By Poppy Brady From The Voice UK

The national finals of Miss Caribbean UK 2016 (MCUK) will be held at the end of the year in London

MISS CARIBBEAN UK – it’s the ultimate crown that showcases so much more than just physical beauty – and these three finalists from Birmingham represent what the pageant is all about.

Their poise, positive attitude and interview skills won them coveted places in the national finals of Miss Caribbean UK 2016 (MCUK) which will be held at the end of the year in London.

Lorell Boyce, 28, representing Barbados, Georgette Pratt, 27, for the Bahamas, and 28-year-old Jodie Hodgson, representing Barbados, stunned judges at the regional heat held at Birmingham’s Broadway Casino.

Jacqui and Clayton Brown, MCUK organisers, told The Voice: “This year we were both nervous and excited as we have given our 2015 contestants the opportunity to event manage the MCUK heats in their separate UK regions and Natina Mae agreed to take charge of the Birmingham heat.

“Natina did a brilliant job and provided an excellent venue, along with the contestants, staff and supporters. We also had some fantastic judges who included models Tash Tash and Krisina Jagpal, Miss Caribbean UK 2015 reigning queen Amy Harris-Willock and radio personality Merisha Stevenson.”

Jacqui added: “We want to ensure that this event continues to grow and includes the whole Caribbean community, both here in the UK and internationally. This is more than just a pageant to us; it is a means to unite around a common cause. Our mission is to positively promote the Caribbean.

“We want MCUK to be a vehicle which will assist in bringing the Caribbean, and the Diaspora within the UK, closer. We want the old and younger generation Caribbean descendants to recognise the influence and impact that the Caribbean Diaspora has had on UK culture and thus, appreciate the importance of retaining that link with their Caribbean heritage.”

Entertainment at the Birmingham heat was provided by host Reisz Amos, singer Tina Harrison, and a fashion show by Devon Johnson and his models Philisha Harding, Maria Le Bele and Alexandra Reid, with music from DJ Tunji.

MCUK 2016, which will hold the finals on 3 December at the Broadway Theatre, Catford, is fundraising this year to support Cancer Research UK. It has held regional heats in Manchester, Nottingham & Leicester, Sheffield, Liverpool and Reading. The London heat will be held on Sunday 10th July, which is still accepting contestants.

Prizes for the winner include a trip to the country they represent and a £1,000 evening gown. For more details visit: www.misscaribbeanuk.com

IMAGES:

DREAM TEAM: Miss Caribbean UK designer Devon Johnson and some of his models, Ray Lewis, founders Jacqui and Clayton Brown, Birmingham Ambassador Natina Mae Whitter and Cassandra Wiggan

LUCKY THREE: Three finalists Lorell Boyce, Georgette Pratt and Jodie Hodgson

For more on this story go to: http://www.voice-online.co.uk/article/uk-beauty-pageant-positively-promoting-caribbean