When the Miss OECS pageant makes its grand return come November 5, 2022, seven ladies including Dominica’s very own Shannon Connor St Hilaire, will hit the big stage, in hopes of earning the title of Miss OECS 2002.
Speaking at the official press launch this morning, Pageant director Mrs RomuldaHyacinth made known that the show, which will be held under the theme ‘The Caribbean, a tropical utopia’, will once again allow each contestant to promote her country and culture as an idyllic location, and highlight the extraordinary attributes of the young women throughout the OECS.
This year’s contestants include Miss Dominica Shannon Connor St Hilaire who secured the 2nd runner-up spot at the national pageant in 2020, as well as participants from other OECS nations, namely: Anguilla, St Lucia, Antigua and Barbuda, St Kitts and Nevis, Grenada, St Vincent and the Grenadines, and Grenada.
St Hilaire is a 25-year-old family-oriented, jewellery designer, goldsmith, and intersectional environmentalist. She enjoys cooking, listening to music, photography, and videography and is passionate about contributing to the restoration of our planet’s optimal health.
Miss Anguilla, Celina Hodge. She is an entrepreneur who has utilized her love for hair styling and photography to create her own businesses.
Miss St Lucia, Kejean Tori Smith, has a passion for theatre arts and the social and educational development of young people. She is a teacher at the Entrepot Secondary School and sees herself in the distant future as a Legal and Legislative advocate for the young people of Saint Lucia.
Miss Antigua and Barbuda, Keriann Thomas. She is a law enforcement officer within the Royal Police Force of Antigua and Barbuda who is passionate about dancing, modelling, and fitness.
Miss St. Kitts and Nevis, Kahnein J Blanchette. She is a banker who is passionate about Sports and dance.
Miss St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Ikeya Providence. She is a national footballer and aspiring female football coach who is also pursuing studies in Entrepreneurship and Small Business Management at the UWI Open Campus.
Miss Grenada, Reesa McIntosh. She is a cultural enthusiast from the Tri-island state of Grenada, Carriacou and Petite Martinique. Reesa is an individual who is highly passionate about the creative arts, with a strong affinity for singing and dancing
“The contestants will be featured in the following rounds. Creative cultural wear, performing talent, swimwear, eveningwear, question and answer. The young ladies will also be pre-judged in a promotional video, which will include a promotional speech about herself and her country,” the director stated.
In 2019, the show made a massive comeback following a 20-year hiatus, with Miss St Lucia Earlyca Frederick capturing the title. However, for the past two years, the competition could not have been held due to the many restrictions imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic.
While thanking those who have assisted in the preparation thus far Hyacinth stressed that putting on a show of such magnitude and class will require significant funding. Therefore she issued a call to the corporate sponsors to partner with them as they seek to make the event “a true representation of the Spirit and uniqueness of the Caribbean.”
The pageant veteran went on to urge the general public to visit their Facebook page -Miss OESC Pagenct- to get to know more about the contestant and their respective countries.
Conveying similar remarks, Minister for Culture Roselyn Paul, asserted that the pageant is ideally placed at this time of year to align with Dominica’s independence celebration, as it provides an avenue for the portrayal of the cultural diversity of not only Dominica but also the region.
She opined that like sports, such cultural activities, including pageantry bring people from around the region, fostering friendships, and alliances, and strengthening networking as well as promoting a culture of harmony, enriched understanding, and peace.
“It is expected that the contestants will receive the opportunity to display their talents, poise, intelligence, and beauty. However, even greater than that, this show will allow us to promote our culture and expand our horizons”, she said.
“This provides us with a special brand relevant to our culture and heritage. Moreover, as the other countries join us to celebrate, they will display their own unique cultures, thereby fostering greater understanding and promotion of regional integration,” the minister added.
On behalf of her ministry and the government of Dominica, she went on to thank the organisers for their efforts and leadership in offering yet another dimension to Dominica’s Independence celebration.
Ticket for the show which will be held at the Old Mill Cultural Centre from 8 pm can be purchased at Bull’s Eye Pharmacy in Goodwill or online at https://tickets.destrep.com/events/miss-oecs-queen-pageant-2022 at a cost of VIP
seating $120, ground seating $80, and standing $50.
Those who are unable to attend the event can also view the show live via comeseetv for a fee of US$20.00.
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