Kelly Smith crowned Miss Saint Lucia USA Independence

Saint Lucia: Kelly Smith of Saltibus, Choiseul, was recently crowned the prestigious Miss Saint Lucia USA Independence Pageant. The pageant was held on February 3, during which seven young females competed for the title and crown of this pageant. This pageant marked a significant milestone for the diaspora, with the first runner-up position being secured by Chancy Fontenelle (Ms Babonneau) and the second runner-up position being grabbed by Shennelle Hippolyte (Ms Soufriere).

Notably, Chancy designed her cultural wear and swimwear and redesigned her evening wear. With the help of her team, she constructed the talent piece (the volcano), "rising from the ashes".

[caption id="attachment_67669" align="aligncenter" width="900"] Chancy Fontenelle (Ms. Babonneau): First runner-up[/caption]

All 7 women were bursting with talent, beauty, brilliance and conviction for their mission to make a difference in the world.

The energy and passion from the 400-person sold-out crowd were through the roof, with people enjoying themselves to the fullest.

This was the first time that such a pageant was held, with people expecting it to be a yearly affair.

One of the judges of the show, Dionne Nicholls, took to Facebook to congratulate the winners and the participants. She said, "Keep shining, Kelly, as you continue to represent our Chosen Place with pride and excellence. We Choiseulians know how to grasp our victory and etch our talents wherever we go!"

She further added that Miss Saint Lucia has been crowned and she embodies everything that comes to mind when thinking of a Caribbean Queen.

Nicholls said that she was truly honoured to be teamed up with an esteemed panel of judges for the inaugural Miss Saint Lucia Pageant hosted by the Consulate General of Saint Lucia.

Meanwhile, several social media users also congratulated the winner Kelly Smith and wished her luck for future endeavours. "Congratulations, Kelly Smith. You performed exceptionally well," wrote a user named Sophia, while another user, Tara, said, "Congratulations to Kelly Smith. Well deserved."

A user who watched the whole pageant said, "My pick was for Castries North, but Kelly damn near was perfect, and clearly deserved the win!! Chancy responded poorly to the question, and the walk she displayed was something from a strip club."