ENTERTAINMENT
Kayla Mcletchie adorned in national colors of St. Vincent and the Grenadines in talent segment.
Photo by Nelson A. King
Caribbean Life, J BQ une 21–27, 2019 77
By Nelson A. King
For the second successive year, a
Vincentian has been crowned Miss
NY Continental in a pageant in the
Caribbean community in Brooklyn.
Brooklyn-born Kayla Mcletchie,
22, the daughter of a Vincentian
mother and a Trinidadian father,
snatched the Miss NY Continental
2019 crown Saturday night from a
field of five other Caribbean beauties
at the Wingate Campus Auditorium,
between Ruthland Road and Winthrop
Street in Brooklyn.
Mcletchie’s compatriot Kaila Phillips,
last year’s winner, crowned
Mcletchie, to loud cheers from her
Vincentian supporters, after co-Master
of Ceremonies Atiba Williams
announced the winner after much
suspense. The other co-MC was Claudia
Titus.
Mcletchie, the niece of lawyer
Jomo Sanga Thomas, Speaker of the
House of Assembly in St. Vincent and
the Grenadines, also won the Miss
Photogenic prize.
“I feel proud to win it,” said
Mcletchie, a junior at the predominantly
Black Medgar Evers College in
Brooklyn, pursuing a Bachelor degree
in Nursing, told Caribbean Life in an
exclusive interview afterwards.
“I feel proud mostly how everyone
came out to support me – my family
and friends and Vincentians,” said
McLetchie, who lives with her parents,
Cecelia Thomas Mcletchie and
Gregory McLetchie, in Far Rockaway,
Queens. “It was very motivating.
“I am glad to have the opportunity
Continued on Page 78
Beres Hammond.
On Sunday, June 30 when lovers
rock king Beres Hammond takes the
stage at Groovin In the Park 2019
and sings, “This is no disrespect, but
could you step aside now, another
man wants to take over,” it will have
new meaning. Hammond will become
only the first Jamaican singer and
only the second reggae artist in the
event’s nine-year history to bring the
Continued on Page 78
By Nelson A. King
Jamaican Dancehall Queen Spice
over the weekend rocked the red carpet
while representing the Caribbean community
at the 2019 MTV Movie and TV
Awards at the Barker Hangar in Santa
Monica, Ca.
According to Tracy-Ann “Roxxi”
Chung, public relations coordinator
for the Brooklyn-based playbookmg.
com, Spice “donned a bold yellow gown,
which she describes as bringing the
sunshine from Jamaica, designed by
Shalay from Atlanta and signature blue
hair.”
“She looked ravishing and stunning
while walking the pre-show paparazzi
corridor with confidence and grace,”
Continued on Page 77
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Beres to close
at Groovin’ In
The Park
Spice wins 2019
MTV Movie,
TV Awards
VINCY
QUEEN
Vincentian crowned Miss NY Continental
/ENTERTAINMENT