Port of Spain, Trinidad (Trinidad Express) — Jamaican beauty Rachel Biesray has won the Miss Divali Nagar 2014 crown.
Biesray got the judges’ nod over 11 other delegates who participated in the show at the National Council of Indian Culture (NCIC) Divali Nagar celebrations in Chaguanas on Sunday night.
The delegates were from Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica, Suriname, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and Guyana. They modelled saris of various colours and designs, showcased their talent in dance, skits and song and their knowledge on current affairs to the eight-judge panel.
Biesray 16, who also won Miss Photogenic, performed a dance item as part of the talent segment of the competition. She won TT$20,000.
Biesray said it “truly is an honour to represent my country Jamaica” and thanked her sponsors Mr and Mrs Rohit Beharry.
First runner-up Swetha Gilda (Trinidad and Tobago) won $10,000; second runner-up Kavita Rambaran (Trinidad and Tobago) — $6,500; third runner up Ashna Chotkan of Suriname — $5,000 and fourth runner-up Geeta Sookdeo (Trinidad and Tobago) – $4,500. All prizes were courtesy the sponsor for the evening, the National Lotteries Control Board (NLCB).
The evening also featured performances by singers Avinash Maharaj, Dr Winston Tolan (Jamaica), Veejai Ramkissoon and group and the Sangeet Music Academy from Canada which comprised of six young talented singers and musicians. Indira Niak from India also made a guest appearance.
Amritam Shakti Dance Group, Kal Nayak Dance Academy and Young Spiderz Tassa Group performed as well.