Sept. 17, 2007 — Chenelle Denay Brady was crowned Miss Friendship Sunday in a pageant celebrating the shared history of the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico.
The show, held at the Frederik D. Dorsch Cultural Activity Center in Frederiksted, is part of this year's Virgin Islands/Puerto Friendship activities.
“It’s an enormous pleasure to welcome you to Frederiksted,” Vera Falu told a packed house Sunday evening. Falu chairs the V.I.-P.R. Friendship committee, which has planned a monthlong celebration packed with cultural events.
The two contestants, Solgisselle Torres, 17, and Brady, 21, sashayed across the stage performing dance numbers, exhibiting their talent, and modeling swimsuits, cultural wear and evening wear.
The show opened with a spirited dance number by the contestants, joined by the reigning queen, Leonor White. Next came the swimsuit competition. Both contestants wore matching one-piece white swimsuits featuring an over-sized hibiscus on the front.
In the talent segment, Torres showed her gift of singing and songwriting, performing an original song in Spanish and English. Brady paid homage to Caribbean and Hispanic women through an interpretive-dance number.
Torres’ cultural wear depicted the traditional dress young Hispanic women wear to ballroom dances. The white dress — accented with sequins on the bodice and along the hem — was accessorized with matching white elbow-length gloves. Brady chose a hoop-skirted gown in the traditional Crucian madras fabric. Her matching hat featured miniature Virgin Islands and Puerto Rican flags.
The final section was the evening gown competition. Torres sparkled in a form-fitting long, strapless black dress accented with silver glitters. Brady’s gown reflected a Caribbean butterfly in resplendent colors of canary yellow and turquoise.
When it was all over, Brady won big, capturing Miss Popularity, Miss Photogenic and the title of Miss Friendship. Both contestants received gifts of island trips, complementary dinners, jewelry, beauty products and several other valuable prizes.
The V.I – P.R. Friendship activities continues with these events:
— Saturday, Sept. 29, 8 p.m.: Island Center cultural presentation "Shared Roots"
— Sunday, Sept. 30, 1 to 5 p.m.: "AREYTO" — A family affair at Estate Whim Plantation Museum
— Sunday, Oct. 7: Governor's award ceremony to pioneer families and lifetime achievement award at Government House (invitation only)
— Friday, Oct. 12, 6 to 9 p.m. at the Florence Williams Library: Presentation of the Hispanic Collection, poetry recitals and readings performed in both Spanish and English.
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