Miss Teen Cayman Islands crowned

(CNS Local Life): Kevie-Ann Peirre of Bodden Town was crowned the new Miss Teen Cayman Islands at a pageant featuring six contestants held Saturday, 26 August at the Lions Centre. This marked Peirre’s second time participating in the pageant, which opened with a dance performance by the six young ladies and Miss Teen 2016-17 Liana DaCosta, who made her entrance on a hand-carried chariot.

The talent portion of the competition showed the diversity of the contestants. Peirre sang “Rise Up” by Andra Day. Arleny Connor, who was the first runner up, performed a medley of Michael Jackson’s songs, including his dance moves. Ashley Bush, who placed second runner up, performed on the baritone.

Layah Ebanks performed a monologue, based on the TED talk of author Chimamada Ngozi Adichie, “We should all be Feminists.” The youngest contestant, Thalia Naranjo, entertained with a hip hop dance routine wearing a costume lit by LED lights; she also won Most Improved and Miss Personality, the latter voted on by her fellow contestants.

Lian Ebanks sang Alicia Keys’ “Superwoman”, crediting her mother for being a superwoman and teaching her to become one.

Stephanie Scott, chairperson of the pageant committee, said in a press release that all contestants gave “outstanding performances”, adding if she had to judge the competition, she could not have chosen between the contestants.

As a committee, “we become a part of these contestants’ lives and so it would be harder for us to choose one over the other”, Scott said. “Our panel of experienced judges do a good job in assessing the presentations of each girl and although there is always disappointment when one person wins over the other, I trust that the young ladies all see themselves as winners and embrace their more confident and self-assured personalities.”

The Miss Teen committee will continue to be a part of these young women’s lives as they will be invited to participate in the planning committee for next year’s pageant and become mentors to those contestants. In addition they will continue to be involved with community service through the Lions and Leo clubs of Grand Cayman.

The committee is also considering a training session for parents to give them a better understanding of the pageant, its rules and judging criteria to equip them to support all the contestants after the pageant is over.

Peirre and the first and second runners up will now embark on their new journey as ambassadors for the youth of the Cayman Islands.

Tags: Featured, Miss Teen Cayman Islands

Category: Events