March 31, 2002 – The 50th anniversary celebration of V.I. Carnival officially got under way Sunday with the selection of a new prince and princess for 2002.
The winning duo, 9-year-old Reshai Corneiro and 8-year-old Akeem Warner, charmed the crowd with their impersonations of Michael Jackson and Diana Ross. They also won the prize for best eveningwear.
About a thousand people, mostly families with their own princes and princesses in tow, converged on Lionel Roberts Stadium late on Easter Sunday afternoon for the first of the annual series of Carnival stadium shows and pageants. At the end of the four-hour event, supporters crowded the front of the stage to hail the victorious Couple No. 1. Also offering congratulations were the reigning young royals of 2001, Omari Williams and Britanny Rodrigues.
Couple No. 2, Lauren Fleming and Stanley Barbel, III, captured the best talent, most cooperative prince and princess, and most photogenic awards. Couple No. 3, Aniqua Mills and Caheem Peets, won the question-and-answer segment and the titles of Mr. and Miss Intellect.
Gov. Charles W. Turnbull was on hand to witness the pageant, along with about a dozen past princes and princesses dating back to the beginnings of modern-day Carnival in the 1950s. And as a glimpse of things to come, Master of Ceremonies Irvin "Brownie" Brown introduced the four contestants who will vie for the title of Carnival Queen on the stadium stage next Saturday. The candidates were escorted by four young men. In a salute to 1952, there will be a king as well as a queen for Carnival 2002 — the escort of the winning contestant.
The images of the first Carnival king and queen, Leo Sibilly and Carmen Nicholson (who would later wed her king), appear on the backdrop mural, stage left, at the stadium.
Through the double doors leading backstage, each of the three sets of prince and princess contestants appeared and disappeared Sunday evening as they made their way through the pageant's various segments — introduction, sportswear, cultural interpretation, talent and eveningwear. Their cultural interpretations centered on the 50th anniversary theme, "A Cultural Roogoodoo for 2002."
According to emcee Brown, in an interview done a few months ago, a roogoodoo is a loud commotion that usually comes along with great excitement.
For a run-down of what's coming up, see the Source's Carnival 2002 Schedule.
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