Maleah Erskine – 2nd Runner-Up in the St. Kitts and Nevis National Teen Pageant 2022-2023

Interview with Maleah Erskine

Please share with the readers what you did for your talent and also describe your costume worn at the show.

For my talent piece I would have played the role of a pastor by the name of “Dr. The Right Reverend M. L. Erskine” and gave a sermon to the audience about a topic that I believed had fallen on deaf ears. In the presentation I spoke about training children up in the right way. Looking at the fact that sometimes it is better to speak to children and find alternative methods of punishment as opposed to beating them with the leather strap. I was able to bring across my message to parents and children alike and at the same time carry a bit of humour for comic relief.

My costume piece would have depicted coral reefs and life under the sea. My back piece was made of pool noodles which represented the tubulous corals. Laid on them was bubbles that contained fishes. My head piece was covered in shells and mermaids and a bit of glitter and sand. My bodysuit was covered in gill like material and had fins on the sleeves and on my feet. To bring it all together I wore glitter red shoes to bring life to the ensemble.

You had a captivating pageantry and performed splendidly. What led you to make that conscious decision to represent your school and be more in the limelight?

I had my first pageant experience when I was 9 and captured the crown and title of Miss Operation Future. Since then I have always been interested in entering pageants whether it was for school or for a club. This time in particular, I was very excited to enter into the National Talented Teen Pageant as I was given the opportunity to speak on a platform that isn’t widely advocated for.

Are you familiar with performing in public?

This pageant definitely wasn’t my first time on stage. I have been exposed to public appearances like these from a very young age. I perform with the LEAP dance group as well as speak publicly for other associations such as SKNYPA.

Please list your achievements.

Well that list may be quite long. Instead I’ll list 5. I was the youngest Most Remarkable Teen awardees in 2020. I left school at the age of 14 and started college. I currently hold the position Vice President on the Student Government Association. I am the current local STEAM Ambassador of the Aspire Artemis Foundation and I was invited to attend the UN General Assembly in New York last September

What topics and/or causes matter to you presently?

Currently I am running a Marine Lives Matter campaign through the Student Government Association and Ionic Achievers Club. I believe that these vulnerable species need all the help they can get  and I plan to run this campaign for as long as I can.

What would you like to use your platform/position to inform the public about?

Throughout the course of the pageant my bio was centered around balance. Having balance with school, social life and rest is important especially for college students. I firmly believe that it is crucial that we all find balance in life as it encourages us to be exposed to many opportunities and allows us to develop ourselves.

Since stepping more in the spotlight, you would have experienced some highs and lows. Other than placing in the competition, what has been a highlight during or after the pageantry?

One of the highlights after the pageant was parading through the streets with my costume piece and seeing all the little kids light up at the sight of me. It brought me great joy take pictures with them.

What is your favourite form of expression?

My personal favourite form of expression is dance. So much can be said through the art of dance. I get goosebumps when performing or even looking at performances as the different moves portray expressions beyond words. I also admire spoken words and although I have never performed one myself I find myself experimenting every now and then in this form of expression.

What is your dream career?

I have not yet chosen a specific title that I want to attain. However as a STEAM Enthusiast I look forward to studying Information and Communication technologies, more specifically Computer Science.

Is there is anything else you wish to share with the audience, feel free to do so.

To my audience, I wish to encourage you to step out of your comfort zone, try new things, develop long lasting life skills and enjoy the journey!