“The beating and abuse of the two parents was just so cold,” Anondah Hodge said as she acted the part of a neglected child during the talent segment of the Mister and Miss Junior BVI Pageant on Saturday at the Sir Rupert Briercliffe Hall. “Oh, I long for the day that my mother can sing to me or the love of a father to take my hand in his hand.”
“I entered the pageant to rebuild my self-esteem and my self-confidence,” Ms. Hodge after the show. “And when they called my name as the winner, I felt overwhelmed. I was happy, but overwhelmed.”
Ms. Hodge competed against three other women between the ages of 17 and 23 in six segments: Introduction, Swimwear, Black and White Affair, Talent, Eveningwear and Question and Answer.
At the end of the night, she took home the trophies for Miss Photogenic, Intellect, Personality and Poise, as well as Best Swimwear.
Mr. Smith, who competed against one other young man, won all the titles in the male category.
Opening dance
At the start of the evening, the programme got under way with Janae Estridge’s renditions of the national anthem and national song. After that came an opening dance by the contestants and the 2016 Mister and Miss Junior BVI, Shemar Trim and Dje’Moyia Smith.
Next, the judges were introduced and the competition began as the contestants came on stage one by one to introduce themselves and explain what they could bring to the table for the August Emancipation Festival this year.
Following the Swimwear segment, there was the Black and White Affair, in which contestants flaunted outfits that could transform on the fly, turning belts into sunhats and coats into dresses.
After a brief intermission came Talent and Eveningwear, and the competition ended with questions and answers.
Rosa Industrius fainted during the final segment and did not get the opportunity to share her answer. However, she said this week that although she did not feel well that night, she has since made a full recovery.
Between the segments, there was entertainment by the host, Kyza Callwood, and the reggae band Too Smooth.
The winners are…
Once the segments wrapped up, Mister and Miss Junior BVI 2016 took their final walk across the stage. Then all the contestants were called into the spotlight to be serenaded by Ms. Estridge and Jamori Blaize before the announcement of the winners.
The runners-up were Shamoy Davis and Khadija Liburd. Ms. Liburd received Ms. Congeniality and Ms. Industrius received awards for Best Black and White Affair and Best Eveningwear.
Besides Ms. Industrius, the other female contestant was Kenya Matthews.
All contestants were given a participation award.
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