Women in St Lucia to celebrate their curves this weekend

St Lucian ladies are set to take to the stage tomorrow at a Curves with Confidence pageant in Soufriere.

Organisers say the pageant was created to shed light on a number of social issues affecting women – in particular "curvy women".

Money raised will go towards helping underprivileged children across the western part of the island.

“In society today, there is a great pressure on young women to look and act a certain way. The growth of social media has swayed women in a particular direction of thought," organisers said in a statement.

"We want to put on a fun-loving show bringing women of all ages and sizes together to promote self-confidence, personal empowerment and independence.

"We want our children growing up to understand the importance of self-esteem and loving oneself."

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Taking centre stage

Darnally Estava, from Reunion, Choiseul (representing Cool Joint Disco) Kisha Francois, from Soufriere (representing Dot Com Sounds) Shenelle Henry, from Anse La Verde, Canaries (representing Liberty FM) Ellen Cox, from Soufriere (representing Impression Boutique) Lyncia Antoine, from Canaries (representing Mampa Agency) Natalie Felix, from Soufriere (representing Sugar Beach, a Viceroy Resort)

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The event is the brainchild of the Alexander Family Foundation and Events, a new company formed last year by Maylisa Alexander and her husband Gary.

Based in Soufriere, the firm describes itself as a new brand for community events that will help in assisting the less fortunate in the western part of the island.

“Our organisation was founded and created to bring communities together to promote and to bring about awareness issues facing the youth and citizenry throughout challenges for community cohesion," they said.

"Alexander Events aims to bring western communities together in an enthusiastic and fun-loving way through a variety of different events that target the western demographic.

"We successfully launched the organisation during the New Year period with a family fun fair in the Soufriere region that was aimed at providing a safe environment for families and, most importantly, for children to come together and enjoy time out with each other.

"The contributions raised were to provide hampers for less fortunate families and a printer for an institution in Soufriere.”

The show is on Saturday, 13 May and begins at 7.30pm.  Tickets cost $40 each, and are available from Eroline Foods, Cool Joint Disco, Purity Bakery and Xquisite Nails and Spa.