Photo Focus: Family Fun at the St. John Celebration Pageant

Celebrations of Father’s Day and the St. John Royalty Pageant blended together into an evening of live entertainment on Sunday night. The St. John Celebration Prince and Princess contest, paired with the St. John Junior Miss competition, appeared on stage in a new venue for 2024.

About 250 spectators filled the parking lot by the tennis court to see the introduction of princess contestants Alaysha Pepen and Sarai Lawrence…

Alaysha Pepen’s Market Lady (Source photo by Judi Shimel)
Sarai Lawrence’s Cartoon Character (Source photo by Judi Shimel)

Followed by junior miss contestants Jendallis Santana and De’Aneysha Hill. Alternating segments for the two contests played out on the same stage, with prop and costume crews rushing into action in their allotted time.

Jendallis Santana displays her Caribbean Flower entry. (Source photo by Judi Shimel)
De’Aneysha Hill’s Caribbean Flower flecked with light. (Source photo by Judi Shimel)

Prince Tejari Moses greeted the crowd during the evening wear segment; he came dressed in a white suit decorated with silver detailing. Fathers and father figures, dressed in formal wear, escorted each contestant at that time.

Settled into their seats facing the stage, the crowd watched, cheered and chatted with each other. Kim Boschulte Ramsingh came to St. John along with her daughter Madison Ramsingh, the reigning Miss USVI.

Boschulte said she liked the pageant setting best when organizers used Celebration Village as a backdrop.

Two and a half hours after the start, the judges made their decisions; Lawrence was crowned princess, and Hill won the title of junior miss.

Pageant volunteers also crowned Moses, the single entry for 2024 Celebration Prince.