courtesy of: The Morning News
by Rosalie Klein
Aruba has its own Miss Universe Pageant, during which the island’s candidate for the international competition is chosen, but if any event would be compared to Miss America, it would be the annual selection of the reigning carnival queen. However, there are four age ranges of carnival queens, and on Friday evening, February 3, Aruba’s Youth Queen (Hubenil) and Children’s Queen, (Infantil) were selected to reign over Carnival 58. In a flurry of flounces and cascades of confetti, the young entries displayed their inexhaustible carnival spirit, dancing and prancing for hours before packed house at the Aruba Entertainment Center, as well as the panel of judges. 4 young candidates around the ages of 7 years old competed for the title of Aruba’s 36th Children’s Queen; however, this year only 2 aspired to be the 46th Youth Queen.
Among the sprightly younger candidates the judges felt one was a particular standout, and Ileyna Sandra Marie de Cuba, representing the district of Noord, walked away with every pageant award: Best Speech, Best Show, Best Costume and the popular vote by SMS conducted annually by SETAR N.V., Aruba’s telecommunications company, as well as the crown and the title. 1st Runner-up is Eve- Aaliyah Mirjah, representing the TOB Carnival Group.
When Youth Queen candidate Kimberly Vrolijk repeated the same achievement, being named winner of Best Speech, Best Show and Best Costume, most of those attending assumed she had a lock on the queen title as well. However, in an upset victory that had her supporters, and Aruba’s new Youth Queen in tears, Edelysse Marlyss Davinah Nicolaas, was named the popular winner by SMS in the SETAR N.V. competition, and subsequently, Aruba’s new Reina Hubenil. The audience went wild as the crown was transferred from retiring Youth Queen Mikayla Ruiz.
It was a dramatic and surprising finish to a pageant filled with beautiful costumes and thrilling dance numbers. The two new young queens took their places next to their respective Prins and Pancho, the official escorts and comedians of Carnival, and the Mrs. Carnival elected the week before. They await the selection of the final young lady who will reign supreme, Carnival Queen 58 to complete the roster of Aruba’s carnival royalty 2012.
