A 58-year-old St. Lucian-born clinical technician in the emergency room at the Medical Center Mt. Sinai at 5th Avenue in Manhattan on Saturday captured the inaugural Miss Caribbean Woman 50 and over crown in a beauty pageant that featured six other Caribbean contenders at Mahalia Jackson High School in East Flatbush, Brooklyn.
Miss St. Lucia, Sharon Eutrice Willie not only won the coveted crown but also swept all other categories in the four-hour competition organized by the Grenada-American Former Teachers’ Association, Inc.
In addition to being awarded a trophy, along with the other contestants, for her participation in the pageant, Willie took home trophies for Best Performance Talent, Best Evening Gown, Best Presentation and Most Congeniality good.
Miss Jamaica, Audrey Evans-Bubb, was first runner-up; Miss Trinidad and Tobago, Donna Douglas, second runner-up; and Miss Haiti, Adly Casseus, third runner-up.
The other candidates were: Miss Grenada, Jennifer Adams; Miss Guyana, Lesia Davidson; and Miss Barbados, Judy Newton.
Although Miss Grenada was clearly the crowd favorite – demonstrating plenty of talent and answering well in the interview segment – she failed to make the top four – much to the chagrin of her boisterous supporters.
Miss St. Lucia, however, had her supporters incredibly ardent – dancing, dancing, shouting. and waving the St Lucia flag in front of the stage in the grand auditorium – when Kofi Brown announced the winner at around 10.30pm. The race started four hours ago.
“It’s very rewarding,” Willie said Caribbean Life on stage shortly after being crowned by Cecily Mason, president of the organizing group and a veteran pageant organizer. “I did my best. I put my best foot forward.
“We can do anything if we put our minds to it,” she added, stating that she will be available to “do whatever the association wants me to do.”
In her introduction, Willie said she will “use this platform to tackle world hunger,” making it clear that “we may be 50 years old and older, but we’re just getting started.”
In her Talent, Miss St. Lucia recited a poem, changing from her houseclothes to finery and ending with “I felt in love with me.”
When asked, during the Interview Segment, whether social media has improved or damaged “our lifestyles or society as a whole,” she replied, “I believe it has damaged our lifestyle.”
She, however, added: “Like everything in life, there are negatives and positives. At Mount Sinai, where I work, Mount Sinai has become a household name because of social media.
“It’s important that we look at social media in a positive light so that it doesn’t harm our society,” Willie continued.
The pageant also featured prominent Grenadian gospel singer, Ijeal Joseph; the song, “No Letting Go,” by Melissa Powell; and “Caribbean Poem” by Queen M’Kai.
Additionally, New York City Public Advocate Jumaane Williams, the son of Grenadian immigrants whose mother, Patricia Williams, was among the clients, addressed the audience passionately.
“This is a historic moment,” he said briefly. “Rejoice, peace and blessings.”
Assemblywoman Monique Chandler-Waterman, the daughter of Jamaican and Barbadian immigrants, who represents the 58th The Brooklyn Assembly District was also in attendance.
She thanked the audience, asking them to “enjoy the beauty of the Caribbean people.
“We have to make sure we support our culture,” added Chandler-Waterman, who succeeded former Assemblyman N. Nick Perry, who had represented 58th Assembly District for about three decades.
Perry was recently appointed United States Ambassador to Jamaica, the first native Jamaican to hold that position.
Mason said she was very happy with the turnout and success of the historic competition.
“I’m very rewarded, I’m very pleased,” she said near the end of the show. “Here we are this evening: One people, one Caribbean.”
In her opening remarks, she applauded the seven contestants for their courage — and beauty — in taking part in the first-of-its-kind event.
“These women, they’re focused and very strong,” said Mason, who has organized pageants for the past 27 years. “I’m very grateful to the (Caribbean) diaspora for coming out.”
Stephanie Gabriel served as mistress of ceremonies.
