On the evening of February 12, 2010 Kayan Toussaint will take her final walk as the reigning Miss Dominica. As she looked back on her reign, Toussaint told Dominica News Online that it was all about self development.
“It’s not only about the mask of carnival… it’s not only about carnival. It has a lot to do with self-development and development of the country. Especially when you have to go to overseas and represent your country; you are an ambassador to your country,” she stated.
In an exclusive interview with Dominica News Online, Kayan recalled her fondest memories as well as the challenges she encountered as the 2009 carnival queen. However, the good experiences outdid the bad moments for her.
“It has been a marvelous experience. So far I cannot complain really… wherever I went overseas or here in Dominica to events, I was always treated like a queen. It was not a bad experience for me, and I took full advantage of it,” she remarked.
Kayan treasures the announcement of her win on stage, referring to it as ‘the best feeling’.
“It was really overwhelming for me because of all the people that were involved and also because of what it meant for me. One thing people may not know, in the beginning when I was previously thinking of ever going up for queen show I was always drawn to those things, but never saw myself participating,” she disclosed.
“I am very, very shy at times; I’m afraid of crowds. So I have to learn how to distract myself – that’s one of the things I learnt – how to distract myself from people and their comments and how to just block out a lot of negative comments,” she said.
Kayan contested the Miss Carival Pageant in St. Vincent, Miss Jaycees Caribbean Pageant in Antigua and the Miss Caribbean Culture in Nevis, where she placed second-runner-up and received awards for best swimsuit and miss intelligence.
The 22-year-old Pointe Michel resident disclosed that time management was the most challenging factor during her reign. She wishes there was more time to achieve her intended plans.
“Time is limited time when you are Miss Dominica. You always have to go on different programmes, to different [functions] and I was going to school, so that made it a little harder for me. Also I wish there were more hours in the day. There were so many things I want to do, but I wish there was more time during my reign for me to do what I wanted to do… There are a lot of things I will be doing while I’m not Miss Dominica. I had already started working on them,” Kayan pointed out.
She was reluctant to share those aspirations, adding that it was left to be seen. “It’s small it’s not something that would draw a lot of attention,” she noted.
Meanwhile, her intention to host a youth programme as Miss Dominica did not materialize. The focus of that radio show would have been child abuse and motivating young people to pursue their goals.
She thanks sponsors R.C Enterprises, chaperones Cynthia Walsh and Yola Toussaint in addition to everyone else who supported her throughout her reign.
Despite all she has experienced in the past year, Kayan maintains she is still the same person.
“There isn’t anything that has really changed about me,” she told DNO.
“The only thing that has changed about me is that now that I am opened to the world, I’m a little more careful with the way I live my life. So I will try to do things that other people can look up to me, because I do not want to be a bad example…Whilst I was Miss Dominica one thing I really appreciated a lot of young girls between the age of five and 11 knew who I was. That amazed me [they were] singing my talent … that was just fabulous, but all in all I am still the same Kayan, just a little more cautious. I am quite content,” the reigning Miss. Dominica remarked.
Edona Jno Baptiste – News Coordinator/Reporter
i have one comment cause i read those comments and some make real sense…
but here’s mine….. you see when you have judges, you have the results coming from those selected by committee, however everyone judge for themselves. now there is just one thing for you people to listen to, when the names are being mentioned for the crowning listen to the voice and tone of a FORMER MISS DOMINICA….see how she was shocked at the name of the 1st runner up. cause she too could not believe what she was reading!! HELLOOO!!!, she also chaperoned other young ladies so you tell me!!..
the selecting of judges should be changed, where, ever those judges coming from and if all you smart please dont go for caribbean judges because i dont think they dumb enough because they didnt want dominica to be winning the crowns so much. those judges ya’ll had for time of marrah, nakita, leandra go back for them!!!
by the way not because someone win teen they would queen so im really looking forward to this year, ..
u all will stop hating . the judges decision was final . go kayo u deserved it . u got ur schoolarship …
REMEMBER queen is not judge only on wherther the the person is smart,preety or not ..
IF KAYAN CAN WIN MISS DOMINICA,DON’T LIMIT YOURSELVES.
ANYONE CAN WIN MISS DOMINICA!!!!!!!!!
well honestly,i wasnt at d 2009 ms dominica, & i havent gotten a chance to c it either..
but i was very disappointed when i realize that ms D/A 2009 didnt bring home 1 regional title.
there were talks about bad judgement..i dont know about that but its posible..i was tinkin that if she was d best, i really didnt want to witness d other contestants da year..well well well..
still dominicans,as some1 who has participated in more than 1 pageant, i learnt that in order to win, 1 must be consistent in every single round,even d intro piece which isnt judged…consistency wins a pageant & noting else..
