From left to right, Miss St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Miss BVI, Miss St. Maarten and Miss St. Kitts and Nevis are encouraging the public to come out and support all the contestants this evening, May 5 for the Miss Caribbean World Pageant.

The 16 delegates who will be competing for the coveted crown of Miss Caribbean World.

United States Virgin Islands representative at Miss Caribbean World, Miss Temisha Libert during her interview last evening May 2, 2012 at the Eileen Parsons Auditorium.

Sixteen delegates are already in the Territory and on May 2, 2012 showcased their intelligence in the interview section before a host of judges and members of the public at the Eileen Parsons Auditorium.

Speaking to Virgin Islands News Online following the interview section, Miss BVI Abigail Hydman said she thought she did well, adding “part of being in those types of competitions is you have to be confident”.

“You never let your confidence drop because if you do, you automatically relinquish that title and that crown”.

According to Miss BVI, she feels a bit of pressure going into the competition as the VI has not secured a win recently and it’s her goal to bring home the crown and make the Virgin Islands proud. However, she said she is not making that pressure get to her head, as she is doing what she is supposed to do and staying confident.

This is the first year both St. Vincent and the Grenadines and St. Maarten are participating in Miss Caribbean World.

According to Miss St. Vincent and the Grenadines Aviar Charles, she is honoured to be the first contestant from her country to compete in the prestigious regional pageant; however she also feels some pressure knowing that there is a great Vincentian population in the VI who would be coming out to support her and has great expectations for her.

“I have to make sure my A Game is on,” she said with a smile.

Ms. Charles is encouraging everyone to come out and support all the contestants.

Ms. St. Maarten, Trumane Trotman was one of the most energetic contestants on stage during her interview section showcasing a high degree of confidence.

Asked how she feels competing in the contest for the first time, the very vocal young beauty said, “I am a very energetic person who likes to be out there and do things in the community and be around young individuals and interacting, so being in this pageant is like being at home, being at one with my family.”

Ms. Trotman said she looks forward to the entire competition and to learn from the other contestants. She also shared a very critical message that she also shares with her fellow contestants.

“When you go on stage, go on and have fun. Do the best that you can do, no matter what the audience says, the ‘oooos’, the ‘awes’, you know to yourself you did the best that you can do and you did it.”

St. Kitts & Nevis currently holds the title and they will be looking to defend it on Saturday night with contestant Venetta Zakers all set and ready.

Miss St. Kitts said she is not overwhelmed going into the competition though she knows the expectations of her performance. “I am pretty at ease going into the competition, mostly because pageant is what I love to do and it helps to promote the platform which is anything to do with unity ... There is pressure but it is about getting my views and message out to the audience that is the most important thing for me.”

Chairperson of Miss Caribbean World Alesia Hamm is foreseeing a very tight competition as well and upon observing how the delegates handled the interview section, she feels it will be keenly contested.

“Things are going well, the girls are doing well, they are following instructions. I think they are very excited for Saturday night and so am I. The committee is really working hard to ensure we out a good show for the public.”

The 16 delegates are: Anguilla, Miss Olufunmike Banks Devonish; Antigua & Barbuda, Miss Jnoure Smith; BVI, Miss Abigail Hydman; Cuba, Miss Alina Rodriguez Roberts; Curacao, Miss Marvia Laurence; Dominica, Miss Narida Lando; Dominican Republic, Miss Suzan Castano; Jamaica, Miss Roneisha James; Margarita Island, Miss Rosairym Machado Noguera; St. Kitts & Nevis, Miss Venetta Zakers; St. Lucia, Miss Consuelo Dupal; St. Maarten, Miss Trumane Trotman; St. Vincent & the Grenadines, Miss Aviar Charles; Trinindad & Tobago, Miss Wendy Thomas, USVI, Miss Temisha Libert and Venezuela, Miss Greisel Rivero Sojo.

The pageant starts at 7 p.m. sharp. Admission is $25 for advanced tickets and $30 at the door.