Contestant No. 4 D’Azhae Harrigan, a 14-year-old student of the Charlotte Amalie High School, hears the announcement naming her the 2014 St. John Junior Miss on June 8 at Winston Wells Ball Field.
CRUZ BAY – Fans of July 4th Festival pageants got a special treat in time for the 60th anniversary Diamond Jubilee when they came June 7 to witness the crowning of a St. John Junior Miss.
14-year-old D’Azhae Harrigan, a student at the Charlotte Amalie High School donned the crown at the end. Harrigan sustained a brisk competition from Marisa Clendinen, Kyara Lewis and Raven Phillips-Love to capture the crown.
About four hundred spectators from St. Thomas and St. John filled the seats at the Winston Wells Ballpark to support their favorite contestant. Recent victories of contestants from the sister islands in each other’s pageants has helped to raise a spirit of competition.
The four contestants tried to leave a lasting impression on the judges through the introductory segment and presentations on creative school wear, Caribbean flower costume, prom wear, an ambassadorial presentation and ending with question-and-answer.
Radio deejay, talk show host and sportscaster Sheldon Turnbull served as master of ceremonies.
Too old to rule as festival princess and too young to reign as queen, the junior miss competition featured age-appropriate energy and flair.
There was also a touch of comedy as Harrigan played a psychic trying to convince a traveller to visit the Virgin Islands in a phone conversation.
Crowd Cheers Favorites
The crowd cheered their favorites throughout the night, but ramped up during question and answer, where the question posed to the contestants was:
“Over the past five years, there has been a increase in teenage relationship violence. If you witnessed one of your friends being verbally or physically abused, what would you tell her, who would you tell and why?”
Clendinen delivered the winning reply.
“I would tell her she doesn’t belong with him. One time with abuse is one time too many,” the St. John contestant replied. Abuse cannot be tolerated and if you see abuse you should do something about it.”
In the end the judges had the last say and they named Harrigan the winner and Clendinen first runner up. They named Phillips-Love Miss Congeniality.
The photographers awarded the title of Miss Photogenic to Clendinen. She also won best prom wear and Miss Intellect for her response to the question about teenage dating abuse.
Harrigan walked away with the titles of most cooperative contestant, best creative school wear, best Caribbean flower presentation, and best ambassadorial presentation.
Asked at the end of the night how she felt, the new Miss St. John kept it simple.
“Amazing,” she said.
