I had to stand up for my rights

Sixteen-year-old Cherise Solomon, who was crowned Miss Teen Trinidad and Tobago Caribbean 2003 at the City Hall Auditorium on Friday, told Newsday yesterday: “If they strip me of the title now, it will be a sad day for the pageant. It will not be good for other young girls wanting to enter such a competition either. I didn’t mean to disrespect the pageant, but all the emotions that took me over had me react that way.”

Upon the announcement of the results of the competition on Friday, Solomon reportedly tore off her crown and sash  in a fit of rage, and angrily marched off the stage. She was picked to represent Trinidad and Tobago in the Caribbean competition in Barbados, while the overall winner Melissa John was selected for the international teen competition in Ecuador. Pageant producer Mahendra Rampersad said that the organising committee of the competition was expected to meet yesterday to decide on the fate of Solomon, following which a subsequent press conference will be held to inform the public of its decision. The outspoken San Juan Government Secondary student reasoned that she was not from a wealthy family, nor did she have a sponsor. “I am trying to make something better for myself and for them to rob me of that opportunity is really hurtful. I know that the judges’ decision is final but my mother, my family, everybody sacrificed so much for me to enter into this competition.

I worked very hard to get what I want. I now feel hurt and disappointed with the organisers for robbing me of my opportunity to represent Trinidad and Tobago.” Solomon thundered: “I deserved that title! I deserved better! Since I was small I had dreams of entering these competitions but now I have a negative way of thinking about them. I feel cheated, robbed and exploited. It’s sad and heart breaking.” Five times during the course of the interview, Solomon stated that she was not a sore loser but just disappointed. The San Juan teen is of the strong view that the winner was picked before the competition. She said: “If they had a winner beforehand, then why did they have a pageant and expose me to so much unfairness? Everybody in the crowd knew that I was supposed to get it.

“Hearing Melissa was handpicked to win, I couldn’t believe it when it really happened. I deserve that crown.”  She added that she didn’t mind going to Barbados to represent Trinidad and Tobago, but that she deserved more, acknowledging all that her mother gave up for her to enter the competition, and the fact that the lady is still paying bills related to the competition. Solomon ended by candidly stating: “I was clearly the most intelligent of all the entrants, so I had to do what was right for me and for the other girls who looked confused and dejected after the winner was announced. Everybody knew it was a bias thing, so I had to stand up for my rights.”