After a one-year hiatus, one of St. Vincent and the Grenadines’ most anticipated annual cultural events, the Miss SVG beauty pageant, is making a comeback — and this year, it is reclaiming its traditional spot as the official opening event of the Vincymas carnival season, scheduled to take place on May 30. This marks a shift from the pageant’s recent scheduling, when it was moved to October to align with the country’s annual Independence Day commemorations.
Seven young contestants from communities across St. Vincent will compete for the coveted national crown and a package of top-tier prizes, headlined by an 80,000 Eastern Caribbean dollar university scholarship that offers a life-changing educational opportunity for the winner. The contestants, listed by their official performance order, are: 1. Charisma Charles, 22, representing sponsor Insta Cash from Peruvian Vale; 2. Enecia Clarke, representing Grenadine House from Layou; 3. 24-year-old N’Zinga Deroche, representing Republic Bank, also from Layou; 4. Elreka Gaymes, representing Executive Air Ltd.; 5. 26-year-old Lourie John, representing Darcheville Construction Equipment Sales Ld. from Redemption Sharpes; 6. Kayla Jordan, representing Lotto; and 7. Anaelia Williams, representing Lynch Caribbean Brokers Ltd. from Richland Park.
Jamie Crick, a core member of the Carnival Development Corporation’s (CDC) Beauty Shows Committee, described this year’s class of contestants as a diverse “bouquet that reflects the very spirit of Vincymas”, noting that the months-long preparation journey leading up to the pageant makes the 2026 competition extra meaningful. Over nearly a year, Crick explained, the seven candidates have dedicated themselves to rigorous training, personal discipline, and intentional growth, evolving into polished, confident ambassadors prepared to represent their sponsors, home communities, and the country ahead of the carnival season. This year’s pageant operates under the overarching theme La Fleur Royale, or The Royal Flower.
Beyond the main competition night on May 30, organizers have planned a full slate of accessible, community-focused pre-pageant events designed to bring the excitement of the contest directly to the Vincentian public. On May 3 and 10, contestants will participate in island-wide motorcades, with an additional motorcade route through the capital city of Kingstown scheduled for May 22. The motorcades will allow residents across every corner of the island to meet the contestants in person and engage with the Vincymas spirit ahead of the main event.
On May 8, the pageant will host a unique public event titled “Meet me in the market”, framed as a casual, lively gathering where attendees can meet the delegates, take photos, learn more about their preparation journeys, and support local vendors across the island’s public markets. This event is one of several new, fresh additions organizers have introduced to this year’s revived pageant.
Organizers have also reimagined the traditional pageant segments while retaining beloved core elements, with a focus on celebrating individuality and innovation this year. The popular swimwear segment will return with a cohesive unified color palette, but every candidate will wear a custom, uniquely designed piece that reflects her personal style. For the competitive interview round, each contestant will answer two questions: one pulled at random on stage, and one universal question asked to every competitor to create a fair comparative framework. The cultural wear segment will be themed “Once Upon A Village”, designed to highlight St. Vincent’s rich cultural heritage and local traditions, while audiences can also expect the timeless elegance of the evening wear portion and dynamic displays of creativity during the talent competition.
Crick emphasized that despite the disruptions and patience required to bring the pageant back to its traditional Vincymas slot, the end result will be worth the effort. “Though the journey has required patience, we stand here confident that what lies ahead will be worth every painstaking moment, because with every moment that shapes us comes the opportunity to build something greater,” she said, noting that the return of the pageant to the carnival calendar brings a fresh, exciting energy to the start of the 2026 Vincymas season.