After a decade-long hiatus the Queen of the Caribbean pageant is expected to be staged in Dominica on August 1, 2015 featuring some 40 beauties from across the region.
The show was first staged in Dominica in 2001 and the winner, Antiguan Anne-Marie Brown, was crowned by then prime minister, the late Pierre Charles. The final segment of the last show was staged in Guadeloupe in 2003 and St. Lucian, Jadin Fanis, took home the crown.
Now organizers say they are ready to stage what they say “had already been one of the largest and most prestigious events of its kind in that part of the world,” once again in Dominica.
“The event is aimed at highlighting the salient defining factors of today’s Caribbean woman in terms of her beauty, charm, creativity, intelligence, and talent,” Shannon Vigilant, President of Queen of the Caribbean Organization, said in a release. “The pageant is however, fashion industry driven as well. One of the objectives is to establish fashion industry benchmarks in the Caribbean and provide the much needed exposure for both the fashion designers and “fashionistas” of the region within the global marketplace.”
She said the pageant is expected “to bring enormous benefits to the participants who are expected to be in Dominica for an extended period covering two weekends.”
“It also creates a window of opportunity for the young ladies to experience regional team building at the highest level, enhance their personal and professional skills as well as talents,” she stated. “The winner will be gratified to serve a year involved in goodwill activities as well as training opportunities related to her given call. The participating countries will also greatly benefit from the exposure since the finals of the contest will be broadcast live with voting features.”
She further explained that the show “is a pivot and springboard to engender confidence and empowerment to women in a world in which, despite some progress, much is still needed to be done in terms of equal rights and parity. It is meant to get Caribbean people to know each other by encouraging tourism enhancement for all participating countries. It is meant to consolidate partnerships and new markets and foster cultural exchange.”
The Queen of the Caribbean final night is expected to be a television entertainment event. “There will be different segments originally crafted to suit the show one of which, the Special Talent night, will be held separately for raising funds to be donated to a worthy charitable cause. This is in keeping with one of the objectives of the Organization,” Vigilant explained.
The Queen of the Caribbean Organization is a registered Dominican entity but also operates from Paris, France and Vigilant hopes to make greater fashion industry connections between the Caribbean and the French city.
“Besides economic and cultural objectives, the Queen of the Caribbean Organization has also set specific goals aimed at youth development and charity. It is within this context that a percentage of all profits will be donated to chosen NGOs involved in such activities,” she said.
Vigilant pointed out that the show will also provide an “excellent opportunity for Dominica to enhance its tourism product in terms of exposure, arrivals and for the producers of touristic goods and services.”
Way to go, and welcome back queen of the Caribbean. I am standing in Vigilant’s corner. Unlike some other people here, I was fortunate to work with the show for three consecutive years and never had the experience of not getting paid. Although I have to admit that for the last show payment was a little later than expected, but my team and I did receive pay.
I don’t think it’s very nice of anyone to try to turn this into a situation it’s not. These things do happen in show business. Now that the show is back, I am sure the organisers of the show will make every effort to see to it that you get rewarded for your services rendered. After all there must have been a very solid reason why a show of such magnitude was put on hold for so many years.
There may be questions to be answered, but let’s not jump to conclusions and attack a young lady who tried to do something good for us.
Call it singing for my super if you chose to, but I do hope that the organisers,employ our service once more. Ha ha ha.
This is a good show for thé Dominica.
Officer of the law.
Wait…so this pageant is ok? Bias Domnichen!
WHAT YOU MEAN IF THATS WHAT OUR WOMEN ARE WORTH? UNDER COVER SAINTS ACTING LIKE ANGELS,WHEN I GROW UP I WANT TO BE JUST LIKE YOU.
man too bad boy. lassa not going and be dere. she would sweep dat boy
@”ME” you are just one disgruntled ‘croc’. Why don’t you just go back under the rock you came from.It’s people like you who don’t like to see development in society.People like you who always grumble and not satisfied.It’s people like you when business goes elsewhere you complain nothing good comes to Dominica.Once again Heads up Vigilant.
tHIS IS SUCH GREAT NEWS
i was wondering what happened to that show.good that it’s coming back!
Pageant Again! That’s all our women are worth? Their only worth and value is to strut their stuff on stage! that is so sad. Wait and listen there will be another pageant soon! And all you sayng the country broke! next?
Kudos!!! To you Shannon Baby, you can do it.
How you doing?
I haven’t been in Dominica for Carnival for over 8 yrs…
But, if God bestows me with the blessings of life I will definitely come down to see this show I expect the best.
And oh by the way, I hope this current queen would be the the one gracing us as a contestant.
A smiling..
Kudos to you Shannon baby.
I haven’t been in Dominica for over 8yrs for carnival,
But in 2015 if God bestowed me with the blessings of life.
I will
This comment was incomplete, pressed the wrong key…
Thank you for posting my comment above… thanks!
That’s great news!!!
ok mrs.Henderson.good news and all the best.love love love
Great initiative Vigilant..portraying true ambassadorship to the Nature Isle.
Keep up the good work.
Seems like someone posting on their own article hahaha. Well I hope that the “organisers” have FUNDS to host this show because we all know that there were several bills left unpaid from the last one. SO are you going to pay those of us you owe Ms Vigilant?
bonjay cold so?
@Me: Obviously you have nothing positive to say. And, you accuse people while hiding behind a mask called “ME”. Queen of the Caribbean is a business like any other business with credit/debit debt, and I don’t think Miss Vigilant needs to be ashamed of any outstanding debt that she may have incurred from doing this show. (Companies go bankrupt every day…Geeeez!) If you are owed as you say…I suggest you take legal action and stop trying to make your jealousy and hate obvious. You act like the woman OWING YOU! We are happy for the return of the Queen of the Caribbean…It’s all good for Dominica.
and NEXT TIME JUST DOE GIVE the SHOW CREDIT. BECAUSE OWING PEOPLE COMES WITH THIS TERRITORY. LOL.
great news …wish it was 2014 but looking forwrd to it nonetheless..god’s will.
On another note ….DNO please report on the LIME saga and also news on FCIB CIBC job cuts as well..letter was sent out on September 30 indicating FCIB to expect cuts
http://www.virginislandsnewsonline.com/en/news/more-jobs-to-be-lost-as-cibc-first-caribbean-to-downsize
Way to go Shan full support to one of our own contributing to the development of our country. I will definitely be at the show life permitted.
You have our support.