Ty’Rique Charles, E’ssense Hodge-Julian BVI’s new Prince and Princess

Ty’Rique Charles and E’ssense Hodge-Julian have been crowned the 2019/2020 Prince and Princess of the BVI.

The territory’s newest young royals were crowned following a five-hour-long show inside a packed Multipurpose Sports Complex in Road Town on Sunday.

E’ssense copped five of the category awards in the Princess pageant while Ty’Rique swept all awards in the Prince leg of the show.

E’ssense was awarded for popularity, best ambassadorial wear, the best circus de Tortola, best talent, and best in evening wear.

The 11-year-old attends the Pelican Gate school and hopes to become a lawyer.

“It is a great opportunity to enhance my public speaking skills, make new friends, and share my bold personality with the BVI,” she said while outlining why she entered the pageant.

Aspiring pro basketball player

Meanwhile, eight-year-old Ty’Rique took home the awards for Nova Vita congeniality, popularity, most photogenic, best introductory dance, best ambassadorial speech, best ambassadorial wear, the best circus de Tortola, best talent and best in evening wear.

Like E’ssence, he attends the Pelican Gate School and is an aspiring professional basketball player.

He said his reason for entering the pageant was for “personal growth and exposure”.

As the newly-crowned Prince and Princess, Ty’Rique and E’ssense received a $1,000 cash prize, $500 school donation, a laptop and game console, a gift basket, $100 gift certificate, a Kipling backpack, lunch bag and entry into the 2020 World Prince and Princess pageant in Bulgaria.

Other contestants

In the meantime, D’Asia Forbes from the Althea Scatliffe Primary was named the first runnerup in the Princess show. The nine-year-old received $500 cash prize, a tablet, a bicycle, a $50 gift certificate from J&C, a gift basket, and a Kipling backpack and lunch bag.

Notably, there was no first runner up in the Prince pageant. Ten-year-old T’Sean Smith of the Ivan Dawson was the only other participant in the competition.

Meanwhile, all contestants (barring the winners) received a $300 cash prize, flat-screen television, $50 gift certificate, a gift basket, and a Kipling backpack and lunch bag.

The other female competitors included nine-year-old Mieshia George from Jost Van Dyke Primary, and 11-year-old Chanecia Ashley Pinnock from the Joyce Samuel Primary School.

Pinnock secured awards for the most photogenic, best introductory dance, best ambassadorial speech and Nova Vita congeniality award.

Congratulations

Meanwhile, Chairman of the VI Festival and Fairs Committee Carnel Clyne has extended congratulations to the newly crowned prince and princess.

“They did an amazing job in every single segment, especially the new segment, which was called the circus de Tortola. That’s the segment I was most impressed about, and they came out and showcased themselves in different characters at a circus,” he told BVI News following the show.

“I think it was spectacular. This event is normally well supported, and it was tonight,” he added.

The pageant was held under the theme: Honouring all generations – let’s commemorate the 65th Emancipation celebration.