Among the activities for the ongoing Cricket Carnival is a pageant that will be contested by young women representing the six Caribbean countries participating in the Caribbean Premier League (CPL).
The pageant, which is slated for Monday at 8 pm at the National Cultural Centre, will see the contestants vying against each other in carnival cultural wear, bikini swimsuit, talent and evening gown competitions to secure the title of Miss Cricket Carnival 2022.
According to a release from the Miss Cricket Carnival Pageant, the contestants are Chalisa Parris (St Kitts and Nevis), Tyra Spaulding (Jamaica), Beviny Payne (Barbados), Melanie Lawrence (Trinidad and Tobago), Claire Marissa Smartt (St Lucia) and Miss Jamzone Amel Griffith (Guyana).
Hits and Jams TV, one of the pageant’s sponsors, presented short clips in which the contestants introduced themselves. Here are some excerpts from those videos:
At 19 years old, the St Kitts and Nevis contestant is the youngest, but said she is in her “fourth season” in the pageantry world. A beach and pool attendant, who aspires to become an Information Technology (IT) technician, Chalisa said she was looking forward to every aspect of the pageant. Her hobbies consist of reading, listening to music, dancing, modelling and acting (drama). One of her talents is expressing herself through monologues.
Tyra, who is a representative from Mr and Miss Tourism Jamaica is taking on the international stage for the first time ever. The young woman said she is looking forward to being under the influence of the Cricket Carnival addiction as she takes to the stage to give her very best.
Beviny, 20, said she planned on bringing her all to the stage, in order to showcase what her country has to offer. A certified beekeeper, who is an advocate for the environment, she noted that her passion is to educate the Caribbean, especially her home country about the effects of climate change and to boost each country’s environment so that both the locals and tourists can dwell and enjoy a safe recreational space. The Barbados representative said she was looking forward to the experience and has been participating in pageants for almost eight years.
Currently a student at the University of the West Indies where she is studying Biology, Chemistry and Mathema-tics, Melanie aspires to become a general practitioner. She is looking forward to the first ever Cricket Carnival pageant, since it is also her first time participating in a pageant. However, she classified herself as a skilled individual on stage, since she has been a member of a popular Trinidad and Tobago dance group for 14 years.
Claire is also ready to give her best for St Lucia and said she was looking forward to every experience Guyana has to offer. She disclosed that she hopes to garner support from everyone, since she has Guyanese roots – her father is from Guyana. This is her eighth pageant; she has been vying for various pageant titles since 2013.
Amel, who is representing Guyana, won the title of Miss Jamzone 2022 last month. The 21-year-old news reporter at one of the country’s popular television stations, said her intention was to take her very best to the stage, while showcasing what her country has to offer.
Pageant Director Wasim Khan summed it up as “a great opportunity to highlight the CPL nations, not only for the cricket, but also for what each country has to offer as a tourism destination. It also gives us an opportunity to welcome our sister Caribbean nations to enjoy our unique Guyanese culture.”
