(ZIZ News) — The 2014/15 National Talented Teen crown now resides at the Basseterre High School, following a keenly contested pageant held at the Sugar Mill on Saturday evening.
The large and appreciative crowd of supporters was sent into frenzy when Miss Basseterre High School, Rikki Blake-Brookes, was announced winner of the 2014 National Carnival Talented Teen Pageant.
On her way to the crown, Blake-Brookes also copped the Best Formal Teenage Wear and the Best Ambassadorial Wear segments.
Speaking to ZIZ News after the show, Blake-Brookes said she has learned a lot from competing in the pageant.
“I was confident but I still wasn’t sure. It feels really great. I put a lot of hard work into it and it paid off. It taught me hard work and dedication and how to work when you’re tired,” she said.
She also won the Miss Photogenic and the Chairperson’s Award while her school won the School Spirit Award.
Khanein Blanchette of the Washington Archibald High School took the Ambassadorial Speech segment and the first runner-up position while Cayon High School’s Tahirah Dore won the second runner-up spot and the Best Performing Talent.
They shared their thoughts on the outcome of the pageant and also used the opportunity to encourage other young ladies to take up pageantry.
“I guess we are kind of happy the way our positions are. It was a fun experience. We worked very hard and I think it paid off,” Blanchette said.
“My experience was great. I would encourage young girls out there to enter pageants like this. It’s a great experience. Definitely you’ll benefit from this,” Dore said.
The Best On-Stage Interview segment was won by third runner-up Azariah Vanterpool while Ms. Dore of Cayon High and Barisha Cranstoun of the Immaculate Conception Catholic School shared the Miss Amity award.