Gabrielle, twice a Miss TT queen
By Verdel Bishop Monday, May 16 2011
In 2008, Gabrielle Walcott represented this country on the Miss World stage. This year, she will represent this country again, but as Miss Universe Trinidad and Tobago.
Walcott was among eight finalists who competed in the local leg of the competition at O2 Park, Chaguaramas, on Saturday night.
The women were judged on their appearance in bikinis and evening gowns and their performance in an interview.
Walcott, 26, was confident throughout the evening even when she was the first contestant to be questioned in the interview segment. Her question? “Everyone has a mission in life; what is your mission?”
Walcott answered that her mission is to make the lives of the less fortunate better and when she went on to discuss her role with the Just Because Foundation, it was clear she was a front-runner. She went on to win the crown.
After being crowned by TT’s Miss Universe 1998 Wendy Fitzwilliam, Walcott told Newsday, she had waited 13 years to represent this country on the Miss Universe stage. She said ever since she met her mentor, Fitzwilliam years ago, she knew without a doubt she wanted to represent this country as the Miss Universe representative.
“To have Wendy crown me is a dream come true for me. I have waited 13 years for this and now it is happening. This is amazing,” Walcott said. Walcott, who has only four months to prepare for the 60th annual Miss Universe competition carded for Sao Paulo, Brazil, said there is no room for disappointment as she is prepared to represent this country with distinction.
Walcott’s prize package includes wardrobe valued at $50,000; a front line costume in Tribe, one-year gym membership with Long Circular Health and Fitness Club, one-year membership with Candice Clarke Dance Academy; an Elite Spa package; one-year medical and non-medical travel insurance courtesy Maritime Financial; a gift bag courtesy IOS and North Shore Medical and a gift bag courtesy Pantene.
Tobago entrants made a strong showing in the competition, as Shinequa Francis, 18, from Roxborough, was named first runner-up. Second runner-up was LaTisha Hospedales, 26, from Carnbee. They each had a very strong audience support.
Francis was adjudged Best Physique and Miss Top Model Trinidad and Tobago 2011.
Other winners were: Jessica Didieer, 20, Miss Congeniality and Cherrese De Abreau, 26, Miss Spirit of the Pageant.
Saturday night’s adjudicating panel included Wendy Fitzwilliam, Miss Universe 1998; Claudia Pegus, fashion designer; Kwesi Hopkinson, director, Scorch Magazine; Pat Butcher, executive director, TT Hospitality and Training Institute; Suzanne Sabeeny, former franchise holder, Miss Trinidad and Tobago; Michael Phillips, sporting icon; Sharon Imbert, former permanent secretary in the Office of the Prime Minister and pageant coach and June Lexis-Matthew, vice-president, student development, COSTAATT.
A special tribute was paid to the late Kim Sabeeny, pioneer in the beauty pageant industry in this country. Sabeeney has the distinction of three international titles in her tenure as franchise holder: Miss Universe 1977 Janelle Penny Commissiong-Chow; Miss World 1986 Miss Giselle La Ronde-West and Miss Universe 1998 Wendy Fitzwilliam.