The University of the Virgin Islands (UVI) Student Government Association’s (SGA) Queen’s Committee will host the 42nd annual Miss UVI Ambassadorial Competition at 6 p.m., Saturday, April 23, at the St. Croix Educational Complex. Themed “A Journey Through Time…Celebrating 60 Years of Black Excellence,” the competition will showcase the talents of four contestants vying for the chance to succeed Jackeima Flemming, Miss UVI 2021-2022.
Contestant number one, Tamia Grant, is a junior pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry with an associate in physics. Contestant number two, Esonica Charles, is a junior pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Biology. Contestant number three, Angelique Lettsome, is also a junior pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Biology. Contestant number four, Tyler Valmont, is a senior pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Biology.
This year’s winner will receive a full year of UVI tuition including room and board along with other prizes. The first runner up will also receive cash and other prizes. Contestants will be judged based on content, intellect, language usage, fluency, spontaneity, physical presentation, auditability, clarity and information.
As such, awards will be presented for Most Intellectual Speaker, Best Ambassadorial Presentation, Best Performing Talent, Best Evening Wear, Miss Congeniality, Miss Popularity and Miss Photogenic. Prizes will be distributed in each category.
Miss UVI serves as a goodwill ambassador for the university, participates in UVI’s recruitment efforts, represents the university locally and abroad, and maintains a highly visible role on UVI’s St. Thomas and St. Croix campuses.
“The journey to the throne is not an easy one. Nevertheless, it has been a pleasure collaborating with the contestants,” said Jana Austrie, interim director of Student Activities. These four accomplished contestants are sure to impress and entertain you with their talent, intellect and presentation skills,” she said. “This year, all four contestants [are] representing the many female students breaking boundaries and pursuing studies in the STEM field. I encourage everyone to come support these young ladies.”
The winner of the competition will be invited to compete in The National Black College Alumni (NBCA) Hall of Fame Foundation Inc.’s annual Competition of Black College Queens. The goal of both the Miss UVI Ambassadorial Competition and the Competition of Black College Queens is to provide memorable and impactful experiences for young women attending Historically Black Colleges and Universities across the country. Another goal is to help them gain self-awareness, institutional pride and general societal awareness.
Tickets can be purchased at the Office of Student Activities on the Albert A. Sheen Campus on St. Croix. Tickets are $20 for faculty, staff, and the wider community, and $15 for students. Information to purchase the pay-per-view event via live stream, will be shared via UVI social media platforms.
For more information, contact the Public Relations Office at pr@uvi.edu.
