Poetry about AIDS, native dances from Trinidad and the Virgin Islands and Caribbean accent mocking–this isn’t what you typically think of when you hear “beauty pageant.”
Nothing typical of a beauty pageant happened Saturday night at the Miss Caribbean Student Association International Pageant. After all, the winner was representing an African country.
The University of Tampa’s CSA hosted the first annual pageant in Falk Theater after eight months of planning.
Pageant coordinators Neasha Hodge and Stephanie Dubuisson began preparation in July 2009.
“The Florida Caribbean Student Association actually has a big pageant at the annual conference, and The University of Tampa has never participated in it…this year’s board took the initiative to get it started,” Dubuisson said.
Posters, flyers and advertisements were plentiful on the school campus, but the avenue that really drew the crowd in was Facebook.
Reaching a broad audience quickly and giving a constant reminder to guests, it was “simply the ideal medium for global advertising” according to the coordinators.
They were denied any funding from Student Government, but several CSA members banded together and raised enough through sponsors and personal funds.
Five contestants representing the Bahamas, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Trinidad and Tobago, Nigeria and Cayman Islands showcased their homeland through two categories: culture and talent.
Michelle Douglass, a junior from the Cayman Islands, recited the poem “Phenomenal Woman.” “…the poem represents strong, confident, intelligent women,” said Douglass. “Maya Angelou, who is a successful and independant black woman, is known for her amazing voice in contemporary literature. Her poems portray a strong, remarkable, and elegant woman which is the image I wanted to exert.”
After the women gave their performances, the Latin dancers danced, UT Drummers drummed and the audience won prizes, the moment everyone had been waiting for came.
Stacy Vieux, representing Nigeria, was crowned Miss CSA International 2010.
Vieux, a Haitian-Nigerian junior, explained her decision to represent Nigeria instead of Haiti in her cultural presentation.
She found her Nigerian father through the web after growing up with her single Haitian mother. After a tearful reunion with her father and his family, Vieux used the pageant as a way to embrace her Nigerian heritage.
“I am humbled because I realize I am the first winner in UT’s history. It feels fantastic to be a part of our school’s history.” When asked to give advice, Vieux added, “Never let someone else take your beauty away. Never forget the gifts you possess.”
Vieux will move on to represent The University of Tampa at the Florida CSA Pageant on April 10.
Proceeds, made possible by sponsors such as Mary Kay and the Caribbean Jerk and Allen Grill, were donated to Habitat for Humanity’s mission trip to Haiti. Habitat for Humanity will rebuild homes and give aid after the tragic Haitian earthquake in January.
For a video recording of the pageant, contact Media Services at (813) 257-3810.
More information on Habitat for Humanity’s mission trip can be obtained by contacting the Hillsborough County, Florida chapter at (813) 239-2242.
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