Queen Contestants gather to celebrate the selection of 2014 St. John Festival Queen Kyrelle Thomas early Sunday morning at the Winston Wells Ball Field. Thomas, a 16-year-old student from the Charlotte Amalie High School, was chosen at the end of a four-hour pageant viewed by hundreds of spectators. She also won the titles of Best International Wear, Best Talent and Best Eveningwear.
Pictured left to right: Makeda Dawson, Shiquela Monsanto, Torey Challenger, Queen Kyrelle Thomas, Sharvelle Nicholas and Dyese Turnbull.
CRUZ BAY – It takes a lot to smile at the end of a long contest, but six contestants of the Miss St. John 2014 Queen Pageant did just that early Sunday morning.
Perhaps the brightest smile of all belonged to 16-year-old Kyrelle Thomas, an honor student from the Charlotte Amalie High School, Contestant Number Three. Not only did Thomas smile when her name was called by the judges, she danced down the runway towards a crowd of adoring fans who waited for hours to witness the outcome.
The judges also awarded the new Miss St. John the titles of Best International Wear, Best Evening Wear and Best Talent. As a member of the CAHS Marching Hawks, Thomas performed classical and popular tunes on alto and baritone saxophone.
Contestant Number Six, Makeda Dawson, won the title of First Runner Up. She also won Miss Congeniality and captured the question and answer segment for her response to the topic of the proper use of social media by students.
Sharvelle Nicholas, Contestant Number Two, received the title of Miss Photogenic, a designation given by pageant photographers. Nicholas also won Third Runner Up.
Dyese Turnbull, Contestant Number One was named Second Runner Up and Most Cooperative Contestant.
When she was asked about her joyful response to winning the crown, Thomas said, “because I worked long and hard for this, really long and really hard for this.”
Then she was whisked away to pose for the camera, along with her fellow contestants.
By winning the 60th anniversary queen title, Thomas reigns over the St. John Festival Diamond Jubilee. The occasion was also celebrated by several past festival queens who danced in the introductory number and appeared on stage to greet the fans.
