Ready for the "off" - contestants stand for the singing of the National Anthem of Trinidad & Tobago
Blee get the musical entertainment underway
Contestants co-ordinator Magykk Myers with commere Natalie Latan, 16th Miss Caribbean & Commonwealth
Nervous? Contestants await the "call on stage"
Judge Augustina Lyons, 11th Miss Caribbean & Commonwealth, makes her return to the "boards"
Back by popular demand - JPS with Essence were a popular "top" of the musical bill
Carivog International fashions and Poison Carnival Costumes provided the highlight to the "Tribute to Trinidad & Tobago"
Even more nervous? Anxious contestants give judges a final opportunity to assess their qualifications to hold the title
Yolanda Gqomo is elected the 22nd Miss Caribbean & Commonwealth - the first South African to win the title
Magykk Myers, seen with Yolanda, is congratulated on co-ordinating an outstanding contest
Karola Rajoo (Trinidad & Tobago) , 21st Miss Caribbean & Commonwealth, and Yolanda Gqomo (South Africa), illustrate the exceptional scope of the title
WINNER’S FIREWORK DISPLAY ON GUY FAWKES NIGHT
Trinidad singer provides the highlight A catwalk “touch of magic” on the stage
Yolanda Gqomo provided a firework display of her own to win the 22nd Miss Caribbean & Commonwealth contest at the Polish Centre in Hammersmith, West London on Friday 6th November – as Londoners celebrated Guy Fawkes / Firework night all around. Fourteen contestants braved inclement weather, traffic snarl-up and a depressing economic situation to give the six-member judging panel as much as they could think about. Yet Yolanda’s winning smile and confidence cut through the gloom. It was a triumph, too, for photographer Ben Black who had introduced Yolanda to the title to match his recommendation of then winner Shirley Dee two contests ago. Whereas Ms Gqomo is the first South African to lift the trophy the Ugandans and Zambians fell desperately short of attaining the same target. Gloria Nsubuga, who had considerable public support – not least with the Polish venue staff, matched fellow-Ugandan Esther Lumutenga (2006) in coming second. Lucie Mwananshiku gave Zambia its first “taste at the top” by sharing third place with Evita Dessou-Yovo of Ghana. The contest had its first representative from Mauritius and only second from Pakistan. Nikisha Reyes Pile provided the highlight from the platform in singing the national anthem of Trinidad & Tobago, the country of current title-holder Karola Rajoo, and highlighted a special tribute to the twin-island state. Natalie Latan and Rosemary Chileshe were a very effective, and attractive, presentation partnership. In spite of being held up by the traffic Archbishop Dr Bancroft McCarthy again opened the show, and the United Christian Harmony Group commenced the performance. Magykk Myers, contest co-ordinator, brought a catwalk “touch of magic” to the stage – with an exciting presentation of routine which broke with the traditional more staid parade of former years. Although the artist, herself, was in the U.S.A. the work of painter Shiri Achu graced the foyer. A full report of the contest and the schedule of performers will be published soon.
