Kesi Asher, Staff Reporter
Contestants in the Mini-Miss Fletcher's Land competition at the sashing for the event, held on Wednesday, at the Fletcher's Land Community Centre, Kingston. - CARLINGTON WILMOT/FREELANCE PHOTOGRAPHER
ON WEDNESDAY evening the Fletcher's Land Youth Upliftment and Cultural Committee staged a dinner and Sashing for the Mini-Miss Fletcher's Land Contest at the Fletcher's Land Community Centre, Kingston. The night was brightened with the fresh young smiles of budding models and singers, aged six to 12 years, poised against the red and white dinner setting.
Turbo Zone Disco rocked the night with dancehall, soul and hip-hop tunes, while members of the Fletcher's Land Police Youth Club Restaurant fed the hungry patrons, who waited through a two-hour rain delay for the show to begin.
The community-based organisations (CBOs) involved in the event were the Fletcher's Land Mediation Clinic, the Fletcher's Land Management Benevolent Society, the Fletcher's Land Parenting Association and the Sistrin Theatre Collective. The girls in the contest were sponsored by the CBOs and small businesses within the community. The contest also received support from Woman Constable Nichola Witter of the Fletcher's Land Police Station.
Prior to the sashing, the 20 contestants went through, intense training in speech, stage walk, talent performance and other social graces. "We are trying to develop the minds of these children, to let them know that they are princesses. We try to be good role models for them and teach them good values and develop social skills," said Rosalie Morris, president of the Fletcher's Land Youth Upliftment and Cultural Committee.
The children were very excited about the contest and they delightedly displayed their skills in the talent, swim suit and formal wear segments of the show.
The contestants' career goals include criminal law, dermatology, nursing, teaching, medicine, politics and archaeology. Pageant organiser Rosalie Morris intends to take all 20 girls on tour and tells them that they are all winners, but only one can wear the crown. "We want to expose our community in a positive way. Too often the negative is what is seen," said Rosalie Morris, who the children call 'Aunty Joy'.
The coronation show will be held at the Fletcher's Land Community Centre on Sunday, October 16.
