Former Miss BVI now vying for Miss World USVI crown

IN ALL NEWS / BY: ON OCTOBER 2, 2019 AT 4:54 PM /

A’yana Phillips advertised as one of the contestants in Miss USVI 2019 pageant.

Former Miss British Virgin Islands A’yana Keshelle Phillips known as ‘Lady Mix’ will be one of two contestants vying for the Miss World US Virgin Islands (USVI) crown.

Phillips, who was one of the two contestants in the Miss BVI pageant just last year, shared the first runner-up position with Helina Hewlett when she was crowned the BVI’s 2018 queen.

According to the Miss World USVI Facebook post on September 22, Phillips is set to contest the Miss USVI crown at the neighbouring territory’s Island Center on Sunday, October 6.

“We invite you to witness pageantry like no other. Our native Virgin Island queens, no strangers to the pageant scene will display the best in sisterhood, community-giving, purpose and beauty,” a statement said.

The statement further read: “One queen, will voyage to the International Miss World stage in London this year. The new Miss World USVI Pageant 2019 — a community initiative, an authentic stride, a force to take on the world with purpose! See you there!”

Social media users question nationality of contestants

Jaielean Jagrup, owner of the Miss World USVI franchise described both Phillips and her competitor as ‘USVI locals’.

She gave that description responding to a question by one woman who wrote: “Are the contestants actually from the VI? [I’m] Asking for a friend.”

“At Miss World USVI we have a very strict residency/lineage policy when it comes to our contestants. Both are authentic born and raised local US Virgin Islanders,” Jagrup said in her response.

According to information submitted about Phillips during her stint as the 2018 Miss BVI, she is from the Third District community of Sea Cow’s Bay on Tortola.

https://bvinews.com/former-miss-bvi-now-vying-for-miss-world-usvi-crown/