ST. JOHN’S, ANTIGUA – June 10, 2026 – The Antigua and Barbuda Festivals Commission (ABFC) has delivered an updated announcement regarding regional pageant representative Miss Abigail Piper, confirming she will withdraw from the upcoming Miss Caribbean Universe Pageant just three days ahead of the competition’s kickoff. The June 13 event, set to take place in St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands, will no longer feature Piper as the nation’s contestant after unexpected visa complications and unmanageable travel barriers emerged, issues that neither the contestant nor the ABFC could mitigate.
While the last-minute change has disrupted initial plans, the ABFC has shared positive news to offset the disappointment: Piper will still step onto a major regional stage to represent Antigua and Barbuda just a few months later. This August, she will compete in the Miss Caribbean Beauty and Intelligence Pageant, a well-regarded regional competition whose core values align perfectly with Piper’s longstanding personal commitments. The pageant centers on youth empowerment, authentic cultural exchange, leadership development, and personal growth – priorities Piper has actively championed throughout her preparation journey.
Hon. Dwayne George, the nation’s Minister of Sports and Creative Industries, reaffirmed the government’s full confidence in and ongoing support for Piper in the announcement. “The entire Commission is extraordinarily proud of everything Abigail has achieved, the dedication she has brought to her preparation, and the unwavering commitment she has shown from day one of this journey,” George stated. “She has already carried the flag of Antigua and Barbuda with incredible grace, professionalism, and distinction, and we have no doubt she will stand out brilliantly when she competes this August. We are fully behind her as she prepares to represent our nation at the Miss Caribbean Beauty and Intelligence Pageant later this year.”
For her part, Piper extended heartfelt gratitude to everyone who has supported her journey, including the organizing committee of the Miss Caribbean Universe Pageant, her official sponsors, family members, close friends, and the wide community of Antiguan and Barbudan supporters who have backed her. She also offered well wishes to all contestants set to compete in the June 13 event, expressing her excitement to watch the competition and her commitment to the pageant’s ongoing success and development in the region.
As Piper shifts her focus to preparing for the August competition, the ABFC is calling on people across Antigua and Barbuda to continue rallying around their representative. The commission emphasized that it remains confident Piper will make the nation proud once again, bringing her signature poise, sharp intellect, and relentless dedication to excellence to the regional stage this summer.