Ms A&B aims to capture another crown

The newly crowned Miss Antigua & Barbuda, Ayana Dorsette has already set her sights on winning another title even as she basks in the celebration of her recent victory.
Dorsette, who was a clear crowd favourite during Sunday night’s intense competition at the Antigua Recreation Grounds, said she is gunning for the Jaycees International Queen Show 2017.
“Since 2009, Antigua & Barbuda hasn’t claimed the Jaycees title, so my head is now focused on Jaycees and bringing it to Antigua for the 60th year of Carnival,” she said.
After over five hours of vibrant costume displays, glitz and glamour, Dorsette not only walked away with the main title but also won the opening, platform and costume segments.
The clearly passionate delegate was also judged the most spirited of the eight competitors.
Mere moments after being crowned, Dorsette told OBSERVER media that because she grew up being a “tomboy”, she views the pageant as a “transformation process”.
She is encouraging other young women hoping to enter the competition to “just come forward … put your best foot forward and that’s all it takes”.
Dorsette, who burst
into tears after she was announced the winner, said she was excited that all her hard work paid off.
Following close behind her in the first runner-up spot was Rohanna Smith, who was also adjudged the winner of the swimsuit and evening wear segments and received the award for the most disciplined delegate.
The second runner-up, Affianna Rodney, was awarded the top prize in the talent segment in addition to being judged the most congenial and was the recipient of the people’s choice award.
Meantime, Shaquan Yorke completed the top four after she was adjudged the third runner-up. She was also awarded the prize for the interview segment, which was held before the competition night.
Despite many patrons lauding the show a success, others complained about the standard of costume designs after the breasts of two of the delegates were exposed, unexpectedly, due to wardrobe malfunctions.
“Didn’t these two young ladies practice in the costumes before the night of the show? Being exposed like that is unacceptable and something should be done,” one patron who identified herself as Judith said.
The show’s 2016 winner had an emotional send-off as she wiped tears from her eyes during her last walk after chronicling her journey as queen. This was in stark contrast to the 2015 winner Asha Frank, who chided the government for underutilising her during her reign.