The royal youth of V.I. Carnival 2000 stepped into the sunshine Sunday afternoon to receive their crowns and to offer words of gratitude and encouragement to their community.
At the coronation ceremony in the Emancipation Garden, Queen Canika-Chisa George inclined her head to allow 1999 Queen Shani Smith to set the rhinestone symbol of her reign upon her head.
Dressed in a simple white floor-length gown with spaghetti straps and a sweetheart neckline, the new queen sat with the five contestants who competed with her for the crown. First runner-up Sencelia Gumbs and second runner-up Kanique Thomas came dressed in identical silver column dresses with beaded bodices. The others, Claudette Duggins, Khalilaj Espada and Vickki-Ann Samuel, wore the same dress in sapphire blue.
Queen Pageant Committee members presented each of the six young women with a bouquet of roses – a creamy champagne for Queen Chanika-Chisa, red for each member of her court.
William "Champagne" Chandler, five-time Carnival King of the Band and last year's Carnival Village honoree, looked on from a seat in the David Monsanto Bandstand as his sponsored couple, Prince Greglan Ward and Princess Stephanie Brathwaite, were draped in sashes and blue velvet robes.
The 1999 prince and princess, twins Stedman and Shayeeda Wallace, removed their crowns and placed them on the heads of Greglan and Stephanie.
The new royals displayed graciousness and class. Greglan, acknowledging contestant couples Mark Huggins and Beige Auradou and Kalida Mayers and Alberto Benjamin, said he felt a little sad that he and Stephanie had won almost every honor while the other couples had put up such fine efforts in the competition.
Princess Stephanie urged her peers to make their own stretch for the stars. "To the youth of this community, strive for excellence and you will excel always," she said. "Respect your elders, but most of all respect yourself."
The Wallace twins, who presented a synchronized speech at their coronation last year, thanked each other for their 1999 victory and reign. "To arrive together is a blessing. Winning together is progress. Working together is success," they said.
As 1999 Queen Shani prepared to pass on her crown and crystal scepter, she said her reign had left her with "a deep sense of appreciation and pride in the people" she represented. She pronounced her successor "the territory's most esteemed regal star."
But neither the crown nor the afternoon sun shining softly on her face appeared as bright as the smile worn by Queen Canika-Chisa, contestant No. 6 in a field of six who surprised many at the pageant with her showing. She told the crowd that she learned in winning the title of Carnival Queen to keep her poise in all situations.
She urged her listeners to make the territory a better place by working as volunteers. And at one point, she turned to those seated behind her and summoned her father, Cleve-Allan George Sr., to come forward. After she placed a red carnation in the pocket of his gold-color shirt, father and daughter captured the moment in a loving embrace.
