The countdown to one of the Caribbean’s most anticipated body-positive beauty competitions is officially underway, as Milove Fontaine, the representative from Antigua and Barbuda, has touched down in the British Virgin Islands ahead of the 2026 Miss Elegantly Plus Caribbean Queen Pageant. The competition, which will crown its new regional champion this Sunday, marks a key moment for celebrating plus-size women across the Caribbean region.
Fontaine brings no stranger to pageantry to the stage: she already holds the title of Miss Charisma 2020, and has spent months preparing to carry the flag of her twin-island nation at this year’s event. The pageant will take place at the Eileene L. Parsons Auditorium, located on the campus of H. Lavity Stoutt Community College in Tortola, welcoming contestants and audiences from across the Caribbean and beyond.
This year, Fontaine will go head-to-head with two other contenders for the coveted crown: Krystle Maduro, the homegrown contestant representing the British Virgin Islands, and Jah’Millia Maloney, competing on behalf of the United States Virgin Islands. The 2026 edition of the pageant is centered on the powerful theme “Pretty. Phenomenal. Plus.” — a slogan crafted to shine a spotlight on three core values: unapologetic confidence, intentional female empowerment, and authentic self-expression. More than just a beauty competition, the event exists to celebrate the diversity, beauty and leadership of plus-size women across the Caribbean, pushing back against narrow, traditional beauty standards that have long dominated pageant culture.
For Antigua and Barbuda, Fontaine’s participation does more than just contend for a title: it places the small twin-island nation firmly on the regional cultural stage, giving her a platform to showcase her home country’s rich cultural heritage, standout talent, and signature elegance throughout the competition. Back in Antigua and Barbuda, a groundswell of support has grown for Fontaine in the lead-up to Sunday’s final, with fans, friends and supporters sharing messages of encouragement and excitement as she makes her final preparations for the crown.