Courtesy of: The Morning News
By: Rosalie Klein
ORANJESTAD– On Friday evening, February 7, the Aruba Entertainment Center in Oranjestad was packed to the rafters with highly energetic supporters of the seven candidates for Aruba’s 51st Youth Queen. This year, there was particularly vigorous competition and participation, on the stage and in the audience, for the landmark 60th Diamond Jubilee Carnival.
However, among the field of seven lovely and talented young ladies, judges and the audience had to agree, Dana Arendz, representing the TOB Carnival Group, was a standout. Her presentation garnered her the titles of Miss Popular, Best Costume, Best Speech and Miss SETAR, for winning the SMS voting competition conducted by Aruba’s national telecommunications company. It was no surprise to anyone when she was finally crowned Carnival Youth Queen by Landa Henriquez, owner of Aruba Trading Company, which is the exclusive agent for Revlon products on Aruba, the major sponsor of this year’s pageant.
Despite all the signs, Dana was still surprised to be named the winner and responded with copious tears as the vast number of TOB supporters in the audience cheered her on.
Gabriela Croes, representing Oranjestad and barrio of Companashi, won the category of Best Show, and was named Second Runner Up. Lynn Xena Angela, the Youth Queen of Champagne Carnival Group, won the trophy for First Runner Up.
The pageant entails a presentation of a themed carnival costume and speech by the candidate, followed by a performance showcasing each candidate’s dancing talents and carnival spirit, from which a panel of a dozen judges select the winners.
Aruba’s new Youth Queen will join the new Children’s Queen, Sheqayli Ascencion, soon to be joined in the royal court by Mrs. Carnival and the Grand Carnival Queen, with their pageants.
