New queen reigns for Pirates Week
(L-R) Top three Miss Festival Queen 2017 winners Latoya Lightbody, Tracey Barnes-Fagan and Victoria Ebanks (Photo by Eziethamae Bodden)
(CNS Local Life): Tracey Barnes-Fagan of Bodden Town took the top prize at the 2017 Pirates Week Festival Queen competition on Friday, 10 November. Designed by Julio Fagan, her costume “Isle of Gems” played on the festival’s “Treasures Of Change” theme. “The areas of adjudication for the competition include authenticity, stage presentation, use of Caymanian products, design detail and the costume’s relevance to the festival’s annual theme,” said Monique Burton, Miss Festival Queen subcommittee chair.
Miss East End, Latoya Lightbody placed first runner up with her costume “Cayman’s Heritage Beauty”, which she designed herself. Second runner up went to Miss West Bay Victoria Ebanks, whose costume “Lady Treasures” was designed by Yendi Parchman.
Sponsored by the Ministry of Culture, the competition is between the district heritage committees and tailored to female contestants starting at age 15. Organisers said the event is touted as a unique way to showcase Caymanian culture through design, stated a press release.
“We want to thank the ministry for their sponsorship, our talented designers, volunteers, the contestants, our judges, Rico Rolando, Donna Bush and Teresa Cole for their time and efforts but we also want to give a big thank you to the Festival Queen subcommittee team for putting together such a wonderful event,” said Melanie McField, Pirates Week executive director.
