Miss Yadali Thomas Santos intent on placing in top 5 @ Int'l Pageant
Crowned during the recent ‘Emancipation Festival’ celebrations in the VI, Miss Thomas Santos, in an exclusive interview with Virgin Islands News Online, has since disclosed, she is keen on placing at least in the top-five or even become a continental winner.
More importantly, “I have embraced this as a once in a lifetime opportunity for me to promote our culture in two different languages to all who I come in contact with.”
Sanya, China
Miss World 2018 is venued this year in Sanya, China, on December 8, 2018—the 68th edition of the International Pageant.
Speaking to her preparations for the international pageant, Miss Thomas Santos told this publication, preparations are “two-fold.”
Raised on Tortola, the 21-year-old beauty, said “my preparation actually started as a young child, having learnt of my rich family history as a Salt Island descendant, taking advantage of my VI history studies, and being able to live the authentic VI experience.”
She reveals also, “more practically, I am focused on my Beauty with a Purpose project which carries a lot of weight at the competition.”
Sports Challenge
Miss Thomas-Santos told this publication, “I have also started improving on my physicality and agility because of the sports challenge that is always present at the competition and definitely working hard to perfect my talent piece, as well as learn a few additional pieces, just in case I’m called on to entertain.”
Considered to be the VI’s best results thus far, Miss BVI 2017, Miss Helina A. Hewlitt, had copped second runner-up, in this category in the 2017 Pageant.
This year’s hopeful said, “my goal is to dominate in, as many challenges as possible to leave my mark…I intend to step on the Miss World stage draped in VI pride, demonstrating our resilience while beaming through with the warmth of our people.”
The newly crowned VI royalty—for at least a year, or two, if successful in China—said on the domestic front, she intends to continue to use the Miss BVI platform, “to rally the community for help with my mission to spread a message of positivity to our youth.”
VI Talents
Miss Thomas-Santos disclosed that “I do have a few projects of my own that includes using the talents of the VI’s youth for the betterment of our community.”
She said, “I want to (also) continue the philanthropic work of our past Miss World BVI Queens with the Ezlyn Henley Richez School and the ‘No Extinction in Our Generation’ turtle awareness campaign.”
Crowned on August 11, 2018—a month ago—in the Eileene L. Parsons Auditorium, at the H. Lavity Stoutt Community College (HLSCC), Miss Thomas Santos, in reflecting on her journey to the crown this year, said it was an opportunity she grasped with a determination to win and “to use my title to impact change.”
According to Miss Thomas Santos, “over the years I’ve realized how pageantry positively impacts our community…Hence, I took the opportunity to run for Miss World BVI once again.”
Miss BVI 2018, she said, “taught me to use my mistakes as lessons, to accept constructive criticism and use them as stepping stones and also that though the road to my goals may seem rocky, I should never give up.”
August 11, 2018
Stepping onto the stage, on the evening of August 11, 2018—to an expectant and ever critical patronage—Miss Thomas Santos said, her most enjoyable aspect of the evening was the ‘Creative Cultural Dress’ segment.
“An interesting addition to Miss World BVI this year,” she quipped.
Miss Thomas Santos, told this publication, “from the moment my chaperone chose the songs and I learnt my routine I’d already pictured my delivery, she also advised that I add my own flare; oh what fun!”
According to Miss Thomas-Santos, “then came the dress, made by Ms Hilda Malcolm, I tried it on just plain white and already wanted to show it off but once Macy John hand-painted the Territorial colours and musical imprints, it ignited my BVI pride! With the ruffles at the neck and the head ties, I felt like I embodied a true cultural doll and couldn’t wait to show it off.”
This, “was definitely my most enjoyable segment, for it allowed a creative way to depict the BVI dress and dance,” according to Miss BVI 2018—Yadali Thomas-Santos.
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