Na'Zirah Armstrong was crowned Miss St. Croix Festival Queen 2023-2024 following her electrifying performance during Thursday night's pageant. Photo: Ernice Gilbert/VI Consortium

The event, following the crowning of junior royalty earlier in the week, saw four contestants vying for the title, each showcasing their poise, grace, physique, and talents.

The competition kicked off with a pre-pageant interview at Government House, followed by the swimsuit segment. Tyler Valmont appeared in a pink bejeweled monokini, while Chantelle Esprit chose a purple and teal bedazzled suit. Armstrong’s swimsuit featured a blue midriff cutout with a glittering geometric design, and Alayah Phipps wore a monochrome purple suit with diamanté elements.

The ambassadorial platform speeches required the contestants to reflect on the territory’s cultural history and propose ways to preserve it for future generations. Valmont, dressed in conch shell pink with VI madras accents, spoke about the dangers of gentrification and the need for heritage building preservation policies. Esprit, in an off-the-shoulder purple cocktail dress, envisioned enhancing St. Croix’s tourism experience with local cuisine and cultural activities.

Armstrong, wearing a red dress with madras trim, focused on supporting adolescents in cultural awareness and artistic engagement. Phipps, in a white dress with madras-trimmed sleeves, emphasized education reform and engaging youth in cultural preservation.

The event also featured cultural wear, talent, and evening wear segments, along with appearances by the newly crowned St. Croix Festival Duke & Duchess. The on-stage question and answer session saw Valmont advising her younger self, Esprit discussing domestic violence prevention, Armstrong highlighting St. Croix’s unique culture, and Phipps urging the promotion of cultural events.

After over four hours of competition, Shantalle Espirit was named fourth place, Tyler Valmont secured third place, and Alayah Phipps was the first runner-up, with Na’Zirah Armstrong winning the crown as Miss St. Croix 2023-2024.