On Saturday, June 27, 17-year-old Vernick Fulgence earned a life-changing victory when she was named Miss District High 2026 at the Human Resource Development Centre in Gros Islet, Saint Lucia. A recent graduate of the St. Lucia TVET Institute’s School of Sustainable Agriculture and Culinary Arts and a native of Dennery who competed under the banner of Miss DBS TV, Fulgence called the moment of her crowning “surreal” — a feeling she says is hard to put into words, even as she knows firsthand the relentless effort that led her to the stage.\n\nFulgence shared that preparing for the pageant stands as one of the most challenging but fulfilling experiences she has ever completed. The first major hurdle she faced was learning to balance her existing personal and academic commitments with the grueling schedule of pageant training. For months, she poured countless hours into refining her performance, pushing through periods of exhaustion and self-doubt by keeping her core goals top of mind.\n\nThat unwavering dedication delivered exceptional results: before claiming the overall title, Fulgence won four individual segment awards: Best Introduction, Best in Swimwear, Best Talent, and Best Interview. When the announcer called her name as the winner, she was overcome with emotion, breaking into happy tears after months of hard work and small sacrifices finally culminated in victory. “That moment is one I will cherish forever,” she said.\n\nBeyond the crown and the accolades, Fulgence says the pageant experience has shaped her personal growth in profound ways. She leaves the competition with greater independence and self-confidence, a deeper appreciation for the power of persistence, improved skills for staying composed under pressure and communicating clearly, and a strong drive to encourage other young people to pursue their dreams. “I want to show others that success comes through determination, consistency, and the courage to keep moving forward, even when challenges feel insurmountable,” she explained. The outpouring of support she has received since her win has also inspired her to continue competing in future pageants.\n\nTreasure Actille, the organizer of Miss District High 2026, echoed the public’s praise for Fulgence in a post-event interview with St. Lucia Times. He called the new titleholder the most consistent competitor on competition night, noting that she was deeply committed to bringing the crown to both her sponsor DBS TV and her hometown of Dennery.\n\nThe full results of the competition saw Kayla Edmund, competing as Miss Pretty Reflections, take first runner-up and also claim the Miss Photogenic award. Second runner-up honors went to Evanelle Faucher of Miss Caribbean Grains Ltd, who also won two additional honors: Best in Evening Wear and the newly introduced Best in District Wear segment. Hayley Noley, Miss DJ C4 Soundsystem, finished as third runner-up, while Kizzy Philgence of Miss NSDC claimed fourth runner-up and the Miss Congeniality award. Actille also confirmed that three of the eight contestants originally announced for the competition did not participate in the final event.\n\nWhile the pageant received widespread praise for the contestants’ performances and Fulgence’s historic win, it was not without controversy. Public feedback has raised questions about the event’s operations, on-site logistics, and overall organizational structure. Additionally, footage of an altercation involving Actille and a group of unidentified individuals that took place after the competition circulated widely across local social media platforms. Actille has declined to provide any comment on the post-event incident.\n\nLooking ahead, Fulgence is set to represent Saint Lucia in her first regional pageant competition this coming December.
‘I gave my very best’: Vernick Fulgence reflects on road to Miss District High crown
