Trinidad and Tobago’s Miss World Pageant representative Aché Abrahams shined brightly at the event in Mumbai, India, yesterday, securing a spot in the top four and the Miss World Americas and the Caribbean title.
The Czech Republic’s Krystyna Pyszková broke T&T fans’ hearts by taking the title at the pageant’s 71st edition, while Miss Lebanon Yasmina Zaytoun was first runner up. Miss Botswana Lesego Chombo was the other top four contestant.
However, there was much for locals to be happy about following Abrahams’ effort in again bringing T&T the closest its been in years to winning the competition since Miss World 1986 Giselle Laronde.
Michelle Khan, the representative at the 1995 pageant, was a second runner up while Valene Maharaj finished in the top five at the 2007 event.
Abrahams took to Instagram soon after her performance to thank her fans.
“I am so excited to travel with the Miss World team. I hope by now you know we won the continental title of Miss World Americas and Caribbean. So I’m looking forward to working with the team for the next year, and of course, Mrs (Julia) Morley and supporting our new Miss World, Czech Republic. Thank you so much for your support from day one till’ the end. And I love you. I love you. I love you...” Abrahams said.
She was referring to the fact that the top four delegates will now be travelling the world for the next year as part of Miss World Pageant team. They are scheduled to head to Mauritius next.
Contacted in India last evening, Navneet Boodhai, co-owner of Miss T&T World franchise, said Abrahams now has obligations to the international franchise.
“She is going to be contracted as the continental queen for the Americas and the Caribbean, and travelling as well with the Miss World. So she may not be back soon, as we would’ve thought. As the new Miss World is crowned, almost immediately the work starts and that work is with all the continental queens as well. Aché will be part of that delegation,” Boodhai said.
In response to the overwhelming messages of support and congratulations from fellow Trinbagonians, Abrahams’ mother, Camille Selvon Abrahams, acknowledged the love and fanfare with a Facebook post of a photo of her daughter claiming the Americas and the Caribbean continental title, with a caption reading: “The love she received from T&T…”
Also acknowledging the achievement was Minister of Tourism, Culture and the Arts Randall Mitchell, who congratulated her on representing the country well.
“From the moment Aché copped the Miss World Trinidad and Tobago, she distinguished herself with grace, intelligence, and a most pleasing personality truly reflecting what it should mean to be Trinbagonian,” he said.
Earlier, Abrahams worked her way through the top 40, top 12 and top eight before advancing into the top four. She faced two questions-and-answer segments in the final.
Her first question was: “According to you, what is the most pressing issue that most working women face, and why?”
She replied: “I have to say it’s not a lack of talent or skills, it’s a lack of opportunities. So, I’m grateful for Miss World for giving me this platform because you’re allowing me to follow my dreams.”
This answer secured Abraham’s place in the top four and the Americas and Caribbean region title ahead of Miss Brazil Letitia Frota.
The second question segment asked the competitors to “pitch” to the judges why they should win the competition.
Poised with confidence, Abrahams declared before the judges and the world, “In sweet T&T, we say may every creed and race find an equal place. I live my life every day with that motto, with that mantra. I believe Miss World has a similar mantra. I believe when you have compassion and understanding for differences, you can really make a difference in the world and work hand in hand to create a bright future.”
She added, “For me, I am so honoured to be here and to share the mindset of T&T because we can truly make a difference. In Trinidad and Tobago, we acknowledge our similarities but more importantly, we celebrate our differences. We see beauty in diversity and we promote inclusion.”
Abrahams also talked about matters of mental health, admitting to experiencing depression and how she rose out of it, in addition to writing a poem to bring awareness to India’s tigers affected by poaching and deforestation.
—Reporting by Matthew Chin