2016 VI Carnival Queen Kamarsha Melissa Eltez-Potter
Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous hand. (Isaiah 41:10) These are the words that have guided me throughout my life’s journey. From a young age, I always had a passion for pageantry, but never had the bravery to compete because I didn’t see myself as, “pageant material.” I attended multiple pageants and lived vicariously through the contestants. My dream was not to win a crown. My dream was to one day gather up the courage to vie for a title. April 16, 2016, was the night my life changed forever. As I sang the words, “There’s a praise on the inside that I can’t keep to myself, a holler stirring up from the depths of my soul,” it finally registered that my dream finally became reality and the events that followed were even more astounding. All my hard work paid off, leaving my mark in the Lionel Roberts Stadium and Virgin Islands History, I was crowned the 64th Queen of Virgin Islands Carnival. I have always been an avid participant in Virgin Islands Carnival but reigning over the festivities gave me a new sense of appreciation for my culture and most importantly my home. Carnival is a museum of our culture; it is V.I. culture at its peak. People travel from all parts of the world just to experience our food, music, dance, art and they are never disappointed. Most importantly, Carnival brings us together as a community and that is what I love about this time of the year. During my reign, I had the opportunity to experience any and everything Carnival, from the Food Fair where all our local delicacies as well as our local art were on display, to Panorama and the Junior Calypso Competition where our youth got to exhibit their talents to the people of our community. I was also given the honor of co-commentating the Children’s Parade alongside Addie Ottley and Lillian Moolenaar. The highlight of my reign was the Hospital Show, where we brought Carnival to those who were not able to participate in the festivities due to medical reasons. It warmed my heart to see the joy and excitement that filled their faces. Culminating the Carnival season was the Adult’s Parade, although the weather was not the best, it was still my pleasure to open the parade and address our community; as the cultural cliché utters, “Rain Don’t Stop the Carnival.” In addition to reigning over the carnival festivities I was also given the opportunity to attend other events in our territory and internationally. Namely, I visited our sister islands of St. John and St. Croix where I participated in their Festival Parades and activities, and I was also able to attend the Miss St. John and Miss British Virgin Islands competitions. Throughout this journey, I was surrounded by people that provided me with love and support and continuously lifted me higher. To my seamstresses, Lurlene Gerard, Sandraann Massac and Denise Tavares, thank you for lending me your hands and helping turn my vision into a reality. To the ladies of Venus and Mars Beauty Salon, thank you for welcoming me as one of your Glam Dollz and making me feel confident before, during and after the show. And most importantly Ama and Shara, I will never forget the many sacrifices you both made to ensure I was always flawless. To my amazing vocal coach, Sandraan Massac, thank you for passing on your wisdom and helping expand my craft. To Felix Enterprises, thank you for bringing my Cultural and Promotional costumes to life. To Shayla Solomon and S3 Pro Consulting, thank you for being a sensational coach and an inspiring individual; you never gave up on me and you always made me feel like we were family. Words cannot express the love and appreciation I have for you and the wisdom you have instilled in me. To Lurlene Gerard, thank you for being my second mom, and having such a warm and welcoming heart. You sacrificed many nights just to make sure everything I wore reflected my vision and personality. I love you Momma Gerard. To my big sister, Mia Morris, thank you for being you. You were my listening ear and my shoulder to cry on throughout this whole experience. Thank you for always supporting me in everything I do. You always made sure my routines reflected my personality and that I was comfortable. We may not be sisters by blood but I will always hold you dear to my heart. To my phenomenal chaperone, Shamika Williams- Henley, thank you for opening your heart to me. Words cannot express how grateful I am for all the sacrifices you made to ensure that I had an influential journey. Your countless words of wisdom and constant encouragement have helped mold me into the young woman I am today and I am forever indebted. Thank you for making me a better version of myself. I love you Shammy, Ceara and Bianca, you will both be my pageant sisters forever. I am glad that we went on this journey together. You are both amazing, young women, that I know will make a difference in this world. I wish you both nothing but success in everything you do. None of this would be possible without the love and support of my friends and family. To my little sister Keinesha, thank you for always encouraging me. Thank you for always listening when I rehearsed and never growing weary. I will always strive to excel because I know I have you looking up to me. To my older brothers, Judilius, Judicael, and Jawahn thank you for always believing in me and my abilities and for always supporting me from a distance. To my Auntie Petra and cousin Monifa, thank you for always making sure I had what I needed throughout my journey. You were my main support system and I will forever be grateful. Most importantly, thank you to my mother Judith Eltez, without you none of this would be possible, you are my rock. You never gave up on me even when I wanted to give up on myself. I love you with all my heart. Thank you for always being my biggest fan. To my dad, the late Cecil “Fatta” Potter, you may no longer be with us, but I channel you in everything I do. I will continue to keep your legacy alive and make you proud. I love you, always and forever. This crown not only belongs to me, it belongs to any and every one that has contributed and supported me from the beginning, thank you for being #Team Kamarsha. My Centennial Queens, Annakiya, K’Risa, Aminisha, Kalyna, and Mary-Alice, I wish you all the best of luck on your journey and I congratulate you for taking this step on becoming a part of Virgin Islands History. It is my personal testimony the journey will not be an easy one, but in the end, it will be worth the sacrifice. Stay grounded and always believe in yourself and your potential. Though only one of you will be crowned on April 15th, remember a queen is not afraid to fail, failure is a stepping stone to greatness and just by vying for this title, you are all Queens. Along this journey, I have learned so many things about myself that make me proud of the person I am becoming. Being crowned Virgin Islands Carnival Queen 2016 is a moment that I will remember for as long as I walk this Earth. Being a Queen is knowing and loving who you are, which equips you with the tools to move through life with confidence and a sense of purpose. A queen is not perfect, she is always willing to learn, discuss and most importantly listen. Being a Queen is knowing when you are wrong and being able to accept it and make a change. Being a Queen is valuing others and their ideas, but knowing which ones are true to who you are. Always carry in your heart the many lessons learned and the tears that have been shed, and grow with every encounter. Continue to be loyal and true to yourself, love yourself and be selfless in everything you do. Being a Queen is knowing that God is with you every step of the way and knowing and trusting in your heart that he will never forsake you. Nothing is more fabulous than Carnival in St. Thomas.! Saluting you as the epitome of fabulous, Kamarsha Melissa Eltez-Potter A Centennial Commemoration for our 65th Celebration 25
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