On Friday night, Wade Madray and Peola Marchan were crowned this year's Carnival King and Queen–in an exact repeat of the result of the competition from 2011.Madray, whose only other victory in the competition came that year, dominated Friday night's show with a presentation that can be described as a masterful blend of costume design and well choreographed theatrics, which earned him 431 points.
His costume, Quars Al Sahraa Desert Sting, an enormous bronze scorpion illuminated by torches with pincers mechanically controlled by him, was a crowd favourite in both the preliminary and semi-final rounds. The costume, which was designed by Haden Joseph and cost over $150,000 to build, was inspired by an ancient Egyptian legend of a pharaoh's bodyguard, who was executed and was reincarnated as a scorpion to exact revenge on his former master.
Madray held back his best for Friday's final, refining his dance moves and incorporating into his presentation a masquerader wearing a miniature version of his costume which led him acrosss the stage.In an interview shortly after being crowned Carnival King, Madray said it felt great to win the competition alongside Marchan for a second time.
"I always knew that we were up there. We had a good product and put in a lot of hard work. I had good performances and a fantastic team," a jovial Madray said, while embracing his relatives and production team.
His closest competitor, Curtis Eustace, scored 426 points with his menacing crimson dragon costume Zanzikil, Lord of Chaos, which was one of the largest in the competition. Eustace's presentation in the finals included a group of dwarfs dressed as spear-wielding dragon-slayers, who brought smiles to the faces of the judges and spectators alike.
In third place with 424 points was Ravi Lakhan's Nagin Saphera–The Serpent Charmer, which consisted of an oversized Indian snake charmer manipulating a number of cobras with his golden flute.Eustace's younger brother Ted, who won the competition last year, disappointed in Friday's show with his presentation, which appeared a bit rushed compared to those in the previous rounds, earning him sixth place with 407 points.
Marchan's victory in the Queens competition shocked many spectators, who considered her a dark horse because of her 12th- and seventh-place finishes in the preliminary and semi-final rounds. She scored 427 points, earning her third Carnival Queen title and the $250,000 first prize.Her costume, Zamara Mirage of the Oasis, designed by her father Miguel, was a Middle East-inspired palace complete with jewel-embellished gold and purple turrets.
It was also a family affair for second-place winner Tamika George, whose costume Refraction: A Phenomenon of Light was designed by her sister Tricia Bailey and mother Patricia, herself a 31-year veteran of the competition, and is part of her father's band Bailey and Associates.The costume, which consisted of several layers of wings covered in reflective coatings and illuminated by neon lighting, drew loud applause as it sparkled under the lights as she crossed the stage.
In third place was Laura Rampersad, who scored 402 points with her costume African Drum Dancer. Her mother-in-law Gloria Dallsingh, who designed her costume, came in eighth with her costume We Beat Pan Music.On Thursday, Dallsingh was crowned the South Carnival Queen, with her son Marlon Rampersad taking the South Carnival King competition. Marlon was eliminated after Tuesday's national semi-finals.
Not to be outdone, the ten Junior Carnival Kingsand Queens also put on a magical display, many impressing the judges with their ability to dance across the stage while bearing the weight of their costumes, many of which did not utilise wheels.They were supported by soca artist Bunji Garlin and Chutney Soca Monarch KI, who performed their hit songs as the junior masqueraders crossed the stage.
In the end, veteran mas designer Rosalind Gabriel dominated those competitions, with her contestants Gyasi Philbert and Cyan Lue Sue copping top places in both. Philbert's multi-coloured costume was inspired by the traditional Carnival character the pierrot grenade, while Lue Sue's was modelled after a tropical fish.Both junior monarchs said they were very happy to win the competition and encouraged other youth to participate next year.
"Just play mas for the enjoyment. Don't play to win, just play to have fun," Philbert said.
JUNIOR CARNIVAL KINGS
1. Promise of the Rainbow–Gyasi Philbert–409
2. Oil Spill in the Sea–Bradley Rambhorose–404
3. Dance Mandela Dance–Akeem Lemessy–401
4. The Aztec Eagle Warrior–Jardel Aguillera–399
5. Chima Warrior: D Legend of the Pitch–Armando Sham Poo–398
6. Junkanoo Jamboree–Dezil-Patrick Jennings–398
7. Dancing Dragon King–Kriston Chandler–397
8. Sea Fun So–Michael Barnes–397
9. A Ju Ju Warrior–Akeel Superville–390
10. Aucaman Kiwidinok–The Great Shaman–Keegan Farrell–384
CARNIVAL KINGS
1. Quars Al Sahraa Desert Sting–Wade Madray–431
2. Zanzikil, Lord of Chaos–Curtis Eustace–426
3. Nagin Saphera: The Serpent Charme–Ravi Lakhan–424
4. De Tornado–Ronald Blaize–421
5. After Earth–Glenn Dave Lakhan–408
6. Monkey Know What Tree to Climb–Ted Eustace–407
7. What Lies Beneath–Fareid Carvalho–400
8. Scorpion King–Earl Beckles–394
9. Madiba (The Heart of a Warrior)–Zinool Mohammed–388
10. Poseidon Comin'–Clyde Bascombe–380