Time to invest in local beauty

THE EDITOR: On the night of June 1 2004 many of us were on the edge of our seats when the top five delegates of the Miss Universe Pageant were being announced. The mood was sheer euphoria for all true Trinbagonians at home and abroad when the MC called Miss Trinidad and Tobago to round off the “hottest” five. It was not just Danielle Jones’ stunning good looks that made us jubilant but the fact that TT was “up there” on a pedestal, being showcased to over 600 million potential tourists.

Adjunct to this thrill was the earlier introduction of TT’s second Miss Universe, Wendy Fitzwilliam as one of the celebrity judges for the show. Indeed, those are the proud moments we crave for, especially in this high crime era where doom and gloom are always a cover story. TT’s track record at international beauty pageants bears testimony to the natural “beauty with brains” resource we have been bestowed with as a pluralistic society. Over the last year alone, TT delegates placed prominently in the Miss Universe and Miss World pageants, capturing also the Miss Caribe and Miss Model of the World crowns. There is no question — with a mere 1.3 million people we are giving them “thunder” at international beauty pageants. Moreover, with Peter Elias and his team of queen makers now holding the franchise for the most popular events, more queenly glory is certainly in store for us.

Notwithstanding, I feel that we can double our successes with more financial aid from the Government and our corporate citizens. These two entities have traditionally been quick to congratulate and praise nationals for outstanding achievements. Stadiums, planes, parks and at least one hospital have been named after local heroes and heroines. Stardom status has also been recognised via gifts that range from national awards, victory drives and new cars to trips, cosmetics, jewelry and gym membership vouchers. But often, much of the money spent is after the fact and should have been contributed before, thus making the task a little easier for the achiever to accomplish. Surely, this analogy holds beyond the realm of beauty pageants. Still, we can only wonder how many of our erstwhile delegates would have been title-holders if more professional training and grooming were afforded.

I would like to see a reasonable sum allocated in the annual budget for TT’s beauty industry. I am hoping that more companies/institutions give more generously in championing this cause, and if I may be bold, especially our financial institutions which declare hundreds of millions of dollars in profit at the end of every fiscal year. Of course, some of us are inclined to believe that money would be better spent on any of our many societal ills. But surely, in the context of a twenty-billion-dollar budget, any amount under a million dollars must be considered nominal and should not impact spending elsewhere. Remember that to invest in local beauty is to promote Trinidad and Tobago. What is the price tag on that?

DEXTER J RIGSBY
Mt Lambert