The University of the Virgin Islands Student Government Association invites the public to the 37th Annual Miss UVI Ambassadorial Competition at 6 p.m. on Saturday, April 8. This year’s competition, which alternates between campuses, will be held at the St. Croix Educational Complex.
“Once again, we are truly excited to host the Miss UVI Ambassadorial competition on St. Croix,” said Hedda Finch-Simpson, director of Student Affairs on the Albert A. Sheen Campus. “We are very anxious to see which one of the six contestants will be crowned Miss UVI 2017-2018.”
The winner will serve as a goodwill ambassador for UVI locally and abroad during the 2017-2018 academic school year. Six contestants are vying for the chance to succeed Che-Raina Warner, who later went on to be crowned Miss National Black College Alumni Hall of Fame.
Contestant number one is Shantee Sookraj, 26. Born on St. Croix, she is a senior nursing major attending UVI on the Albert A. Sheen Campus on St. Croix.
Contestant number two is Nigencia James, 21. A sophomore communication major, she was born on St. Kitts and is attending UVI on the Albert A. Sheen Campus.
Contestant number three is Cassandra Watson, 21, a senior nursing major. She was born on St. Thomas and is attending UVI on the St. Thomas Campus.
Contestant number four is Angelique Flemming, 19, a sophomore psychology major. She was born on St. Croix and is attending UVI on the Albert A. Sheen Campus.
Contestant number five is Alexandra Abi-Mikhael, 20, a freshman psychology major. Born in Beirut, Lebanon, she is now attending UVI on the Albert A. Sheen Campus.
Contestant number six is Rachel Arenson, 20, a nursing major. She was born in Lewiston, Idaho and is attending UVI on the St. Thomas Campus.
All of the contestants will participate in a pre-pageant interview show to be hosted on April 1, at the UVI Great Hall on the Albert A. Sheen Campus, on St. Croix. They will be judged on content, intellect, language fluency, spontaneity, physical presentation, audibility, clarity and information.
The Miss UVI Ambassadorial competition consists of six segments which include business wear, introduction, ambassadorial presentation, talent, evening wear and question and answer. The contestants will be judged on the same criteria as the pre-pageant interview and also on appearance, appropriateness, intonation, outfit design and deportment. For the talent segment, contestants will be judged on their expression, natural ability, uniqueness, cohesion, flow and impact.
Miss UVI serves as an ambassador for the University. This role includes, but is not limited to, participation in UVI’s recruitment efforts, and representing the University locally and abroad. Miss UVI is also expected to maintain high visibility on UVI’s campuses on St. Thomas and St. Croix.
The reigning Miss UVI, Che-Raina Warner, attends UVI on the St. Thomas Campus and is a senior communications major. Born on St. Kitts, she aspires to become a news anchor/reporter. She used her title to promote her platform, “The Beauty Myth.”
The winner will receive one full year of UVI tuition, including room and board, along with other prizes. Awards will also be presented for the Most Intellectual Speaker, Best Ambassadorial Presentation, Best Performing Talent, Best Evening Wear, Miss Congeniality, Miss Popularity and Miss Photogenic. Prizes will be distributed in each category.
The Miss UVI Ambassadorial Competition is presented by the Queen’s Committee of the UVI Student Government Association. Tickets are $25 for current UVI students with valid identification and $35 for the general public. Tickets are available in both University bookstores on St. Croix and St. Thomas. Contact Hedda Finch-Simpson, student activities/life director, at (340) 692-4228 for more information.