Miss Body Beautiful prize was Miss St. Kitts and Nevis, Zinga Imo, while the Best Gown Prize was given to Miss St. Lucia, Consuelo Dupal. Miss Curaco, Marvia Laurence won the prize for Best Cultural Presentation.
As the curtains rose at the NCC to reveal breath-taking décor, the vividly excited audience murmured their approval.
And there after came the very talented National Dance Company to perform a stirring piece called, ‘Colours of the Caribbean’. It was a fitting way to begin the show as they exploded in bright Caribbean shades, executing very svelte and explosive dance moves.
No sooner had they whirled off the stage that the nine delegates appeared for the opening sequence and from the response of the audience, all present were pleased with what they saw. And the more hot and spicy of the lot in this segment was Miss Guyana, Miss Curacao, Miss St. Kitts and Nevis, and Miss Antigua and Barbuda.
Pausing for a little added entertainment, fourth place finalist of the 2011 GT&T Jingle and Song Competition, Calais Peterkin was brought to the stage and she performed a proper selection. But, her very daring and almost scandalous costume seemed not to find favour with sections of the audience. She was visibly timid during her performance, and certainly held back on her customarily sizzle which caused her not to give much credit to the very revealing ‘Beyonce styled costume’.
National Costume Segment
In this segment it was evident that the designers were put to the test with the whirlpool of startling colours and intense creativity that was brought to the stage.
Netisha Alie (Antigua & Barbuda) appeared first and was certainly a colorful and entertaining delegate. Kimberly Herbert, the representative of British Virgin Islands was dazzling and magnificent as she showcased a costume depicting the National Bird of her land.
Then came Marvia Laurence (Curacao) and she saucily displayed the very impressive costume that showcased her country’s National Flag. Next up was Guyana’s Alicia Bess, and the tallest of the lot, she used her sultry legs and runway charisma to display a majestic costume depicting the many waterfalls of Guyana, our magnificent mountain ranges and fauna.
Christol Wilson of Jamaica was a pretty face but lacked any energy at all when she displayed her national costume. And the costume was absolutely divine, but sadly the model was just lame.
Zinga Imo’s (St. Kitts & Nevis) ‘Brown Sugar Creation’ was a hot number to contend with and she certainly flaunted the masterpiece perfectly.
After then it was Consuelo Dupal (St. Lucia) and her impressive costume showcased a ‘Cultural Festival in St. Lucia’. Though she almost tripped on the vinolay that decorators placed on the stage, she recovered nicely to continue her routine.
Breige Wilson (Trinidad & Tobago), the eventual queen, was absolutely enticing in her costume depicting an Indian Tribe and her choreography was just electric and sensational.
Keya Canaii (U.S. Virgin Islands) kept it simple and showcased an Indian Sari, and she certainly executed her display gracefully. It was evident that this delegate lacked confidence and was not making any effort to bring a little fire to the stage.
The lucky ladies and the audience were treated to a stirring rendition of ‘Crawl’ by the 2013 GT&T Jingle and Song Competition winner, Ryan Hoppie.
Culture Showcase
This segment allowed the delegates to sell their countries and the cultures and while some smartly pushed their charisma and versatility to the limits, a few just fell through miserably.
Miss Antigua and Barbuda who decided to transform into a Social Studies school teacher sold her country beautifully with much drama and amusing theatrics. Miss British Virgin Island, Kimberly Herbert was doing well until she mouthed the dreaded, “When I reach…….”, ‘a horrible grammatical suicide’, which plunged the audience into fits of hysterical laughter. The poor girl just cracked up after that.
Miss Curacao was the sauciest of the lot and brought real ‘Caribbean flava’ to the stage. Yes she stuttered a little but made up nicely for it with a pulsating demonstration of her native dances. She of course won the prize up for grabs in this segment.
Miss Guyana brought real Creoles saga on stage when she tore the venue apart, selling Guyana in the forms of spic dialogue, rhymes, dance and drama and the ‘medical bushes’ that can cure ailments in Guyana.
Miss Jamaica again was just dull and committed ‘entertainment murder’ when she launched into a lengthy showcase of the islands various dances. The entire audience was doubled over with laughter. This girl lacked any charisma or energy. The presentation was lame and many mouthed that she was just a pretty face with nothing behind it.
Miss St. Kitts and Nevis was attired as a scarlet ‘red devil’ and she acted the part well, interweaving aspects of her rich culture and masquerade, much to the delight of the audience. However, the real amusement began when she ran through the audience and could not make it back to the stage since her time was over and the music came to an abrupt end.
