The Queen’s Park Steel Shed was filled with joyous screams as 17-year-old Ashley Murphy emerged the winner of the 12th annual Miss Teen Barbados Universal pageant last Sunday night.
Murphy, an upper fifth form student of Lester Vaughan School, will therefore have the honour of representing Barbados at the Miss Teen Universal pageant, which will be held in Trinidad and Tobago.
After the show, organized by Sparkles International under the theme of The Enchanted Garden, Murphy said it was her first pageant, and she actually got into it by trying her hand at modelling.
“I attended a modelling audition, and Mr Clairmonte Grazette told me that I had the necessary qualities and image to enter Miss Teen Barbados,” she recalled, remarking that a number of past winners and contestants had been Community College and university students.
Encouraged by her mum Dawn and aunt Donna, she entered the contest, overcoming a bout of nerves at the start.
“I was extremely nervous at first but my friend Janelle [Defreitas], who eventually was the first runner-up, told me to relax and just be myself,” she recalled.
The rest is history, as Murphy also took the title of Best Performance In Swimwear, Miss Punctuality and Most Disciplined Delegate.
“I believe my natural beauty gave me the edge,” she said matter-of-factly, noting that her light make-up was the result of excellent work by Black Opal.
“In all, it was a good experience, being in the company of the four other contestants and putting on my brown and khaki [Adrii Holder-designed] gown,” she added.
Her plans? “I’m not sure but I would advise any young lady to enter Miss Teen Barbados. It’s a good opportunity which they can enjoy,” said Ashley, who wants to be a meteorologist.
Janelle Defreitas was stunning in a pink gown entitled La Vie En Rose, also designed by Holder, and won Best Gown and Miss Congeniality.
The winning talent was by Adriana Bailey, who performed a drama about HIV/ AIDS and the stigma associated with the disease. She also won Best Project.
Miss Photogenic went to Hashiana Marcelin, Miss Julie’s Party Rentals. (NSH/RJ)