DOMINICA’S HOME GROWN i second your commentary puss you couldn’t have said it right. One year i was inquiring to make a sponsorship for the show and those people tell me they don’t want donation of shoes for the swimwear section etc is money they want i say ok papa all you will hear back from me.
And even the years they cheated boy i tell you that queen show 2003 still beating in my head.That young lady that was cheated would have done justice for DA and set the path for others to follow even thou they talk about her size., Look at Ms. Universe etc there are girls of that same size that young lady was.
But for real a documentary needs to be done where are they now cause i know that young lady must be doing well because she was a very strong minded woman. It was on this site that she had gone up for ms. queen of the islands in 2008 and came out 3rd under up and they never made know of that on any Dominican new stations. all that biasness i tell you.
I not even watching the comess that is about to unfold at this year show because a little birdy a woman of mines that part of the committee was relaying information on what the other girls doing etc themes color scheme etc which is unfair. But that Dominica and there commess for you so the people behind the scene are the ones that leave a sour taste in the publics mouth. I already know basically what the whole out come of the show is already and it hasnt even take place yet.. whosssssss.. need i say more.
From what I can physically see and according to some of my friends and fellow d
Dominicans around the Caribbean, she was a total mess and they were embarrassed for her and as Dominicans as well.
Her performances by all accounts were way below par for that of a pageant winner and we know people are different individuals but she is certainly not another Marah, Leanda, Marcella, Diane and is way below par when you compare them.
Alot of Dominicans living in those places where some of the regional pageants were held refused to attend as they believe she was a good representation of the style and pinache that they have become accustomed to in the last few years when it comes to Miss Dominica holders.
Can you imagine if that girl went to the ‘Miss Universe’ or ‘Miss World’ Pageants to represent us? What a laughing stock and public relations shambles that would have been.
It is a shame that Leanda, Marah, Marcella and Diane never got the chance to attend and represent DA at those pageants, as I am convinced that they would have represented to a high standard and did us justice even if they did not win.
So many of those tiny islands are able to enter their ‘Miss’ so and so but when looking for ‘D’ it always goes straight to th Dominican Repulic and that is it
I have always enjoyed and liked calypso and never cared for the Miss ‘DA Pageant’, as over the years I witnessed blatant malicious, wicked, unfair, unprofessional behaviour, not to mention biasness and that left a sour taste in my mouth then and still does now.
God bless the judges who actually managed to get it right the few times with Leanda, Marah, Marcella and Diane and what a credit they were to us all during their reigns.
Somebody should do a pre-carnival documentary………………’Miss DA Pageant’ winners…………..where are they now and market and sell the DVDs to raise funds and sponsorship yound ladies in future shows and also to send the right ‘Miss Dominica’ to ‘Miss Universe’ and ‘Miss World’ Pageants.
Let’s wait with our eyes open to see what foolishness those judges are going to cook up this year………! Remember the island’s reputation is at stake here not your egos, friendships or personal preferences or issues.
Kayan sorry but i am one who is happy that your reign is over! i did not like your representation… good luck in future endeavor.
SP.. whossssssss woman don’t even do that to your self love. Honey-fira is an intellect and honey-fira can command an interview. I have to dumb down my commentary so people like you can understand cause if i start to construct high tech sentences/ responses you may be lost puss ok.. so instead you quick to open you behind and talk a mess process the constructive comments that are being said and help that young lady better herself
Sharlene: you all Dominicans’ like to follow fashion things you all see on TV etc. so if you study regional or international shows they are prep and trained as a representative of the organization/country.. and that Point Michel story u want to come up with have no weight puss.. The only time i really felt Point Michel represented to the fullest and won was Ms. Wob when Ms. Rowana won and then performed poorly for queen show.. and Nissa Willams was a mess from start to finish..i was rotting for that young lady and god know when she came out in that costume i was like what the hell just happened it was a nice piece of work but too small she couldn’t move in it etc. i can give her that the talent was good she can perform but her team that prepared her for that show was a mess.. Swim wear and evening wear and question and answer dow even make me start love..
Look at 2003 that young lady was suppose to win and they was rube highway and all you all dominicans remember that. That was the most galaring aspect of the DA queenshow cheating
Now villages that they dont give Jacqueline her jacket is Grandbay.. I remember that year when Natasha Bellot was suppose to win then most recently last year that young lady from grandbay was suppose to win. so research your facts before you make you comments cause queenshow is my forte ok Puss. Nuff said.
Who is anyone to say that she did not deserve the crown or the titile of MIss Dominica.
Every year its the same thing……. oh the judges were biased the judges were this…… is dosent matter the bottom line she won We may disagree with peoples decision but the bottom line is wheter or not you people agree or disagree she won.
