Ederle Kimberly Stephen of Guyana was crowned Miss Caricom 2020 Online following a virtual contest two Saturdays ago where she beat about nine other women representing different Caribbean countries.
The young women competed in the Presentation, Talent, Nightwear, Swimwear and Intelligence segments and were tasked with creating videos for all except Intelligence. In that segment, after the top three were selected, they competed live on Zoom for the title. The 21-year-old Guyanese stunner was announced as the winner after composite scores proved her to be the top contender.
Two weeks ago, the Berbician shared with The Scene that although she contacted him at the last minute to compete, she was confident he would finish among the top. “The support has always been there for me. This is the largest [pageant] a title I have won. It’s still surreal; it’s going to hit home eventually, ”said Ederle.
Ederle, a third-year medical student at Texila American University, who has not yet discussed with the pageant host, the Caricom Institute, explained how she is required to spend her reigning year. If she did, she said, she would venture into a field that would empower young women. “I would focus on my women, especially teenagers. I hate to see teenagers wasting their time. I like to see women in their place. I hope our next president is a woman, ”he said.
Local pageant organizer, renowned choreographer Oral Welshman, explained that the pageant has been around for 16 years. In fact, for several years in the past, he had worked with the pageant committee as a choreographer, training competitors.
She said Miss Caricom was led by director Monica Sanchez, who is said to be a Guyanese in the United States. The first international stage of the pageant was held in 2004 at the National Cultural Center.
The Caricom Foundation, based in the United States, is said to be a charitable organization. This year, the Miss Caricom Pageant had competitions in four categories: Miss Caricom Little Miss (ages 4-7), Miss Caricom Junior (8-12), Miss Caricom Teen (13-17), and Miss Caricom Senior (18-20s) ).
Following Ederle’s victory, arrangements were made for the money to be transferred to buy and produce her crown, sash and trophy locally. She has won US $ 400, a laptop, and other prizes that she will be presented with when Sanchez visits Guyana next month.
In preparation for the pageant, Ederle worked with designer Randy Madray and filmmaker / photographer, Anthony Indar.
The pageant can be found on the Miss Caricom Int’l Foundation CIP INC Facebook page.