Marcia Rowe, Gleaner Writer

Traci-Ann Wint, winner of the Kingston and St Andrew Festival Queen 2008 title, is flanked by second-place winner Emily Elliott (left) and Kathy Grant. The coronation was held at the Louise Bennett Garden Theatre on Sunday, May 18. - Colin Hamilton/Freelance Photographer

On Sunday Traci-Ann Wint walked away with the title of the Miss Kingston and St Andrew Festival Queen 2008 title.

She emerged ahead of the top five, which includes Kathy Grant, Nacole Trowers, Jacqueline Jack and Emily Elliott. Elliott emerged the first runner-up and Grant second runner-up.

The show was a display of talents and creativity, but it was marred by a weak evening wear parade segment.

Events organised and implemented by JCDC are well known for creativity, long hours and late starts. So it was on Sunday at the Louise Bennett Garden Theatre. The scheduled time was 7 p.m., but instead, the programme began at 7:20 and ended at 11:21 p.m.

After the playing of the national anthem followed by a prayer, Unique Vision Band set the tone for the rest of the evening with what has become the anthem for female pageants, Tarrus Riley's She's Royal.

Shortly after the band's rendition, the Roy Rayon, Kenny Salmon and Quiendel Ferguson-designed set came alive with the entrance of the nine contestants. This opening number was a moving piece, comprised of musical instrument, dancing, speech and singing. As the item progressed, the ladies, initially decked in yellow loose fitting dresses, soon discarded them to reveal white tops and skirts with the flag of Jamaica sewn to the front.

Screams and shouts

And, of course, accompanying the contestants' every twists and turns were screams and shouts from family members and friends.

The screams were no less for the fashion segment and introduction of contestants, nor was the imagination and creativity. One by one, the ladies, dressed in casually elegant designs and using a wide array of props, introduced themselves: Shakira Davidson, a bit flat in her pronunciation, was followed by Shani Anderson, Chamaele Golding, rather playful; Nacole Trowers, very assertive, Traci-Ann Wint, eloquent in her delivery; Emily Elliott, Patrice Sutton, Jacqueline Jack and Kathy Grant.

Undoubtedly, the best of the evening was the talent presentations. Each contestant had to showcase her skill in the performing arts: drama, dance and music. All the presentations were of a high standard.

As usual, there was the ever present madwoman in Shani Anderson's Mad Reality, Golding's blending of dance and poetry in 'Change It Begins With You' and Elliott's 'Break Free, Through Music and Dance'.

Sutton's dramatisation of Lorna Goodison's The Woman Who Speaks to the Man Who Employs Her Son, Jacqueline Jacks Revenge and Kathy Grant's extract from Coloured Girl completed the drama pieces.

Outstanding performance

Wint's multimedia presentation of Rape of the World was outstanding, but Trower's dance narrative of Lorna Goodison's poem 'For My Mother, May I Inherit Half Her Strength' was not only outstanding but also innovative. Thus, it was no surprise when Trowers was awarded the sectional prize for best performance.

Despite great designs from Les Campbell and Shades of Africa, the evening wear parade did not live up to expectations. This was particularly evident in the individual parade. The walk was slow and seemed laborious. It was not clear why each contestant had to make three painstakingly turns in the area immediately in front of the judges.

Creative presentation

Surely, the judges would have been able to assess them as they strut across the main stage. However, the group parade was dynamic. The use of palm leaves, held by the two male escorts to form an arch, with the group forming a tableau, was quite creative.

Finally, the contestants were serenaded to the sounds of Unique Vision's version of I Need Your Love before making their last exit as a group of nine.

Emcee Norma Brown-Bell undeniably has a wonderful voice, but was not very effective in her role. Perhaps the organisers should have placed the 'podium' further downstage right, maybe that would have forced her to speak directly to the audience.