New Queen Credits Consistency For Win

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Carnival

Tuesday, 31 July 2012 09:45

By Everton Barnes

Antigua St. John's - The newly crowned Queen of Carnival, Ranee Laronde, credits her consistency throughout the Queen of Carnival pageant held at Carnival City on Monday night as the ingredient that separated her from the rest of the field.

Laronde, sponsored by first-timer to sponsorship, Chef 2 U Events, won two of the five segments in one of the more keenly contested shows in years. She said her performances in each of the five judged segments were the keys to her success.

“This was a very competitive show as all of the girls came out with their best performances. However, I was consistent throughout, and I had confidence that that consistency would secure the crown for me,” she told Caribarena.com in a post-show interview.

She acknowledged that the competition was quite close, but that nonetheless she felt that she was able to sway the judges in her favour based on a high level of performance in all the segments.

The new Queen of Carnival won the Swimwear and Evening Wear segments, while her dress designer, Ckhuerckh Vhann Kellte, won best designer. Laronde was the only double winner as each of the three other segments went to separate girls, Talent, Kimberly King, Costume, Daveile Payne-Abbott, and Interview Alana Michael.

The Queen of Carnival was presented with the keys to a brand new Kia Rio motor car from the show’s title sponsor, Harney Motors Ltd. She will move on the represent Antigua and Barbuda in the Jaycees Caribbean Pageant on Friday night at Carnival City.

Owner of Chef 2 U, Calvin Francis, said he is happy that the contestant he sponsored in his first entry into the sponsorship of a queen contestant, has been successful.

Francis said both he and a team worked along with the contestant every day to sharpen her for the competition. “I was a bit nervous at the beginning of the show, but after I saw her perform, I began to feel better, and in the end I was confident that she would win,” he stated. He too credited the newly crowned queen for her consistent performances throughout the show.

The man who heads the team that managed all aspects of Laronde’s participation, Ckhuerckh Vhann Kellte said he is happy to be back in the winner’s circle five years after a contestant he managed won the Queen of Carnival title.

He said he presents a comprehensive package to each contestant with whom he works and that the contestant is allowed to seek other assistance if she is unhappy with a particular segment. 

In Laronde’s case, Vhann Kellte ’s team Signature Events designed both the swimwear and evening wear. Additionally, they provided her with a talent coach, a public speaking coach, someone to assist with finance as well as someone to assist her with her people skills.

Despite the heavy promotion and hype which the show attained, the organisers must feel disappointment with the turn-out at the show.

A spokesman for the organisers said the inclement weather during the day and rumours that the show had been cancelled are to be blamed for the poor turnout.

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