Portraying ‘Ellen of the West Indies’ Miss St. Lucia was coy, amusing, sensual, hilariously scandalous, and so endearing that the audience loved her the moment she began her act. It was a rich, creative, and very dynamic presentation.
The new Queen, Miss Trinidad and Tobago had excellent drama skills and she used them well. She took the opportunity to show off her vocal talents much to the delight of the audience, and she sold the twin island excellently, in poetic form, song and great entertainment.
Miss US Virgin Islands just lacked any form of fire, displayed no energy, and failed to impress in this segment. However one has to sympathize with this delegate since she is a first timer to pageantry.
After Guyanese songbird Lisa Punch stole the hearts of the audience with her original song, ‘Secret Admirer’, the stage was set for another Jamzone Showdown.
Fantasy Swimwear
Miss Antigua looked simply sexy in a scarlet red creation and she certainly strutted her stuff amazingly. The entrance of Miss British Virgin Islands was met with lukewarm responses but she certainly looked appealing.
The diva that worked up the fire again was Miss Curacao as she sailed onto to the stage full of captivating allure. It was all pivots, and saucy sashays, as she stormed the arena, pushing her peppy allure to the limits. Her head tossed about daringly, and her eyes flashed with suggestive fire and she just unleashed her ‘provocative fangs’, and it sure did scorch a blazing trail at the NCC.
And her two piece swimwear was an eye catching ensemble in shades of the rainbow.
Miss Guyana appeared on stage dressed as an Indian belly dancer, but instantly threw away her attractive headwear and shook her hips displaying a mesmerizing swimwear made from one thousand Guyana dollar coins. And this long legged beauty certainly had moves to match this spectacular swimwear. Of course she won in this segment…. Her swimsuit was designed by Guyanese designer Jason Shurland.
Miss Jamaica came on with an unimpressive creation and had balloons floating above her head. There was certainly no fantasy there. There were heckles and giggles all around and some persons even jokingly mouthed that she can use those balloons to fly out of the NCC.
Other impressive swimwears were donned by Miss St. Lucia and Miss Trinidad and Tobago.
The General Swimwear Segment that followed was a sultry blur of enticing green as the delegates glided and twirled about in attractive pieces done by Guyanese designer, Dereck Moore.
Evening Gown and Intelligence Segment
Pure heaven and even fairy tale horizons were brought to the venue when the Evening Gown and Intelligence Segment unfolded.
First on stage was the ‘Red Fire Woman’ from Antigua and Barbuda and she donned an open back fiery red gown that flowed gloriously to the stag. A daring slit to the front revealed flawless thighs and the accessories were just smashing.
Miss British Virgin Islands was indeed the ‘Pearl of the Sea’ in a dreamy pearl shade creation that displayed her chocolate shoulders and very much cleavage. The gown hugged her figure nicely and was accentuated all over with ‘sparkling diamonds’.
The gown that had the NCC whooping in delight was worn by Miss Curacao. Dubbed ‘Siren of Harmony’ the ensemble was a hazy green. When the delegate removed what looked like a cape it was to reveal a ‘see through bodice’ with sparkling stones, glass and jeweled items.
The flowing skirt was attractive, especially since it carried a daring left slit right almost to the waist and there again, Miss Curacao’s left leg and thigh was encased in mesmerizing jewels that sparkled. The NCC felt this was the gown of the night but the judges certainly had other thoughts.
Miss Guyana’s ‘Scorch the Sunset’ was a different and breath-taking creation. It was a rich fusion of bronze, gold and the other hazy hues that is associated with the tropical sunset in the Caribbean. The clinging bodice showcased the delegate’s excellent torso and the flowing skirt that billowed to the floor was a sight to see with rich roses, and other natural looking accentuations that spoke positive volumes for the designer. This gown was done by Guyanese designer, Dereck Moore.
Other very impressive gowns were Miss Jamaica’s ‘Girl on Fire’ piece, and Nature’s Fantasy’ worn by Miss St. Kitts and Nevis. Miss St. Lucia gown was said to be a stunner too.
The final showdown
Many in the audience seemed to have issues with the fact that Miss Trinidad and Tobago chose to sport her ‘natural hair’ and not go for the extravagant weaves like some of the delegates. And some loudly voiced their opinion that her gown was dowdy. But this petite little power house like to keep it natural as she says, which explained her choice of fabric, which I think beautifully displayed the shades associated with the beautiful Caribbean.
Well she certainly caused them to shut up their mouths and hung their heads in shame when she took the Intelligence Segment by storm, belting out what was dubbed as one of the most , assertive, confident and intelligent answers of the night. That of course earned her the coveted Miss Jamzone International Pageant crown and title, US$10,000 and lots of other fantastic gifts and prizes.
