CHARLOTTE AMALIE — Confidence, grace, and poise were on display at the Elridge Blake Sports & Fitness Center Saturday evening as the Division of Festivals crowned Majestik Estrada-Petersen its 2024 Carnival Queen.
For the young woman, who has competed in pageant titles since she was a little girl, it was a coveted win, one she said came amid trials and tribulations.
“I have been experiencing a lot of grief from severe mental health issues in my family, to violent acts, to domestic violence situations,” Estrada-Petersen said after the show. “I find that pageantry is a really good way to channel those emotions, and I was glad I was able to do this, and I’m still in shock.”
Estrada-Petersen excelled in the on-stage interview, winning the Miss Intellect title, answering questions about culture and vocational opportunities. She spoke of the importance of going back to the past to reclaim one’s heritage and of teaching those with dark skin to embrace their beauty. She also said that exposure to different careers during school is helpful to provide students with real world insight into choosing the best fit for them.
She also won Best Swimwear, Miss Photogenic, Miss Cooperative, and Viya’s People’s Choice Award.
First runner-up Caricia Caesar of Charlotte Amalie High School won Best Ambassadorial Presentation, Best Evening Wear, and Best Talent. During her talent performance, Caesar wowed the audience by taking them on a musical journey from spicy Latin to sultry R&B, popular Afrobeat, and fast soca riffs as she switched between tenor, alto, and soprano saxophones. Throughout the competition, she weaved her theme of integrating music into the schools.
Second runner-up Iniyah Griffin of Eudora Kean High School won Miss Congeniality and Best Cultural Dress, for her costume paying homage to Enid M. Baa, the territory’s first female cabinet member and director of the first Public Library and Archives. Caesar portrayed the sale of the Virgin Islands from Denmark to the United States in 1917 for $25 million in gold, while Estrada-Petersen honored quintessential market woman, Sanderilla “Miss Sandy” Thomas.
The Division of Festivals is the government-run body that crowned Majestik Estrada-Petersen its 2024 Carnival Queen.
The prizes from the Division of Festivals included $10,000 for first place; $5,000 for second place; and $3,500 for third place.
The coronation took place at the Elridge Blake Sports & Fitness Center at UVI’s St. Thomas campus on Saturday.
Kudos to the Queens Committee, volunteers, and staff on executing a great show.