This Saturday, July 14, will be a historic day for Anguilla in that it will be the first time that the island will have a contestant in the Miss Universe Pageant, though she will be among those competing for Great Britain.
The Anguillian contestant is the reigning Miss Anguilla, Dee-Ann Kentish-Rogers, daughter of Mrs. Lorna and Mr. Kent Rogers. She left here late last week for the world-wide event and was given a big send-off by the Anguilla Tourist Board and the Anguilla Summer Festival Committee.
Corporate Manager of the Anguilla Tourist Board, Mrs. Shellya Webster, spoke to The Anguillian about Ms. Kentish-Rogers’ participation in the competition shortly before her departure.
“This will be the first time that an Anguillian will be participating in the Miss Universe (Great Britain) Pageant, and so the Anguilla Tourist Board is very proud to sponsor her,” Mrs. Webster stated. “We are sending her off in grand style with a bouquet of flowers and all our love from the island of Anguilla.
“The event takes place on July 14 and she has been preparing with her team for a month and a half – and it was very intense training. We, at the Anguilla Tourist Board, are wishing her all the very best.”
Asked what Ms. Kentish-Rogers’ participation in the auspicious event will mean for tourism in Anguilla, Mrs. Webster replied: “We are trying to do much more work to get some further visibility in the UK market, so this gives us a perfect opportunity to get an individual from Anguilla on the main stage – providing that exposure for Anguilla. One of the critiques we have had is that there is not enough awareness of the destination. This gives us the perfect opportunity to get the name ‘Anguilla’ out there. Dee-Ann is going to be on the Miss Universe (Great Britain) global stage, and global platform, and that’s our hope.”
Dee-Ann said: “I have to say thank you for the support I have had from everyone island-wide. I am extremely humbled to have the Anguilla Tourist Board behind me and supporting me each step of the way. As I leave the island, I do so with the people of Anguilla in my heart, and behind me all the way, so I am very thankful. My trip is also being partly sponsored by Calypso Charters and I thank them very much for transporting me to St. Maarten free. I also have the support of Magic City and Fairplay in my preparation for the Miss Universe (Great Britain) Pageant.
“Today is the first step in going to the Miss Universe Pageant. On Thursday July 12, I will be participating in the cocktails for-a-cause dinner with the Miss Universe contestants…and, we will also have rehearsals; on Friday, July 13, we will be having dinner and another rehearsal session; and then on Saturday, July 14, will be the big night. I will try, as best as possible, to get a live stream for Anguillians everywhere so that they could see what I have been doing. If not, I will get someone there to do videos and take pictures and send them home for everyone to see.”
Dee-Ann was asked what gave her the confidence to participate in the competition, apart from the wide public support she is receiving. “I know who I am and that is the most important thing,” she remarked boldly. “Self-confidence is very important. Knowing who you are, you have certain values that you won’t compromise on, and once you stick with your values you will be able to do whatever you want.”
She added: “As many people know, I went to law school in Birmingham in the United Kingdom in 2013 and finished my training as a Barrister. This is part of my next step of self-development. I have used pageantry as a way to develop my public speaking skills, to have more reach [in life], and to encourage other young people to believe and invest in themselves.”
Mr. Cardigan Connor, Parliamentary Secretary, Tourism, had this to say: “I am so proud of Dee-Ann. She competed for Anguilla at the Commonwealth Games in 2014 in Glasgow. Now her sense of confidence is taking her to another level on the Miss Universe stage. The fact that Anguilla’s name gets mentioned on the world stage, through someone who is proud to be an Anguillian, is an excellent opportunity for us. I wish her all the best.”
