Contestant #4 Torey Challenger, Contestant #2 Charisma Hypolite, Contestant #3 Moneé Edwards, last year’s Miss St. John Festival Queen Shanell Thomas, Contestant #1 Tyeefah Lynch and Contestant #5 Khadijah Lee.
Don’t forget to purchase tickets soon for this weekend’s St. John Festival Queen Selection Show on Saturday night, June 22, at Winston Wells ball field.
Each year, the St. John Festival Queen show wows the audience with thrilling dance numbers, elaborate costumes and talented young ladies vying for the title of Miss St. John Festival Queen.
This year will be no exception.
Contestant Number 1 is Tyeefah Lynch, 18, of St. Thomas. Lynch was vice president of her CAHS class of 2013 and Captain of the Golden Hawkettes Dance Team.
A life-long dancer, Lynch looks forward to heading off to Norfolk State University to pursue a degree in Psychology after graduating from Charlotte Amalie High School this year.
“At a young age I was enrolled in dance classes where I studied Ballet, Jazz, and Hip Hop and also found the love for performing arts,” said Lynch. “I want to earn a degree in Psychology and I dream of establishing my own practice and later starting a family.”
Lynch’s chaperone is Cubie-Ayah George.
Contestant Number Two, St. Johnian Charisma Hypolite, 18, is a freshman at the University of the Virgin Islands pursuing a degree in Hotel and Tourism Management.
“Hotel and Tourism Management is my choice of study because I love people, and in all frankness, I love the Virgin Islands, especially St. John,” Hypolite said. “I enjoy my environment and have set a career goal to move the Virgin Islands forward in tourism. I believe that growing up on St. John with panoramic views and with an abundance of natural beauty, stimulated my creativity and developed my interest in Hotel and Tourism Management.”
Hypolite was inspired to run for the title after first joining the show as a back-up dancer.
“I started out on the Miss St. John Festival Queen stage as a back-up dancer in the opening number for the contestants,” said Hypolite. “Today I have shifted roles and present myself as a contestant. I am excited and I have no doubt that this challenging experience will be rewarding as it adds to my continued growth as dynamic intelligent St. Johnian female.”
Hypolite is also passionate about dancing, she added.
“Dancing is my main passion,” she said. “As a young child at the age of eight I received instructional dance lessons at St. John School of the Arts. I participated as a member of the cheerleaders for the Julius E. Sprauve School; and in high school I joined and danced for the Ivanna Eudora Kean Drill Team Dancers.”
“Dancing relaxes my body, my mind, and my soul,” said Hypolite.
Hypolite’s chaperone is Cheryl Willie.
Contestant Number Three is Monee’ Edwards, 18, a St. Thomas resident, is a 2012 graduate of CAHS and is currently enrolled at UVI, pursuing a degree in Business Management.
Since she was a young girl, however, Edwards has been an avid student of home economics, she explained.
“Always having had a keen interest in home economics, I have participated in many activities related to this interest, such as the foods, clothing, and occupational Childcare classes offered,” Edwards said.
Edwards took part in on-the-job training classes at CAHS and still occasionally works with Ecedro Wesselhoff’s Catering Service today, she added.
While she’s pursuing a degree in business, the world of cooking is still dear to Edward’s heart, she explained.
“With my passion for the culinary arts, upon graduation from UVI, I plan to attend the New England Culinary Institute at the H. Lavity Stoutt Community College in Tortola, British Virgin Islands,” said Edwards.
Edwards aspires to pass on her knowledge about culinary arts and hotel management to future generations by serving as a hotel training instructor at a secondary school, she explained.
Edward’s chaperone is Teryssa Thomas.
Contestant Number Four is Torey Challenger of St. John, 18, a senior at Ivanna Eudora Kean High School.
Challenger spent part of her childhood between St. Lucia and Tampa, Florida, returning to the Virgin Islands to attend Julius E. Sprauve School before heading off to IEKHS.
“Having been raised partly in St. Lucia and Tampa, Florida, I am a mix of Caribbean heritage and American history,” said Challenger. “Because of the many locations of my childhood, I was able to experience a vast range of activities and hobbies. I took part in ballet and cultural dance while living with my grandmother in St. Lucia and as a student of the L.A. Ainger Middle School in Tampa, I was an active member of the drama club, tech club, gymnastics team and the cheerleading squad.”
At JESS, Challenger joined the cheerleading squad, and was a member of the FCCLA. At IEKHS, she is active with both the marching band and drama club.
This self-assured young lady has very clear ambitions for her future.
“Upon my high school graduation, it is my dream to be the first Virgin Islander to attend the AMDA College of the Conservatory of the Performing Arts, where it is hope to major in Dramatic Theatre,” she said.
Challenger pointed to the strong female role models in her life for keeping her grounded while dreaming big.
“I am also grateful for the amazing women in my life,” she said. “My mother, grandmother and aunt have taught me that my inner beauty of most important because it resonate far beyond all that is physical.”
Challenger’s chaperone is Migdalia Feliciano.
Contestant Number Five is St. Johnain Khadijah Lee, 18, a freshman at UVI and a graduate of CAHS. With a love of dancing, singing and athletics, Lee has no shortage of activities to keep her busy.
“I have a natural love for dancing, reading, singing, traveling, athletics, and spending precious time with my loved ones,” said Lee. “To add to my list of loves, I also sketch outfits that mirror the inner emotion of any individual. I have an interest in fashion which fuels my creative fire.”
Lee is working toward a Bachelor’s Degree in Communications, who plans to become a speech instructor for high school and college students.
“As a result of teaching them about communications, they will not only learn how to communicate within their comfort zone, but on international level,” said Lee. “Communication is key.”
Lee’s chaperone is Cresida Reid.
Good luck to all of the ladies!