Queen Pearl reigns at 50

Pearl Williams is very close to age 50. Looking at her, you’d second guess yourself as to figuring out her true age. You might even fall over when she tells you that she’s a mother of (get ready for this)... not three, five or six, but eight children, ages 30, 29, 28, 27, 24, 23, 14 and six (three boys and five girls). And a grandmother of four! “And my stomach is still nice and flat,” she joked, showing a little of that winning personality she possesses. That same personality and charm came through when she was selected to wear the crown of Simpli Smooth Productions’ Miss South Mature Pageant in May and copped the awards for Best Evening Wear and Best Interview in the bargain. As part of her reign she is also a Public Relations Officer for Events for Women, an organisation that seeks to empower women about their rights and tackles women’s issues and illnesses that include (among others) breast cancer and domestic violence.

But she doesn’t fit the cookie-cutter pageant type in any way, simply because there is no fluff. She possesses an interesting resume as well, for she once ran a small kindergarten, did security work for the La Romaine RC school, did woodwork, house painting and welding (radiator repairs) and even knows about masonry, all in the quest to provide for her family. “I never paid attention to how much I did, I just focused on what I had to do,” said Pearl with a coy smile. “You see, I was born and raised in Bamboo Village, went to Sando RC then to Beacon’s College, got my education and I was married very young, at age 18. Sadly, my husband died when I was just 25 and it was a struggle since then. Right now I work at the Ministry of Education as a member of their Auxiliary Staff in Dow Village Government School, California. But before that, I did any and every honest job I could find to put food on the table. As a single mother, you do what you can. In my case, it was just work, work and more hard work, but with a good mind.”

She takes pride in mentioning that she is a self-styled “house manageress,” a combination of housewife and manager of the household. If she were to leave her job tomorrow, she wouldn’t feel deprived of anything, simply because she relishes being at (and taking care of) her home. In fact, her most favourite thing to do is cook. Her favourite meal? A tasty pelau (well done in coconut milk) with fresh salad on the side and a cold glass of fresh orange juice to wash it down. “And read my Newsday,” she says with pride. “If you come by me now, you’ll see a little old crib filled with Newsday papers. I love reading.” In fact, she sees herself running her own catering business within the next ten years. Her other love is none other than husband Cletus, whom she met 11 years after the death of her first husband. She even blushes at the mention of his name. “Oh, he is so dynamic!” she smiles. “So supportive... he’s everything... I can’t find all the words to describe him, I couldn’t desire a better husband! He’s a winch operator at Gulf Petroleum, another hard worker (laughter). When we met, he had no children of his own and I was scared about that.

I mean, you hardly find men wanting to share that responsibility of fatherhood and I told him, ‘You sure you’re okay with this?’ But he accepted all of us, even with all my struggles with paying rent, raising them and working non-stop to make it. My children accepted him and everything has been smooth sailing since. I have to thank God for that, because it was tough before he came into my life, being a single parent.” On her looking so fit and fabulous, she attributes her love of prayer, faith and some good food to her being able to look so well. Once she tried herbal teas, but one of these led to her most embarrassing moment in Marabella. “I was taking tea and had a cup of it the night before, thinking all was well. Next morning I went out, and my belly started to bubble and no toilet anywhere. The only place I could see was this bar, Carousel. Man, I walked to it so fast! I was eyeing the counter and I just darted inside, WHOOSH!” Afterwards a relieved Pearl coolly walked out the door, back straight, nose in the air.

Pearl knows she has come a long way from her early days of struggle and is always ready to offer advice to anyone who needs it. She noted that most children take after their parents, but she is the complete opposite of this saying. Her elder daughters are the ones involved in fashion; one of them, Cheryl Alleyne even works with local designers Zadd and Eastman. She has given them support over the years in fashion and queen shows, not even thinking that she would be involved in one herself one day. “And I thank them all for encouraging me to do it,” she quipped. “I used to worry a lot about being alone,” she confessed. “I was stressed out, sad. My daughter looked at me one day and said ‘Mummy, your eyes... you’re starting to look miserable!’ I went to the mirror and didn’t like what I saw at all. I started to catch myself, saying that God didn’t bring me here to suffer every day that passes, something good is going to happen, something good will happen... I no longer dwell on the past. Nowadays when I ask my children, ‘How do I look now?’ they always smile and say, ‘You look wonderful’. And I feel it.”