The coordinator of the Miss Antigua and Barbuda Pageant, Calvin Southwell, has said there is nothing strange about crowning three queens at Wednesday’s pageant.
He was speaking in the face of criticism from members of the public who have branded the changes as “not making any sense at all.”
Southwell, a veteran designer, and Mas’ Builder has also been criticised for having 20 girls compete in an elimination-style event.
Traditionally, there has only been one queen to represent Antigua and Barbuda at regional and international pageants.
But according to reports, there will be a queen with regional duties, a queen with an international focus and a queen to reign locally.
When he appeared in Pointe FM over the weekend Southwell confirmed the changes. He said they are necessary for Antiga and Barbuda’s participation in international pageants.
“This year there will be three crowned winners. We have to call them crowned winners because we are hoping to go back to the international show. If you are a title holder, and you are assigned to a show you cannot go to any other show,” he said.
Southwell made reference to the recent decision of Miss Anguilla to pull out of the Miss Jaycees Pageant as she prepares to represent the United Kingdon at the Miss Universe Pageant.
The pageant coordinator does not know that the three queens will be called when asked.
“You know what, I did, and I had word with the chairman and he sort of change it to make it easier for people to understand so we are still in the process,” he said.
He did not reveal the criteria for judging the various queens.
“We should not just think about aiming for the ceiling but aim for the stars,” Southwell told radio listeners.
The format which will see ten girls eliminated from the competition has been described as “utter rubbish”.
From the ten a further five will be chosen. Out of the five, there will be three queens, a first and second runner-up.
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All ah dem jus a mash up carnival.
I understand and support the new format
If the focus is on the outside, then keep your pageant out of Carnival!
You totally disregarded the local needs. You have created disconnect…the show is held in a vacuum-like state!
You are bringing on too many sudden, drastic changes…WE WANT BACK OUR LOCAL QUEEN SHOW WHERE WE GO AND SUPPORT OUR FAVOURITE GIRLS!
Its not in carnival though. It happens a week earlier than it used to. Remember the big cussing a few years ago when it was removed from the carnival line up
Changes are important…. give it chance it may improve the product… Life is not stagnant. You can only failed if you try, but doing nothing you failed already.
Understandable however it shouldnt be this way why not have separate shows throughout the yr to determine this? Its not fair cause alot of girls out there would like the opportunity and it crown three queens in one night isnt good enough…
Calvin S can go to hell with his changes. All the years he held the franchises and wasn’t doing shit. Now he gets the opportunity to work on Ms. Antigua, he’s using it to supplement for his lack of planning and laziness throughout the years. When last you sent in a representative to Ms Universe or Ms World, Calvin? Other countries hold screenings and pageants specifically for these international pageants. But you sir are just so damn lazy. What has become of his pageant, Ms. Regal International? Calvin for all these years you have been doing pageants, you have been very inconsistent and have failed to train a girl to break into the top 25 internationally. Kai may have gotten Ms. Congeniality but that isn’t a judged segment and based simply on her personality. Calvin, I’m 100000% sure you are going to take this pageant down.
I sort of understand where Calvin is getting at. If they wanted a local queen, they should have reintroduced the queen of carnival competition. The Miss Antigua Barbuda Pageant concept is to select a contestant for Miss universe. 🤷🏻♂️
Currer Bell I am in FULL agreement with everything you said because it is true. As a pageant guru I KNOW that the Miss world franchise DOES NOT endorse one show to select three different girls for the various shows as their ideals are different. They all look for different things. Even though Shermain Jeremy went to both miss universe and Miss world, there was no show. She was simple selected because she had the financial means.
I also see if we are represented this year MS Francis will ultimately be the representative to these international pageants because she has the financial means… The government definitely can’t fit any of the bills and neither can Calvin.
This format was a total disaster. You can have your show with one winner Who carries our nations flag.
You know what is baffling me though… If there was to be another miss Antigua Barbuda… WHO WOULD DO THE FINAL WALK…???
Calvin maybe it’s time to bow out gracefully.
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