Sylvanna L. Charles, representing the British Virgin Islands, was crowned Miss Elegantly Plus 2025 at the highly anticipated Miss Elegantly Plus Caribbean Queen Pageant on March 14. Charles secured the title with 518 points, marking a historic moment as the first-ever Miss Elegantly Plus. In addition to the main title, Charles earned multiple special awards throughout the night, including Best Evening Wear, Best Photogenic, Best Talent, Best Flag Couture Ambassadorial Presentation, and the Top Model Award.

Mekelia A. Miller from Trinidad & Tobago earned the 1st Runner-Up title with 483 points, receiving accolades in Best Onstage Interview and Best Resort Wear.

 The Miss Enterprise award and Best in Opening Number went to Hasanna Graham, representing the U.S. Virgin Islands. Graham’s performance in these segments was highly praised.

Milove J. S. Fontaine from Antigua & Barbuda was awarded Miss Congeniality and stood out in the Best Resort Wear category.

The event which featured delegates from the British Virgin Islands, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Trinidad & Tobago, and Antigua & Barbuda celebrated the beauty and empowerment of plus-size women in the Caribbean. Each delegate showcased their individual talents, poise, and community engagement.

The pageant also included two optional segments on March 13—the Spokeswoman Speech and Fun Fashion categories. While these events were not factored into the final scores, they allowed delegates to demonstrate their personalities and love for pageantry. Charles emerged victorious in both segments.

The inaugural Miss Elegantly Plus pageant is expected to set the stage for future editions, with the aim of empowering plus-size women across the Caribbean to embrace their beauty and confidence.

The stage is set for the highly anticipated Miss Elegantly Plus Caribbean Queen Pageant, as four accomplished women from across the region prepare to compete for the title. The event will take place on Friday, March 14, at 7 PM at the Eileene L. Parsons Auditorium, H. Lavity Stoutt Community College (HLSCC) in Tortola, British Virgin Islands.

Ahead of the main competition, some delegates participated in two optional segments on March 13—the Spokeswoman Speech and Fun Fashion categories. While these events do not contribute to the final scores, they provided a platform for the contestants to express their personalities and love for pageantry. Emerging victorious in both categories was Delegate #3, Sylvanna Charles, Miss Elegantly Plus British Virgin Islands, who impressed judges at The Golden Soirée with her eloquence and style.

The inaugural pageant will bring together delegates representing the British Virgin Islands, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Trinidad & Tobago, and Antigua & Barbuda, each of whom has a strong background in pageantry and community engagement.

Representing the British Virgin Islands is Sylvanna L. Charles, who was crowned BVI Festival Princess in 2005. Hasanna Graham, carrying the banner for the U.S. Virgin Islands, previously earned the title of Miss Bertha C. Boschulte Middle School in 2012. Mekelia A. Miller, hailing from Trinidad & Tobago, won the Miss La Reine Rive’ (Miss Best Village) title in the 2023 Prime Minister’s Best Village Trophy Competition. From Antigua & Barbuda, Milove J. S. Fontaine joins the lineup, having been crowned Miss Charisma in 2020.

This competition is more than just a pageant—it is a celebration of cultural pride, elegance, and confidence among plus-size women in the Caribbean. The winner will make history as the first-ever Miss Elegantly Plus Caribbean Queen, setting the foundation for future editions of this empowering event.

– Defends government support for entertainment events like BOB

Premier Hon. Natalio D. Wheatley has dismissed reports that the BVI Tourist Board (BVITB) contributed an additional $50,000 to the upcoming Black on Black Concert, set for Saturday, 15th March. Speaking on The Big Story with Cathy Richards on March 11, Wheatley called the claims “false” and warned against misinformation.

“The claim that the BVI Tourist Board put in $50,000 is simply false. It’s inaccurate journalism,” he stated.

He clarified that the BVITB operates with its own budget and that sponsorship decisions are handled by the Board’s Managing Director. However, he reaffirmed that government support for major entertainment events is a strategic investment.

The government’s initial sponsorship of $220,000 for the event has been a subject of debate, with some critics questioning the allocation of public funds to support a concert featuring an artist with a controversial history.

However, Premier Wheatley has defended the investment, suggesting that the economic benefits derived from tourism and related activities justify the expenditure. He remarked that such events stimulate the tourism product, leading to increased spending in areas like accommodation, car rentals, and local businesses.

Steve E. Parillon of YOLO Promotions confirmed that the BVITB’s contribution was “less than $10,000,” significantly lower than some public estimates. He emphasised that such sponsorships are standard practice for major local events. “The BVITB is a sponsor, and they have always been a sponsor of our events,” Parillon noted in a recent interview.

Hon. Wheatley also highlighted the necessity of government support for such events. “If you want to have these events, they must have a certain level of government support. Without it, quite honestly, they won’t happen. You have to spend money to make money. When you stimulate the tourism product, the returns are significant,” he explained.

Addressing the broader impact of entertainment tourism, the Premier highlighted successful past events, including the Buju Banton concert, and the upcoming Vybz Kartel performance. “You’re going to find people flying in, filling up hotels, Airbnbs, and villas. Some can’t even find a place to stay, so they stay with family and friends. They’re renting cars, spending money, paying environmental levies, and departure taxes—all of which support our economy,” he noted.

Looking ahead, Wheatley reaffirmed his commitment to growing the tourism sector, citing that 2024 saw the second most visitors in the territory’s history. “The numbers speak for themselves,” he said. “We’re going to continue working our strategy, and I hope the people of the Virgin Islands will understand the broader impact of what we’re doing.”

Hon.  Wheatley’s comments underscore the government’s ongoing support for entertainment tourism as a key driver of economic growth in the Virgin Islands.