ANTIGUA CARNIVAL

Ready, set, GLAMOUR! The Antigua and Barbuda Festivals Commission is urging females across the country who are interested in vying for the title of the first ever Miss Antigua Barbuda to register.

The national pageant replaces the Queen of Carnival competition and will now take place before the summer festival. Members of the ABFC appeared on Good Morning Antigua and Barbuda on Thursday, promising prospective ladies a show with a difference. According to Anika Defreitas, Secretary of the Antigua & Barbuda Festivals Commission, “This pageant is not just about Carnival, it’s about our beautiful country and our rich culture. The show will highlight the talents of the ladies, and the production will be of international standards”.

Cleofoster Harris, Assistant to the Chairman of the Commission, stated that, "Although the segments are similar to that of the Queen of Carnival pageant, the level of competition and the entire production has been changed."

The selection and judging processes have improved as well as the commission is welcoming an international flare to the competition while keeping the Antigua and Barbuda culture. For the new selection process, ladies must be between the ages of 18 and 27 prior to the pageant, not married nor divorced, and must not have any children. In addition to this, the potential delegates must have completed their secondary education with a minimum of five CXC passes including Mathematics and English.

Specific mention was also made that the winner of Miss Antigua Barbuda will be treated as an international ambassador for the year of her reign, and plans are underway for her to be attached to the Tourism Department.

Production Managers responsible for Miss Antigua Barbuda include, Vanda Neil Gardner, Bernard Francis, and Calvin S. Southwell.

The deadline for application is Friday, 14 March. Fifteen delegates will be selected on March 15th to advance to the preliminary show to be held on April 26th.  Forms can be collected from the Office of the Antigua and Barbuda Festivals Commission, located upstairs Pigotts Mall on Market and Redcliffe Streets.

The Miss Antigua Barbuda finale is set for June 27 at the Sir Vivian Richards Cricket Stadium.