The St. John Celebration Village was filled with African-inspired fashion, music and culture Saturday evening as contestants competed for the title of 2026 St. John Celebration Queen. By the end of the night, Contestant No. 3, Elizabeth Ferrell, captured the crown.
She also earned Miss Photogenic, Best St. John Historical Presentation, Best International Wear/Performing Talent and Best Evening Wear honors.
Ferrell previously held the title of 2019 St. John Celebration Princess.
Contestant No. 1, Liandra Dagou, was named Miss Cooperative and Miss Intellect, while Contestant No. 2, Alauna Petersen, received the Miss Congeniality award.
The pageant marked the first St. John Royalty competition organized by the Royalty Team, the new representatives of the St. John Pageantry Committee under the U.S. Virgin Islands Division of Festivals.
The committee includes women with deep ties to pageantry on St. John, including chairperson LeeAnn Oquendo, executive planner Razzilee Severin, event coordinator Kerla Fessale, activities coordinator Delrice Stevens, chaperone Liaison Moremi Aderohunmu, community outreach coordinator Sher’Niah Freeman, sponsor Liaison Shaniqua Charles, awards coordinator Ja’Leah Stephens and hospitality coordinator Hailey Cagan.
The committee introduced itself to the community in March through an African-attire-themed fashion show titled “Royalty on the Runway.” The event featured original designs by St. John designer Pamela Love and served as an introduction for both the new committee and the contestants.
That emphasis on African culture continued at Saturday’s pageant, which carried the theme, “Honoring Our African Ancestry with Royal Dignity.”
“It started with Royalty on the Runway. We wanted to do something different. Something the community could relate to,” Oquendo said about the decision to heavily feature African culture throughout the season.
The evening opened with a performance by the Shaka Zulu Dancers, followed by an energetic dance presentation featuring 2025 St. John Celebration Queen Jah’Millia Maloney, 2025 St. John Celebration Princess Trinity Walters, the 2026 contestants and the Royalty Rhythm Crew.
Additional entertainment was provided by RVP Band and St. John vocalist Shikima Jones. Jones was joined on stage by Delroy “Ital” Anthony during a performance of South Africa’s national anthem.
Following their introductory speeches, contestants participated in the St. John historical presentation segment, delivering two-minute speeches demonstrating their knowledge of the island’s history. Each presentation focused on a location connected to the 1733 St. John Slave Rebellion.
Dagou’s presentation highlighted Fortsberg and the skilled Akwamu stone masons who built the structure, honoring a spirit that “refused to give up or give in.”
Petersen focused on Catherineberg, describing the hardships endured there while noting that the enslaved people “were not just workers. They were warriors.”
Ferrell’s presentation centered on Mary’s Point and the rebels who chose to leap from the cliffs rather than return to bondage. She concluded her presentation by jumping backward off the stage onto a mattress below.
During the international wear and performing talent segment, each contestant represented a different African nation through costume, props and performance.
Dagou portrayed a bride from Djibouti who cared for her family’s camel. Her presentation included a performance of the country’s national anthem and a wedding dance.
Petersen portrayed a Nigerian royal figure. Her performance featured singing atop an elephant prop, a fire-inspired dance, a large lion art piece worn on her back and djembe drumming.
Ferrell portrayed a warrior queen of the Kingdom of Dahomey, located in present-day Benin. Her presentation included dance, djembe drumming and a representation of Zangbeto, a West African masquerade tradition featuring a twirling mass of raffia palm leaves.
Contestants later modeled evening wear before participating in the question-and-answer segment, during which they were asked what major initiative they would like to see implemented on St. John.
