Orngel Erskine St. Kitts & Nevis National Queen 2015-2016

What or who motivated you to enter the National Carnival Queen pageant?

My mother Andrea Walwyn, motivated me to enter the pageant because she herself entered 3 pageants in the past, capturing all 3 crowns. She also encourages me to keep striving for the best and aim for my goals.

 

Have you competed in other show before?

The National Carnival Queen Pageant 2015 was the first pageant I participated in.

 

What type of teenager were you?

I was a very outgoing teenager, always loved to party and work. At the same time I enjoyed going to school.

 

What schools did you attend?

I attended the Beach Allen Primary School in St. Kitts and the Gingerland Secondary in Nevis.

 

Your platform was “Customer Service in the Tourism Industry”. Were you the one to choose your platform or was it given to you?

Yes I was the one to select my platform. As someone who is directly involved in the cruise industry I have observed that we do not deliver the quality of service that we ought to, our attitudes are unbecoming, we do not smile enough and we also do not behave in a professional manner. There is room to uplift the standards in this particular field as this is our country main source of income.

 

Do you have a degree in hospitality? Have you always wanted to be a part of this industry?

Yes, I have an Associates and Bachelor’s Degree in Hospitality and Tourism Management. It is my ultimate goal to be the tourism director of my country.

 

How long have you been working in the tourism industry?

I have been involved in the tourism industry for the past 2 years working at Kantours as Operations Coordinator.

 

What improvements would you like to see in the tourism industry?

I would like to see the change in the attitudes of the persons involved in this sector to improve the delivery of our customer service.

 

From the public’s feedback, you have been very active in the community. Describe some of the things you have done during your reign.

Highlighting a few:

In February, I organized a Pre-Valentine Luncheon for the Cardin Home. This event was particularly special to me as often times we as a people tend to neglect the older persons forgetting that had it not been for them, we probably would not have been here today.

I also headed the March past and sponsored trophies for the class champion students at the Beach Allen Primary School.

Reading to and distributing gifts to the grade 3 and 4 students at the Beach Allen Primary School was also special to me because the children are our future and we as a people have to ensure that they receive the necessary skills and training required such as knowing how to read. I enjoyed it so much that I continued reading to the children at the Cotton Thomas Comprehensive School and held a party for them. I concluded that month by distributing cake at the Cardin Home Anniversary.

In August I attended the Youth and Culture Summer Camp under the theme “Team work makes the dream work” where I gave brief remarks. Likewise, I presented to the students at CFB College on the meaning and importance of Hospitality which is at the core of my platform.

In October I continued the distribution of school supplies this time to the Beach Allen and Tucker Clarke Primary and to the primary schools in Nevis where my second runner up Jahnel Nisbett did the honour. I also donated a gift to the Men in Heels Competition, hosted a PINK breakfast sale and participated at the breast cancer event at CFBC.

Just a few days ago I organised a Fun Day at Dorset Community Park; distributed gift baskets to the shut-in, within my community, Attended CFBC story telling function at UWI and made a distribution to my sponsor and visited the J.N.F Hospital, giving words of encouragement to those in need.

 

What was your experience participating in regional shows?

Throughout my reign  I was offered to enter three pageants by  the St. Kitts Nevis Carnival Committee, two of which I accepted,  the Miss Carival in St. Vincent and the Miss Jaycees International in Antigua both occurring  in the month of July.  However I declined to enter the Caribbean Culture Queen Pageant in Nevis due to the closeness in dates with the Miss Jaycees Pageant.

Entering the overseas pageants allowed me to tap into my ambassadorial skills of which I am very proud. Even though I was not their overall winner, making it to the top 5 in the Miss Jaycees Pageant and receiving the Miss Congeniality award in itself shows that I am definitely a team player and has encouraged me to continue believing in myself.

Pageantry has been a learning experience.  I have learnt that it is not only about talent, beauty or competition, but something much more valuable such as the long lasting friendships it creates.

 

Is there more preparation for regional shows than Miss St. Kitts/Nevis pageant?

The regional shows because there are more contestants and the criteria are structured differently from ours. So it’s more challenging preparing for regional shows but once you’re well prepared there is nothing to be worried about.

 

Before winning the crown, you were at the hospital. Was it the same night of the show? What were your thoughts then?

I was hospitalized three times that said week of the show and I checked out at 5:00 pm that said day of the show in so much pain. It took me about 2 hours to make a decision as to if I was still participating or cancel. I couldn’t let my hard work or my chaperone and her team work be left unseen so it was mind over matter. Although my segments were not as a strong as I wanted them to be I was still able to overcome the challenges that I encountered on the same night. After the national pride segment I fainted but after all the encouraging words from both my mother and my chaperone I was determined to make it to the finish line.

 

You won the Chairman’s Award. What are the criteria to win it?

Actually this award is judged by the chairperson. You have to be well mannered, always appropriately dressed, be punctual and early at every event.

 

What other categories and awards did you win?

I won the Miss Amity Award, Best Evening Wear and Best Interview in the National Carnival Queen Pageant. In the Miss Jaycees International, I won the Miss Congeniality Award and made it to the top 5.

 

Tell us something that the public may not know about you.

I will be reading for a Master’s Degree in Business Management this year.

 

What changes, if any, would you like to see in the Carnival queen show?

I think the National Carnival Queen Pageant is perfectly organized. The segments give the contestants the opportunity to showcase their beauty, their god given talent and also to be an advocate for a cause which is dear to them.

 

What advice would you give to women wanting to enter the queen show?

Pageantry comes with many benefits, it will be challenging but you have to remain focus on the goal at hand. You will be bashed by many but once you remain focus on why you started you will be successful. Always remember while others are dreaming of success winners wake up and work hard to achieve that goal.