SHAUNICE GRIFFITH CAME, she slayed and she conquered, winning the judges’ votes to be crowned Miss Holetown 2017 last night in an almost four-hour long production.
The 17-year-old aspiring criminologist won Miss Punctuality, Personal Style and People’s Choice, and was stunning in her green mermaid style Lucy Lui dress.
Griffith was a welcomed diversion from a show riddled with poor talent, obscured and befuddling answers in the questions and answer segment, and a horrible sound system which messed up contestants and the night’s entertainment on a whole.
The first runner up was Tinesha Drayton, while Kamara Abbott, 25, didn’t receive any of the individual prizes, but accumulated enough prejudging points to place third.
Three other young women vied for the title under the theme From The Olive Blossom To The Pride Of Barbados. The pageant, in its 35th year, was held at the Frederick Smith Secondary School in St James.
Leann Skeete won Best Gown with an Orlando Williams design and Best Talent was deservedly won by Drayton.
Her a cappella song Speak Out, written by Chrystal Cummins-Beckles, was top notch. She needed no accompanying music to get her message across about speaking out against child abuse.
At the end of the night the other contestants who walked away with prizes were Alicia Lloyd, 20, who won Most Photogenic and Best Project and 19-year-old Kaitlan Marshall who won Miss Congeniality, Miss Amity and Most Improved.
Lloyd’s tribute to Rihanna would have been great if wasn’t plagued with sound problems.
Some of the past winners of Miss Holetown surround 2017 winner Shaunice Griffith (sitting) who was overcome with emotion.
The past queens of the festival brought the entertainment for the night and hands down were the best part of the show. While not all 33 were present, some of those who strutted onstage could have easily reentered the pageant last night.
They still had the talent, beauty, charm and charisma they possessed when they won. (NS)
