I was consistent, says newly crowned Miss BVI

By Davion Smith, BVI News Online Journalist

Having copped only two sectional prizes at the end of the pageant, Khephra Sylvester thought she was out of the running for the 2017 Miss British Virgin Islands (BVI) crown.

She could not have been more wrong.

She eventually walked away with the crown and more than $25,000 in cash and prizes.

“Oh my goodness, it feels good! At first, I was a little worried [that I would not win]. I was a little nervous, but the judges’ decision touched me when they said ‘Contestant #6.”

“I probably think that my consistency is what helped me to win this title, because I only won two segments. I would assume that I was consistent in the others – high enough to put me to the top,” Slyvester said after the victory.

The newly-crowned queen was awarded in the Best Intellect and Best Interview categories.

Winning the title of Miss BVI 2017 earned Sylvester a 2017 Toyota Yaris, $5,000 cash, jewellery, and a $20,000 educational grant.

She said the grant will assist her in completing studies at Midwestern State University in Texas, USA.

“I want to finish my accounting degree. I did make a start, and I definitely want that to be my next goal,” she told BVI News Online.

As it relates to her first deed as Miss BVI, Sylvester jocularly said: “My first step is definitely to get some chocolate cake, because this journey has made me go on a crazy crash diet, and I am dying to taste some real food.”

“But on a more serious note, I will definitely follow through with my plans to partner with the Family Support Network, and get started to see how we can work with victims [of domestic violence] and support them and raise awareness,” added Slyvester.

Unprecedented tie

Two contestants, in the meantime, tied for the First Runner-Up position last night. They are Contestant #4 Helina Hewlett, and Contestant #2, Ayana Phillip.

Emcee at the pageant, Zoe Walcott-McMillian, said the tie has never happened in the history of the 63-year-old competition.

“This is unprecedented and the [pageant] committee did what they thought was fair,” she added.

Although their tied, both Hewlett and Phillip copped sectional awards of their own.

Hewlett won Best Talent, Best Evening Wear, Best Cultural and Historical Costume, and the Miss Photogenic categories. Philip, on the other hand, took home the award for Best Swimwear and Most Poised.

Other women who competed in last night’s pageant are Lean Francis who placed third, Genesis Richards who won the Miss Congeniality and Miss Popularity awards, and Tecora Morgan who did not finish the competition due to illness.