Prison inmate Kirsten takes Miss Emancipation crown

Afrocentricity was the theme of this year’s Emancipation pageant  for female prisoners at Golden Grove on Friday evening last. The pageant, designed to allow creativity and expression, is part  of the rehabilitation process, and is an annual event in which the female prisoners design and make their own gowns, play musical instruments and choreograph their own dance routines.

This year’s Emancipation pageant was won by 22-year-old Kirsten Bodkin, a former sales clerk of San Fernando. Appearing as Ms Lybia, Bodkin, in the talent segment, she sang a calypso written by former inmate Tesa Gill  and an evening gown designed by Barbadian inmate Jane Spaulding. Second was Dutch national, Bianca Tel, 21, who appeared as Miss Botswana. She performed a folk dance choreographed by fellow inmate Georgette Henry. Tel was also the winner of the Miss Photogenic title. In third spot was Miss Rwanda, Demali Olivierre, who performed a monologue.

Attending the show was Deputy Commissioner of Prisons Carlo McHoney, Superintendent of Prisons, Allister James, Ag Asst Supt Prisons Hasrubal Sampson, and retired female Prisons supervisors. Chief Judge was Lucia Eligon of Sacha Cosmetics. The Emancipation pageant now in its eighth year was coordinated by a committee headed by Prisons Supervisor, Esther Knights and includes Prisons officers Charmaine Johnson, Helen Trotman, Lisa Wright, Beverly-Ann Breton, Pat Asseviero, Sharon Jones and Hazel Toney.