The Anguilla Teachers’ Union took a break from its usual classroom activities to stage its first highly-applauded Miss ATU Pageant at the Landsome Bowl Cultural Centre on Saturday night, February 9.
It was a hotly-contested show involving five teachers with a love for their profession and a flare for the stage. Through their outstanding performances they won for themselves, and their union, a great deal of public support from various age groups on the island.
The contestants, drawn from the Albena Lake-Hodge Comprehensive School and the Primary Schools, were: Meekea Carty, Eva Hodge, Devrelle Williams-Edwards, Regine Niles and Tamara Esdaile-Carty. They appeared in five segments of the show: sportswear, professional attire, introductory speech, talent and interview.
The Miss ATU 2019 winner was Regine Niles with 404 points. She was engulfed by her 6th form students whose shouts of applause and merry-making echoed across the cultural centre. She received the winning crown and trophy, a round-trip ticket to, and accommodation in, the Dominican Republic, US$200 and a full body massage.
First runner-up, with 377.5 points, was Eva Hodge who received a trophy, a round-trip ticket to, and accommodation in, Nevis, US$200 and jewellery from Jewellers in St. Martin. Second Runner-up was Tamara Esdaile-Carty with a score of 352 points. She received a trophy, a weekend stay in St. Martin, jewellery and US$200.
Each contestant also received US $100 and a goodies bag from Flow Anguilla. The ATU President’s Award of US$100 was presented to Devrelle Williams-Edwards for consistently demonstrating a high spirit enthusiasm during the preparatory stages of the pageant. The winner of the best professional attire was Eva Hodge who also received US$100. She also won best introductory speech, best cocktail wear and best interview. Best creative sportswear and best talent were won by Regine Niles.
Ms. Niles was crowned Miss Anguilla Teachers Union by the Minister of Education, Mrs. Cora Richardson Hodge.
Speaking to The Anguillian newspaper about the Teachers Union’s Pageant, the Minister said: “This is the first ATU’s function and I am very pleased with the turnout. Our five contestants did an excellent job and I am very proud of them. I look forward to a bigger event in the future.
“The importance of this event is to highlight that our teachers are multi-functional. They are not only in charge, and take care, of our children, but they are individuals in their own right and they are all beautiful. This is an excellent opportunity for us to showcase their talent.”
The President of the Anguilla Teachers’ Union, Ms. Michelle Queeley, commented: “I am very happy that I have been able to lead the organization at a time when we have staged the very first Miss Anguilla Teachers’ Union. I am quite pleased with the turnout and the support from the general public. I am even more pleased with the performances that all of the contestants brought to the stage. I can truly say that our resources, time, effort, planning and sleepless nights have certainly paid off.
“I am very pleased, and the ATU has a lot to report to the Caribbean Union of Teachers by way of the outcome of this prestigious show. I just want to say thank you again to the general public – and I expect your support going forward.”
The Miss ATU Pageant was co-hosted by former Miss Anguilla, now Corporate Manager of the Anguilla Tourist Board, Mrs. Shellya Rogers-Webster, and the reigning Miss Anguilla, Mikeela Skellekie. The interview section was conducted by Anguilla’s Miss Universe Great Britain and former Miss Anguilla 2017-2018, Dee-Ann Kentish-Rogers. The Master of Ceremonies was popular stage personality, Shamash Brooks, whose lively comedy added much to the event.
The overall sponsor of the Miss ATU Pageant was FLOW Anguilla.
