75.7 F
Charlotte Amalie
Thursday, March 28, 2024
HomeNewsArchivesSh'Nyah Bacon Is 2014 Carnival Princess

Sh'Nyah Bacon Is 2014 Carnival Princess

Sh'Nyah Bacon glides across the stage in cultural/madras costume.It was almost a complete sweep Sunday night for 11-year-old Sh’Nyah Bacon, who picked up six out of eight pageant awards – from Best Talent to Best Evening Wear – to become the 2014 Carnival Princess.

Bacon had a huge following at this year’s Vita Malt Princess Selection Show, which kicked off Sunday afternoon at Lionel Roberts Stadium on St. Thomas. Dressed in pink, from hair extensions to socks, her family and friends also waved bright pink pom-poms every time Bacon came on stage. Her cheering section got louder by the segment, and by the end of the show it appeared to be no contest: not only did Bacon carry the popular vote, she won in so many categories that there was no second and third runner up.

Bacon, a sixth grader at St. john’s Julius Sprauve school, took the big awards for Best Talent, Best Evening Wear and Miss Intellect, along with Best Cultural/Madras Wear, Best Sportswear and Miss Congeniality. Richelle Lanclos, 10, won Miss Photogenic, and 9-year-old Cemi-Leila John picked up the award for Miss Cooperative.

Richelle Lanclos pays tribute to the territory's boxing champions during the sportswear competition.Going through the show, the three contestants were evenly matched in several categories. Bacon turned up the heat during the talent segment with her powerful rendition of "Ave Maria," but Lanclos also won over the crowd with a gymnastics routine that had her twirling and climbing up and down a dangling hula-hoop, while John’s Caribbean dance routine kept many in the audience talking afterward.

The Cultural/Madras wear segment was new this year, and many also said that each girl was distinctive in her choice of couture costume. Lanclos opened with a jumpsuit that unfolded into a skirt with pants, while Bacon followed with a pink and purple suit with a ruffled train and matching hat. John closed out with a "History of Madras" routine that took the audience back to India as she walked down the stage with a white top and madras skirted sari, whose bottom detached and turned into a regular skirt.

Cemi-Leila John takes the mike during the opening of the princess competition.It was the evening wear section, however, that really put everyone on the same playing field. Throughout the night, Lanclos maintained a turquoise and pink color palette but changed the game during evening wear when she came out in a bright orange gown bedazzled with sequins, crystals and rhinestones meant to symbolize the "powerful Caribbean sun," according to the announcer. Bacon followed in a mint-green dress, also with sequins, that was stacked with ruffles, while John had a two-tone ball gown with a white top and bright pink bottom.

The crowd went wild for each, and kept up the enthusiasm as the girls went into the question and answer segment, where they were asked how important it is for young people to be involved in the preservation of V.I. culture, and why.

Each delivered the same message: V.I. culture will only survive if the younger generations continue to pass it on. Otherwise, it will die.

"My grandmother also always said: in order to get where you are going, you have to know where you’re from," Bacon added.

Sunday’s event officially kicked off the Carnival season on St. Thomas. Coming up next is the Choice Wireless Queen Selection Show, which begins at 8 p.m. April 19 beginning in Lionel Roberts Stadium.

Print Friendly, PDF & Email
Keeping our community informed is our top priority.
If you have a news tip to share, please call or text us at 340-228-8784.

Support local + independent journalism in the U.S. Virgin Islands

Unlike many news organizations, we haven't put up a paywall – we want to keep our journalism as accessible as we can. Our independent journalism costs time, money and hard work to keep you informed, but we do it because we believe that it matters. We know that informed communities are empowered ones. If you appreciate our reporting and want to help make our future more secure, please consider donating.