July 4, 2001 – Three St. John teen-agers proved the pageant appeal of guys as well as gals as they strutted their stuff to a nearly full house Tuesday night at the Winston Wells Ball Field.
Standing head and shoulders over his fellow competitors — literally — 6 foot 4 inch Leopold Chinnery Jr. walked away with the first-ever Mr. Emancipation title.
Conceived and presented by the Love City Pan Dragons steelpan organization, the Mr. Emancipation show was an official part of the 2001 St. John Festival. The contestants were judged in five categories: introduction, African attire, historical presentation, evening wear and sleep wear.
(It was decided to substitute sleep wear for the swim wear that is usually a beauty pageant category, Mistress of Ceremonies Ivy Moses said. "We want this competition to be a reflection of the best qualities of our young St. Johnian men," she said.)
In his introduction, Joachim Maximin, 17, who recent graduated fourth in his class at Ivanna Eudora Kean High School, told the audience he plans to attend Florida Institute of Technology to study computer technology. He also noted that he plays saxophone, steelpan and piano.
Leopold "Stretch" Chinnery Jr., 18, described himself as a sports enthusiast who loves working with children.
Novelle Barton Jr. said he aspires to own a ferry boat business and plans to enter the Navy to further his education.
Following introductions, the candidates presented a choreographed production number, performing in military fatigues and simulating a military exercise.
In observance of the show being held on V.I. Emancipation Day, special guest Wayne "Facts Man" Adams of St. Thomas gave an overview of Moses "Buddhoe" Gottlieb's life. Gottlieb is regarded as a hero in the events leading up to the emancipation of slaves in the Danish West Indies on July 3, 1848.
In the sleep wear competition, all three contestants appeared in leopard-print pajamas that had the women in the audience urging them on.
To the surprise and delight of the crowd, V.I. Carnival Calypso Monarch Whadablee performed as a special guest artist during a musical interlude.
In the African attire fashion segment, Chinnery, sporting a black two-piece royal African suit from Ghana, was the top vote getter.
Prior to intermission the youth dancers Analyse Dis performed to the delight of the crowd.
All three contestants were audience pleasers in the historical segment presentation. In the end, though Chinnery.'s rendition of a teacher instructing his class on the significance of July 3 won the votes of both audience and judges.
In the final presentation, evening wear, Chinnery again was the winner, in a white tuxedo.
As Mr. Emancipation, Chinnery received a trip to Trinidad, a cellular phone, a watch and cologne. Barton was named Mr. Popularity for having sold the most raffle books, and Maximin was voted Most Photogenic. Each received a watch and cologne.
The Love City Pan Dragons parents organized the show to raise money toward a planned trip by the St. John steelpan group to Trinidad during its carnival celebration next February. Plans call for making the competition an annual St. John Festival event.
