Anguilla proud (Photo source: Kevwise Images)
In her stunning win of the Miss Universe Great Britain 2018 Pageant, on Saturday, July 14, Dee-Ann Kentish Rogers, Miss Anguilla 2017-2018, and the island’s 25-year-old Barrister-at-Law, has taught a lesson of self-confidence to all. It is that confidence in oneself and ability is a key to aspiration and success.
Dee-Ann, who has also charted a course of success as a competitive athlete, left Anguilla to compete in the Miss Universe Great Britain Pageant, saying: “I know who I am and that’s the most important thing. Self-confidence is very important…Knowing who you are… you will be able to do whatever you want.”
Small wonder, then, that she stunned everyone when she became the first black woman to win the Miss Universe Great Britain title. She is now going on, towards the end of the year, to vie for the world’s most prestigious beauty pageant – Miss Universe 2018 – in the Philippines, for Great Britain and Anguilla with even more self-confidence and motivation.
For the Miss Universe Great Britain title, the Birmingham University-trained lawyer competed against forty young women at the Riverfront Theatre & Arts Centre in Newport, Wales. Her competitors came from England, Scotland, Northern Ireland, Wales and the British Overseas Territories. She became the overall winner, after having been chosen as one of the five finalists, sending expressions of delight and awe within the circles of the competition and back in her Anguillian homeland which had high hopes for her success.
As all Anguilla rejoiced with her, Parliamentary Secretary, Mr. Cardigan Connor, who saw her off to England several days ahead of the Miss Universe Great Britain Pageant, commented:
“Congratulations to Dee-Ann Kentish Rogers who is now the Anguilla Great Britain representative on the world stage of Miss Universe. Den-Ann represented Anguilla at the Commonwealth Games on two occasions – the last being in Glasgow, Scotland. Dee-Ann, we are very proud of you. Just remember the world is yours. It doesn’t start and end here. It can go all the way to the very top.”
Mrs. Shellya Rogers-Webster, Manager of Corporate Affairs with the Anguilla Tourist Board, sent this statement to The Anguillian at the newspaper’s request:
“The team at the Anguilla Tourist Board is absolutely in awe of Dee-Ann’s phenomenal performance. From the very beginning, we knew that she exemplified the characteristics of a true ambassador for the island, and we had no doubt that she would have done extremely well. She has exceeded all of our expectations and we look forward to working with her on her Miss Universe journey. Dee-Ann has provided a unique opportunity for the Anguilla Tourist Board to get additional visibility in our UK Market. She now has an international platform that we intend to take advantage of. We have built a priceless working relationship with her, and we wish her the very best in her future endeavours.”
