By SEETA PERSAD Monday, February 25 2008

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LONG AND SHORT OF IT: MIss TT hopeful Sasiya Alvert looks up at MC Adrian Raymond at last night\'s Miss Trinidad and Tobago beauty pageant at Club Zen...

GABRIELLE WALCOTT, 24, of Petit Valley will represent this country at the 2008 Miss World pageant in Vietnam while Anya Ayoung-Chee, 26, of Maraval will represent TT at the Miss Universe pageant in the Ukraine, after both women won their respective crowns last night at the Miss TT pageant which took place at Club Zen.

The two were chosen from among a field of seven contestants at the finals. Gabrielle will represent TT at the Miss World pageant on October 4, while Ayoung-Chee will make the trip to Ukraine on June 15.

Walcott who holds a Degree in Visual Arts and Theatre Arts later told Newsday she is a passionate person and thanked the judges for giving her “this once in a lifetime opportunity”.

She told the cheering audience that among all the countries she has visited, her homeland is the country she loves best. Her presentation not only went well with the judges, but also the crowd since she took the ‘People’s Choice Award’. Ayoung-Chee who is a graphics designer with Above Studios is the first of six children in the Ayoung-Chee family. She told the host Adrian Raymond that in the world of advertising, products and services, ‘branding’ can be both positive and negative. She emphasized that many companies which carry brand named products are sponsors of many charities the world over.

The competition which was sponsored by the Tourism Development Company (TDC), saw seven women parade before the judges in swimwear, native costume and evening gown. The 2007 winner Valene Maharaj co-hosted the event with Raymond. Maharaj also modeled in her 2007 pageant dress which was designed by Bobby Ackbaralli. She later crowned this year’s winners. Judges for the event included Yvonne Popplewell, Dale Enoch, Jenelle Mc Carty Sinanan, Dominic Kallipersad, Giselle La Ronde and Ackbaralli.

The contestants came on stage to the sound of African drumming and they chanted as they paraded in native wear. They then came on stage a second time in swimwear accompanied by the Blue Devils dancers of Laventille. They made their final appearance in evening gowns led by the chief coordinator of the pageant Peter Elias.