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HomeNewsArchivesUVI Student Takes Miss V.I. Pageant Crown

UVI Student Takes Miss V.I. Pageant Crown

May 20, 2007 — A tearful Janeisha John won the Miss Virgin Islands Pageant title Saturday night at the Reichhold Center for the Arts. The 19-year-old UVI business administration student will succeed Stacy Smith.
Motivated by her family and friends, John said she was “happy and excited” after winning the title. She won a slew of awards, including the Marjorie Rawls Robert $1,000 Interview Competition Award, the Dick and Alicia Stephenson $1,000 Physical Fitness Competition Award, and the evening gown competition award.
A small, enthusiastic audience watched as the St. Croix native twirled around the stage during her talent portion, performing a modern jazz dance.
“I have learned that when you speak [to someone in a violent situation], you give options, such as “You are better than this,” she said.
Each contestant in the pageant is required to choose a “platform” to advocate during their year of reign, should they win. John answered passionately about hers on breaking out of a violent situation.
Shamika Thomas won first runner-up, a Miss America $1,000 State Scholar award and the Margate Management $1,000 Talent Competition award. Second runner-up Nicole Alexander won the Miss America $1,000 State Community Service Award.
Current and former V.I. pageant queens were also in the audience. The 2001 Miss American Classic Lucille P. Solomon said she “enjoyed the show very much.”
“It is really a sorority. We make friends that last a lifetime,” said Debbye Turner, the lively hostess of the pageant. Turner is the former 1990 Miss America.
The Miss Virgin Islands is a part of the Miss America pageant where young ladies are challenged to be well-spoken, concerned with issues and politics of our nation and abroad, lifestyle and fitness and family oriented, Turner noted.
John will go on to compete in the 2008 Miss America pageant in January, where she has the opportunity to win more scholarship money.
The Miss America Pageant is “the largest single source of scholarship funds available to young women in the world,” Turner said at the show.

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