The community of Good Hope can boast of a Miss Noel 2013.
Shadinah Graham was crowned this Year’s Miss Noel at a keenly contested competition held on Sunday 29th December, after a postponement due to the inclement weather of last week.
The event was hosted by the Good Hope Village Council, which has been working feverishly to foster stronger community involvement by the careful planning and execution of such events. Notably, the Council organized the first ever rally to present candidates to the community just prior to the last Council elections and a Heritage Day in November 2013. The former included a motorcade, guest speakers and presentations by each contesting election candidate. The latter involved a weekend of activities that culminated in a recognition ceremony for outstanding community members.
Chairman, Ashille Grove, was elated at the success of Sunday’s pageant, and considers it an inspiration that will motivate both Councilors and community members. The contestants all performed to a very high standard and were judged by a bevy of beauties who were mostly former contestants themselves in various community and national pageants.
The chief architect of the pageant, however, was Ms. Ayesha Nichols of Petite Soufriere, a student of the Dominica State College who has earned two tiaras so far – the national Ti Matador title in 2006 and the community’s Miss Isidore title in 2012. Ayesha is a vivacious teenager on a mission, and has been very involved in promoting and providing technical assistance to pageantry in the triplet communities of Good Hope, San Sauveur and Petite Soufriere. According to Ayesha, it was a long and challenging road to this year’s pageant, as much formative training had to be done, sponsors sought, and many, many rehearsals. The contestants eventually appeared in four well-coordinated and keenly-contested rounds: Speech, performing talent, casual wear and party dress.
Shadinah Graham emerged Miss Noel, and took home the awards for best talent, best speech and best party dress. 1st runner up was Josia Bonnie who took the awards for casual wear, best in party dress and Miss Photogenic; Timara Toussaint won the 2nd– runner-up spot and 3rd runner up was Tia Toussaint. Other contestants were Britney Darroux Mariah Darroux. Ayesha is grateful for the assistance of Ms. Mysha Richards who provided with choreography and general support and DMO, Dr. Wade, who provided total sponsorship for one of the contestants.
Sunday’s pageant was supported generously by community members and well-wishers, and the Council expects that it will eventually become an annual event that will attract participants not only from Good Hope, but the surrounding communities. The prevailing sentiment of residents is that this can become a catalyst that brings back the togetherness and community involvement that characterized these communities, but which seem to have been lost somewhere along the way. Community members speak fondly of the traditional Christmas activities that brought so much joy and cheer, and the communal support that this fostered. The struggle for a fulfilled and meaningful life in these communities is not only an economic struggle, says one resident, but also a cultural and socio-moral one.
Bravo, Good Hope Village Council! Thank you for brightening the corner where you are, and for the joy and togetherness that you are seeking to foster among the communities by the hosting of events like Sunday’s Miss Noel pageant.
Though the event was a success…next time we need to display the young ladies more hence getting them sponsors where by making things a lot easier on the council members & parents. Miss Graham got full sponsorship & her sponsor helped and practiced with her a lot, most of the other contesants didn’t have that help financially, they were mostly assited by their parents & Ayesha. The other contestants were not motivated.
I hope Next time will be even better though. Love my Community.
Chairman’s sponsor meet her only two weeks before the show a actually took place….and met her a total of three times before the show…Shadinah is a very receptive and intelligent child. It would have been nice if there were more sponsors.
Keep Up the excellent work Ashille, glad to have you back…good way to revive our little community.
Yvette is always there with her never ending support. Last Miss Noel I remember was Julie Bonnie. lol. she should have been the one to crown Miss Shadinah Graham
congratulations to all the girls ! you guys were awesome ! you all made all of us in good hope feel proud so thank you for making this event another success for us . Thanks to all those who contributed in one way or another , we were very appreciative of your support. Special mention must be made of kubuli beer who have always supported the council in their events ..
i am so happy for u cus in law
Ayesha keep on moving forward and strive for the best darling. You were always interested in that field of work and i pray that you continue to do all you can.
