Grenada’s 2022 Carnival Queen, Reesa Mc Intosh is back home after participating in the return of the Miss OECS Pageant held in Dominica last week Saturday for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic.
The 26-year-old Teacher of Tempe, St. George, who was Crowned ‘Miss Grenada,’ after winning this year’s National Carnival Queen Show competition in July, competed against six (6) other Caribbean beauties from Anguilla, St. Lucia, Antigua, and Barbuda, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Vincent, and the Grenadines, and Dominica for the coveted Miss OECS title.
She finished as the Second Runner Up and the 2022 Miss OECS pageant judges also bestowed upon her titles for best promotional video, talent, interview, and Ms. Congeniality, categories she had also won when she competed in the national Queen Show competition, as part of the return of Spice Mas 2022, after a 2-year hiatus, which was also due to the pandemic.
At the end of the OECS competition, it was Keriann Thomas, a 21-year-old law enforcement officer from Antigua and Barbuda, who was declared Ms. OECS 2022, to take over the reign from Earlyca Frederick of St. Lucia, who has had a two-year reign after winning the regional competition in 2019, when the show made a massive comeback following a 20-year hiatus.
Miss Antigua & Barbuda, also won prizes for the Best Creative National Wear, Best in Swimwear, Best Evening Gown, and Best in Evening Gown.
Copping the first runner-up spot was Miss St. Lucia, Kejean Smith, 21, who was the Second Runner Up this year, in that country’s national Carnival Queen competition.
Held under the theme ‘The Caribbean, a tropical utopia’, the Miss OECS pageant allowed each contestant to promote her country, and culture as an idyllic location, and highlight the extraordinary attributes of the young women throughout the OECS.
Commenting on Mc Intosh’s performance in a telephone interview with THE NEW TODAY on Tuesday, Kirk Seetahal, who coached, and designed all of her pageant wear said, “I think she did Grenada Proud.”
“She excelled in each category…you know the judges’ decision is always final but to me, she represented us very well,” Seetahal remarked.
Mc Intosh’s journey into the spotlight began in 2013 when she won the GBN Gospel Challenge competition.
“I hope that during my reign I can use my platform to push education, and creative arts, and especially I want to encourage all the youths that whatever they are good at, whether it be technical skills or talent, go for it with confidence and that what they have to offer, though small in their minds, it can have a big effect on Grenada,” Mc Intosh told reporters in an interview backstage after being crowned this year’s national Carnival Queen.
She currently teaches Spanish, French, and Religious Affairs at St. Joseph’s Convent, St. George’s, and has described herself as a cultural enthusiast who is highly passionate about the creative arts, with a strong affinity for singing and dancing.