Sixty young women showed up yesterday for a chance to become the next Miss World Trinidad and Tobago.
The enthusiasm from the hopefuls came on the heels of Ache Abrahams’ success at the 71st Miss World pageant in March, where she placed in the top four and also claimed the title of Miss Caribbean.
The screening took place at the Hyatt Regency Hotel where the young women were interviewed by ten judges, including Miss World 1986 Giselle Laronde-West; stylist and creative director Richard Young; and franchise holder and national director of Miss World T&T Charu Lochan Dass.
Renessa Ortiz, who’d already copped the title of Miss Tobago and is a finalist for the Miss World T&T 2024 pageant, was put on the spot by judges when she was asked to sing. Speaking with Guardian Media outside the judging room, Ortiz said that although the experience was nerve-racking overall it was a nice experience.
It was a bit nerve-racking being asked to sing for them on the spot; it was a bit nerve-racking, I had to centre myself, and gather my thoughts. It was a nice conversation, I did not feel any pressure, it was almost natural. It was amazing, a nice experience,” Ortiz said.
Before entering the judging hall, another contestant, 23-year-old Jordan Steele from Gulf View, San Fernando said she barely slept the night before because she was very excited.
“I’m very passionate about advocating for and promoting awareness, acceptance, and inclusion in Trinidad and Tobago, particularly, the special needs community of (the country)...Miss World is such a great platform where I think you are exposed to so many influential persons, and I think you can truly make a difference,” Steele said.
Thanks to Abrahams’ dazzling and trailblazing performance that stunned the country, and world, Lochan Dass admitted that the bar was undeniably raised, not only for the competitors, but the selection process. Abrahams was screened in 2022.
“I can surely say we’re going to end up with a great cohort,” Lochan Dass said, adding, “I feel pressure because we have a standard to maintain...because we are continuously working towards bringing home the crown and putting Trinidad and Tobago on the map again as far as pageantry is concerned.”
Sharing with Guardian Media what characteristics she’d found among the four candidates she’d evaluated thus far with the other judges for the morning, Laronde-West highlighted their confidence and articulation.
“We have young ladies who are very confident. They know what they want. They are also articulate as well...One of them had us crying already. You see the reticence, you see the reservation initially, and then when you get them talking, it’s like, Wow, a whole new human being. And so that reminds me of myself,” Laronde-West said.
She believes every woman has what it takes to excel on the world stage. Young said he was impressed by the distinct styles of the women he’d evaluated thus far.
“We want a Trinbagonian women who is aware of her social environment and cultural milieu, so in her confident portrayal it must acknowledge what makes us different, the uniqueness of our people. Confidence is the first most important thing,” Young said, adding, “The conversational styles of the young ladies, it definitively jumped the mark. The discussions went from a neurophysicist, to a designer who wants to change the world, to a psychologist who wants to work on children and make them feel better…”
The Miss World T&T will receive a cash prize of $100,000 in addition to executive training including modelling, fitness, and etiquette; a frontline Bliss Carnival costume; dental care, and a full wardrobe from selected designers.