I wish you best of luck in the future deary… You’ve truly made 5-A proud. Love you bapes :*
Boy that was GREAT. The last time we had a pageant was when Ashille and Teacher Bonnie were teenagers. When the show started I cried because I remember Joycelyn yes the same one that is the principal at Castle Bruce Secondary. She I miss more because she used to give us shows in Good Hope. Then she move on to live in Castle Bruce and Ashille left and everything died. We are happy Ashille is back and we hope Mrs Alfred will continue to support us even if times have changed. Love you Miss and Thank you for everything. If you and Ashille put all your heads together again all you will move mountains. Trust me.
M so proud of you guys. It’s been some 20 years since we had a miss noel in Good hope. So sorry I could not be there to give up my crown. Mr. Grove has a vision for the community and with Yvette and the others on board, I know Good Hope will move forward in a positive way. God bless and we look forward to more good things in 2014.
rose we are so sorry that you missed this event , we missed you too. We know that you are at the hospital so our prayers are with you… And you are still our first ever miss noel , lol.
Congratulations must be extended to the GoodHope village Council as well as the community members. When persons are proactive they can remove mountains. The same can not be said for the Castle Bruce Village Council, they are practically dead and confused among themselves. Do something to nah Castle Bruce- a council which has no vision, the community will perish. Need I say more. Well done GoodHope.
I wish to commend and compliment the Good Hope Village council for your continuing efforts to unite the community. I recall growing up the village was so full of life and the people were unified. However, over the years it has become divided due to politics and other factors. Since the inauguration of the newly established Good Hope Village Council we the villagers have seen positive changes. Congratulations to the hard working councillors, particularly the Chairperson Mr. Ashille Groove. This man has a vision for the community and with his charismatic style of leadership coupled with his passion and drive, I believe our village, though small, will be one many other communities will seek to emulate. Congratulations to the contestants who were so eloquent, confident and brave. I see national queens in the making. Let me end by sounding a call to the villagers, including those living abroad…Good Hope is ours to build. Therefore let’s put aside our differences and work towards community development. I love my village and will continue to support in whatever way possible.
my girl you you hit the nail on de head ! good hope at one time was off the hook. Today we find people standing on the side and expect one set to do it all . we are all servants of each other where community development is concern. The council is trying to make a difference but they need the support from the community members and as you said those good hopians living abroad. Ashille is doing a wonderful job so this man needs is a serious team to help him . This man has a passion for for people and development and its quite evident.. I am sure the neighbouring communities wish they had a leader like ashille to head their council…
lovely keep up the good works.
way to go good hope village council… Mr. grove, aka mayor grove/ Obama, a job well done again…
its obvious that good hope is on the move because everyone seem to be talking about those events that the council organises ! I wish my village council would follow the path and start doing stuff to keep the community alive. The good hope council is a pretty new council and they are doing a hell of a good job… We all know that mr. ashile grove is the machine behind all that so my brother keep doing your thing, you are on the right track… Mr. jono need to get some ideas from you to get the constituency on the move too… Oh and let me say too the good hope reconnect event was a blast too. hope you guys do it again next year .. And mr ashille aka mayor, I know you you have something on mind for the up coming carnival so I am just gonna wait to hear whats up… Once again congrats for a job well done…
congrats to all the beautiful and courageous young ladies. Ayesha, continue to reach for the stars.
well done my people. out looking in God is with u all.its good to know our little villages are not forgotten strong hearted people fighters.
garday dress! rofl
Congratulations to Miss SANKOFA,Shadinah Graham. We are so proud of you. Congratulations also to your chaperone Nrse Shanon Seraphine. SANKOFA Dance Theatre Company wishes you and your mom all the best for 2014
The show was lovely, very good community support. Congratulations to Shadinah Graham and her team especially Nrse Seraphine her chaperone. Also to the rest of the young ladies, they all gave an excellent representation of themselves.
Congratulations Shadinah, you were awesome. Also to Ashille Groove and his team…..great initiative.
Congratulations to Ms. Yvette Laurent for also making this show a success. Community oriented phenomenal woman.