No one is perfect. Someone spoke of her interviewing skills and my response to that is i would rather
Miss Dominica to be someone who is real oppose to someone who has been coached into what to say and how to act because that would mean her inbtentions for representing the country are also
I am not from Pointe Michel but is seems to me that a pattern is evolving. I have noticed that when a Pointe Michel person is in the running for anythng there is always negative comments about that person ( i noticed this when Nissa Willams went up for queen)
I find that the peole of that village just dont seem to be able to catch a break and my comment to that is there is good and bad everywhere..
You know… half of the comments here are about her grammar and language, but half of you can’t write either. How funny is that?
(Hmmmmmmmmmm) speech classes helps i guess like minds think alike.. i not trying to down grade this young lady but from the night she won that show the interview and that thing is playing in my head didn’t have any proper dialect as it pertains to an educated individual hence the use of language in a proper sentence. need i say more..So Hmmmmmmmm no one is hating papa mind me..i’m just giving my two scene as it relates to a whole year pass and maybe its DFC not providing a speech trainer for this young lady to conduct interviews as well as marketing of her self where is show her intellect etc.
I dow know how she can be nervous if its the same content all her interviews amount to..whos.. Puss Ms. Dominica 2009 its constructive love..nothing is meant to break you be have an open mind to build u up..when u have people like hmmmmmmm in your inner circle they are not going to provide you with an honest opinion love.
Queen Beee: writing will not bring food to your table.whossss…masssssssssh… come out there..whoos… people like u that stray these folks in the wrong direction.whossssss
Honesty i second your words we pusssssssssss.. look at 2003 nah..that goes down in history man.. and that ..shillingfords woman..where herrr nah.. lord be with that herr
PLEASE! PLEASE!! DO NOT BLAME MS. TOUSSAINT PLEASE!!!!!!
2009 Queen show pagean was not judged fairly. If the judges of that particular show has any conscience they will recap ont he happens of the event. This reigning Ms. Dominica did not in anyway deserve the crown, please judges be fair and honest. One decision was taken for another contestant who really deserved the crown and as soon as a few judges stepped off the judges ring the decision was turned over.
Dominicans we have to be honest and expose the wrong decision makers. Look at how Ms. Toussaint could not bring home one more crown, she did not get close to any other as a maTter of fact, thats because she was not the rightful winner for 2009. JUDGES OF THE QUEEN SHOW PAGEANT GOD IS NOT SLEEPING, by the way how do u guys sleep???? after making such a mess of everything. U guys could not touch Leandra Lander although the committee hated her Chaperon for her forthrightfulness, but with a sponsor like Malcolm Stephen & Sons who gave everything, all Leander had to do was be there and perform. Another was Ms. Marah Walters, One of the Committee Members made her cry ON MORE THAN ONE OCCASSION for no reason BUT WITH A PRAYING MOTHER AND FATHER and a supportive SPONSOR LIKE MALCOLM STEPHEN AND SONS, she again had no worries, she performed and proved that she had both beauty and brains.
Committee members your behaviour have discouraged loving hardworking Dominican businessmen to support your event by means of sponsorship, Your Committee members have to be chosen well, not a heap of badmouthers who for no reasons hate the girls just because they have their own preference of who they want to be MISS DOMINICA, Your Committee have helped create a mess of the pageants, so please come out this year, with Honesty and lots of Integrity and lets have a show to remember. Stop, think twice and give the rightful winner the Crown for 2010.
… she could not answer the IPO question. Selena Cuffy at 10 did a splendid job. Committee Members look at the 2009 queen show on Marpin again as a team , or I can send u the tape and please be honest DID MS. TOUSSAINT REALLY WIN THAT COVETED TITLE OF MS. DOMINICA??? ONE OF THE CRITERIA IS THAT THE QUESTION MUST BE ANSWERED, DID SHE REALLY ANSWER THE QUESTION?. LET YOUR CONSCIENCE BE YOUR GUIDE PLEASE!!!!
Having said all this, I am looking forward to a great!! show, one to remember, A show well judged by HONEST Judges, and Judges please do not allow the Committee to change your decision of who should be Ms. Dominica. There are criterias set, follow them and MAY THE BEST AND WELL DESERVING YOUNG LADY BE CROWNED WITH ROYALTY.
allu will leave d girl alone doe………. haterzzzzzzzzzz
I am glad her reign is over. Now I hope the next Miss Dominica recaptures the regional crowns she has so badly lost
lol …maybe she was nervous
@honey-fira and huh? – what is wrong with what ms. toussaint said?? HATERS WILL ALWAYS EXIST!!!
oh my word….girlfriend go and get that degree. Fast!
but what is that for me language. just reading that gave me a headach lord..its time to give up that crown papa//