Last Updated on December 6, 2022, 2:10 AM AST by Anthony Morris
The national carnival committee of St Kitts and Nevis has shared a glimpse into the lives and personalities of the five ambassadors competing for the title of National Carnival Queen. St Kitts and Nevis’ eagerly awaited annual carnival, Sugar Mas, has returned to the shores of the twin-island nation. The National Carnival Queen pageant will be hosted under the umbrella of the Sugar Mas 51.
The five ambassadors of the National Carnival Queen Pageant are:
𝐓𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐚 𝐄𝐝𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐬
Sponsor: St.Kitts Music Festival
𝐀𝐜𝐤𝐢𝐥𝐚 𝐇𝐚𝐧𝐥𝐞𝐲
Sponsor: FLOW
𝐌𝐢𝐤𝐡𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐚 𝐒𝐭𝐞𝐩𝐡𝐞𝐧𝐬
Sponsor: The Cable
𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐬𝐚 𝐂𝐚𝐞𝐬𝐚𝐫
Sponsor: Carib Brewery (St. Kitts-Nevis) Ltd.
𝐒𝐡𝐚𝐟𝐞𝐲𝐚𝐡 𝐆𝐮𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐝
Sponsor: Royal St.Kitts Hotel
All the ambassadors of the National Carnival Queen Pageant are varied women with different personalities, aims, dreams and goals.
Know more about their dreams and aspirations here:
𝐓𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐚 𝐄𝐝𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐬
St Kitts and Nevis National Carnival Committee described the first Ambassador of the national carnival queen pageant as someone with a dash of humbleness, an abundance of ambition, and a sprinkle of charm and love. She is a woman of class who is diligent and hardworking.
Edwards graduated from Maurice Hillier Primary School and matriculated to Basseterre High School. Here she participated in her first pageant Miss Basseterre High School. She was an athlete who represented BHS in the TDC Inter-High School Championships. Additionally, she is a member of the Rotaract club and holds the privilege of being the Captain of Blue House. She has received numerous medals, trophies and titles for her athletic talent.
𝐀𝐜𝐤𝐢𝐥𝐚 𝐇𝐚𝐧𝐥𝐞𝐲
The second on the list of ambassadors for the national carnival queen pageant, Ackila Hanley is no stranger to confidence, enthusiasm and humility. She is guided by the philosophy “Those Who Fail to Learn from History Are Doomed to Repeat It”, a quote by Winston Churchill. These words are reflected through her proclivity to embrace her mistakes and move forward with her new-found wisdom. As history has taught her, growth can only be found outside of her comfort zone.
Her educational development began at the Sandy Point Primary School in the year 2002, then at the Charles E. Mills Secondary School, which was formerly known as the Sandy Point High School where she so passionately used dance as an instrument of growth and as an avenue to exude the enthusiasm contained within her.
𝐌𝐢𝐤𝐡𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐚 𝐒𝐭𝐞𝐩𝐡𝐞𝐧𝐬
Contestant #3, Mikhalia, attended Tucker Clarke Primary School and Beach Allen Primary School, where she later graduated. Subsequently, she enrolled at Washington Archibald High School, where she completed her CXC examinations. She later attended Clarence Fitzroy Bryant College and achieved an Associate’s Degree in Accounting and Business Management in 2015. Her passion for Accounting led her to pursue an Accounting degree at the University of The West Indies.
𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐬𝐚 𝐂𝐚𝐞𝐬𝐚𝐫
The penultimate candidate of the national carnival queen pageant, Charissa (affectionately called ChaCha), has always known that she was placed on this earth for a great purpose. She was born into a single-parent household of humble means, and she has never ceased in her quest to achieve a higher level of self.
Charissa has applied herself to the best of her ability to secure a sound primary, secondary and immediate post-secondary education. She began her educational journey at St Paul’s Primary School. From there, she attended the Charles E. Mills Secondary School, where she completed and passed the majority of her CSEC subjects before she even progressed to 5th Form.
Charissa then moved on to the prestigious Clarence Bryant College, where she completed her studies in Law. Her passion for learning and determination to succeed served as the driving force for her impressive academic achievements and continue to propel her towards pursuing her legal career.
Her reserved demeanour often disguises her true comedic and vivacious personality. She enjoys a variety of activities, such as exercising and hair styling, while still finding time to lend a helping hand by tutoring children in the St. Paul community.
𝐒𝐡𝐚𝐟𝐞𝐲𝐚𝐡 𝐆𝐮𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐝
The Final contestant of the national carnival queen pageant, Shafeyah, is known throughout the federation as a fashionista, fashion designer, writer, and model. She honed her dressmaking skills in Clothing and Textiles class at the Washington Archibald High School.
Shafeyah took a chance of faith when she designed and made her prom dress and won the title of Prom Queen in 2017.
Shafeyah claims that fashion designing, fashion and style are an escape from her mental imprisonment. Through fashion, she has learnt about who she is and what she can become.
She draws her inspiration from the women around her, who she considers unique, optimistic, and outgoing individuals who continuously encourage her to never give up on her dreams and what she is passionate about.
In 2019 Shafeyah showcased her fashion line, “R3beloutte Couture”, at the New York Fashion Week.
Having battled with depression, anxiety and eating disorders, Shafeyah has had a front-row view of the negative effects of mental illness, the primary reason for her wanting to become a voice for the voiceless.
Shafeyah recognizes one category that is voiceless in our society and desperately needs to be heard is our men. She vows to be an advocate and bring awareness to the importance of mental health for our men.
St Kitts and Nevis National Carnival Committee (SKNNCC) hosted the opening ceremony for the Sugar Mas 51, dubbed Sugar Mas Wonderland, on Friday, December 2, 2022.
The national Carnival queen pageant will be hosted on December 28.
Anthony Morris covers stories related to politics and regional developments. His in-depth reporting about governance and reforms makes him stand out in regional journalism, with a deep analysis of political trends and their impact on Caribbean communities.
