St George crowns Akeem and Asheba

Akeem Jeffrey kicked and punched his way into the hearts of the audience and topped the official scoresheets to win the male half of the St George Secondary Pageant last Saturday evening at the school.Patrons and judges alike were wowed as Asheba Martial wiggled and swayed enough to be declared queen. Her bellydance, adjudged the Best Talent, was performed with full Arabian trappings – veil and all – and captivated the hall-full of supporters, made up of mostly parents and area residents.A mere smattering of the school’s student corps witnessed four “couples” vie for the crowns but the almost expected technical hiccups aside, the St George pageant committee did a stellar job to ensure an enjoyable evening. Other school pageant organisers should have come with notebooks.From the start, Jeffrey announced he was there to win. Bold? Yes. And he backed it up with a confidence that helped him through a dynamic martial arts display and a smooth-as-glass modelling session. It didn’t hurt that he was the Most Photogenic as well.Asheba wore a stunning layered fuchsia and pink floor-length gown, which captured the limited light on stage and radiated its crimson hues throughout the school hall. She was also able to add Best Project – with help from partner Richard Bancroft – to her awards cache.First runners-up were Shavon Clarke and Richard Bancroft. Clarke also won Miss Photogenic, Miss Congeniality and the People’s Choice Award. Shavon’s talent was a steelpan rendition of Jah Cure’s Call On Me, while Bancroft uttered The Voice, a poem by Winston Farrell, which won him Best Talent.Other contestants were Dario Olton, Adrianna Martin, Krystal King and Wade Hackett.Memorable moments included Wade Hackett’s singing of Stand By Me and the Universal Kempo Karate Club’s entertaining martial arts display.Entertainment was also provided by the Barbados Dance Theatre Centre, calypsonian Bret Linton, Dance 808 and by Philip 7 and Masala, who rocked the school hall.