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Chrystal Beckles of Barbados crowned regional calypso queen in Montserrat
(December 28, 2012)Newly-crowned Chrystal Cummins-Beckles of Barbados pictured after winning the 2nd Euphony Vibes Regional Female Calypso Competition at Festival City, Montserrat (Photo: Wayne Fenton)
BRADES, Montserrat, Friday December 28, 2012 – Barbados’ Chrystal Cummins-Beckles did herself and her country proud last weekend when she reigned supreme over a field of six talented contestants to win the 2nd Euphony Vibes Regional Female Calypso title.
Staged at Festival City in Montserrat, the competition was one of the highlights on the island’s Festival 50 calendar, which continues until Tuesday January 1, 2013.
The newly-crowned queen, who was the last to perform in each round, bagged the title with two songs she composed and arranged herself, impressing the judges with “Fly on de Wall” in the first round and “Forgive de Caribbean” in the second.
Beckles told the backstage live stream host Sharlene Lindsay that she was confident that she’d brought her all to the stage and that each of the women competing had done the same, making it very hard to know who the judges would choose.
The new calypso monarch was reportedly visibly shocked when her name was called ahead of Montserrat’s former female calypso monarch Silvina “Khandie” Malone, who was first runner-up, and Shereena “Shea Shea” Richardson, who took third place.
Also delivering powerful performances were last year’s winner Menell of St Lucia, Singing Althea of Antigua and Barbuda, and Shaunelle McKenzie of St Vincent and the Grenadines.
Along with her crown and trophy, Beckles took home EC$8,000 cash and a round-trip to London, while runner-up Malone bagged EC$5,000 and two-nights at the West End Hotel Suites in Anguilla.