Aspiring professional dancer Ariel Thomas, 21, was adjudged the 2016 Miss Siparia Fete Queen in a competition on Friday.
Six contestants participated in the competition, which is part of the annual Siparia Fete celebrations, which comes off two weeks after Easter. The celebrations included steel in motion, a parade of steelbands along the main street on Saturday and culminated on Sunday with a church service and procession honouring the Holy Shepherdess, La Divina Pastora.
The contestants made three appearances on stage at the Plaza Siparia Conference Hall, first, to introduce themselves while dressed in black T-shirts and jeans.
They later appeared in resort wear and finally in evening wear. Entertainment was provided by New Generation Dance Group, vocalist Destiny Charles and Shemark Adams who serenaded the contestants.
Thomas, representing the TnT Dancer Performers, surged ahead in the question and answer segment to beat out her closest competitor, Kadesha Shantel Crystal Coutou. Thomas is currently pursuing a bachelor’s degree in dance at the University of Trinidad and Tobago (UTT).
Coutou, 18, who represented the Siparia Police Youth Club, is a lower Six Form student of Holy Faith Convent, Penal, pursuing business studies. She also won a special prize for best evening gown.
Shemaka Amanda Latoya Ramlal, who came in at position number three, represented Miss Black Carpet Cultural Movement. Ramlal is also a student pursuing a major in journalism and a minor in psychology at the University of the West Indies (UWI). She was also declared Miss Photogenic.
Although she did not place in the top three, Kurvurlene Adams, a 16-year-old Siparia East Secondary student, who represented the Santa Flora Police Youth Club, was declared Miss Congeniality.