African Caribbean Beauty Queens represent Canada on the local, national, and international levels

BY PAUL JUNOR

In many ways, beauty competition has been frowned upon as being exploitative of women.

Nevertheless,for many young girls who decide to participate in them, winning cash prizes and recognition can be a safe way to market their skills, talents and abilities. For many of these young women, beauty pageants are stepping stones to future success and a way to develop: social, relational and psychological growth.

This is especially true for young women of African Canadian backgrounds who face many personal hurdles and aspire to excel against all odds. Four of these Black beauty queens are: Tattiana Pompey-Happi, Stacy “Destiny” Savary, Anrdria Thompson and Shannon Green. They all represent Canada on so many levels on diverse stages.

Tattiana is Junior Miss Galaxy Canada. Since she won the pageant in 2022 she has been active in many community events such as: wellness walk to celebrate the 43^rd Anniversary of Independence of St.Vincent and the Grenadines, performing at the SVG Ottawa Association Cultural Night event on November 5^th, raised the flag of SVG at the 43^rd independence festivities celebration, attended the P.E.A.B.O Awards Gala, attended the Annual General Meeting and Holding Social of the Scarborough Business Association (SBA), collected funds to distribute to girls rescued from trafficking, helped out at the  Kente Claus Christmas tree lightning on Eglinton Avenue, attended the Wakanda Gala, attended the OBHS kick off and the Black Diamond Ball.

On March 27^th, 2023, she was crowned Miss Teenage Ontario and will move on to the Miss Canada competition. She was featured in the BIzfashion magazine 59^th issue. She was present at Brampton’s Multicultural Festival-Carabram. She attended the flag raising ceremony for the Jamaica Independence Day at Brampton City Hall and will be representing Canada at the Galaxy International Pageant in Orlando, Florida which will take place between August 23^rd – 27^th, 2023.

Stacy has a long history of competing in pageants over the years.  She was the Emancipation Month Queen of Canada and is the first Ambassador of Canada to the Caribbean. She is a Brampton Flower City Pageant Contestant, and is Ms. Elite Brampton 2023. She is a podcaster, digital advocate, health influencer and is an endo warrior. She has shared her story on many platforms, most recently on City TV News about her battle with endometriosis.

Andria M. Thompson is Mrs United World Canada. She participated in the Mrs Universe Jamaica Pageant. As a Jamaican-Canadian, she has shared her personal struggles with respect to her family, motherhood, faith, advocacy and overcoming endometrial cancer with the Jamaica Gleaner. She states, “I believe there is life after cancer and I am living proof to never stop fighting, never stop believing and never stop pursuing your dreams. Surviving stage four was not an easy feat. It took sheer will ,determination, faith and support from her loved ones.” She will be part of the Mrs Universe Jamaica Crowning Celebration on August 18^th, 2023 at the Caribbean Restaurant which is located at 354 Queen Street West in Toronto. Chelsea Stewart, Juno-nominated reggae artist and the hip hop artist, DT The Artist will perform.

Shannon Green is a business woman and innovative entrepreneur who works in the Canadian community. She won the Mrs Universe Jamaica 2021 and currently is the National Director. She is the founder and CEO of Green Lending Corporation and Lady Entrepreneur with particular attention directed on entrepreneurship and women’s empowerment. Since her venture into the world of pageantry over the last 17 years, she was the 1^st runner  up in the Miss West Indian Canadian competition in 2017, and represented Jamaica in Mrs Universe in Seoul, South Korea.