Genesis Clifford is the new queen of the Lystra Lewis Port-of-Spain Netball League.
The Queen Show and Cultural Pageant, themed “African Connections”, was held at City Hall on Knox Street, Port-of-Spain, on Saturday (July 6) evening.
The competition which returned after a four-year absence, saw Clifford of Cardinals Netball Club, representing Ethiopia, getting the nod from the judges among the 13 participants.
“I feel so excited,” said Clifford after winning the title, crowded by her joyful supporters on stage all anxious to get a photo with the new queen. “Coming into the competition, I didn’t know what to expect. We had a lot of other beautiful girls and a lot of competition, and I’m so grateful to be this year’s queen.”
Clifford, a goal-shooter, was crowned by national Under-21 captain Destiny Williams of Soul City, who did her handing over duty before heading out yesterday to Guadeloupe to lead T&T at the Americas Netball World Youth Qualifiers. Williams won the title back in 2019 before the COVID-19 pandemic hit.
The runner-up was Miss Zimbabwe Christine Wint of Mucurapo Ex-Pupils. In third place was Miss Democratic Republic of Congo Hermione Martin of Spartoms and in fourth, Miss Egypt Brittany Foderingham (SWWTU Malvern).
The show opened with the contestants introducing themselves wearing their netball sportswear all representing their respective teams. Then it was time for the talent show, which was diverse with some doing dances, poems, and skit-style performances, playing a musical instrument like Miss Zimbabwe, who did drumming, and others, songs including the eventual winner. Clifford’s talent presentation with a combination of a poem, which transitioned into a song, then she played the national instrument, the steelpan which wowed the heavily engaged audience.
The evening wear segment was just as vibrant as the delegates and displayed their, clearly researched by most, African connections.
Clifford’s green and gold pants outfit and headwear to match were accentuated with a long draping cape influenced by the national flag of the Ethiopian country—green, yellow, and red with a central blue disk that displayed a gold star.
After each individually paraded, all the delegates took the stage and were serenaded by the 2023 Calypso Monarch, Ta’zyah O’Connor, who presented tokens to the contestants courtesy of the LLPOSNL. Earlier during the break for the changeover, O’Connor did several songs for the audience, acapella-style as the DJ was having issues. However, it did not take away from O’Connor’s entertaining performance.
Clifford, Wint, Martin, and Foderingham moved on to the final question round after competing against Miss Cameroon Nickelia Gomez (Horizon), Miss Ethiopia Akima Dickson (Hill Girls), and Miss South Africa Samantha Greene (Laventille United) in the top seven in the first questions segment.
Clifford emerged as the winner. Individual awards were also presented. Third-placed Martin was awarded the “Best Talent”, while runner-up Wint won two categories—“Best Sportswear” and “Best Evening Wear”.
The other delegates in the competition were Miss Tanzania Jechelle Daniel (Malta Carib Senators), Miss Uganda Serene Phillips (Laventille United), Miss Morocco Makayla Constantine (Malta Carib Senators), Miss Angola Kamarie Charles (Ebony Z Champ), Miss Nigeria Sariah Coltes (Transcend United), and another Miss Nigeria Chevyl Doyle (Transcend United).
All delegates were gifted on the night. Members of the audience were also treated with free Sunday ice cream and several won door prizes from Guiltless Gourmet.
Sponsors included Live Wire Media Works, City Hall, Xtra Foods, Bermudez, Bic Technology, Carib Brewery, The Beauty and Spa, Elka’s Beauty School and Salon, Efie Designs, Makeup Magix, Guiltless Gourmet, Jason Shields, Cascadia Hotel, Pettlin Trim, Avanelle Assoon, The Award Centre, Jackie Christians, Employees—Point Lisas Port, Odette John, Interchem Limited, Meghan Holder, Diane Pascall, Amoy Van Lowe, and Ver-Jan Services, as well as several friends and supporters.
