Jevon King (TRINIDAD & TOBAGO 2014)

The girls in Monday Wear by Rhion Romany

The long flowing silk aquamarine dress with the slit and slightly plunging neckline with the girlish ruffles at the sides... It’s her favourite dress; it embodies many of her qualities: girl-next-door (the ruffles), sexy (the neckline), audacious (the long slit), elegant (the long, slinky cut)... “So it’s not this long beautiful dress with the black and white stripe skirt and lacy top, your crowning gown?” I ask T&T’s most recent beauty queen. “No”, she reflects. “I like it but the blue one from the pre-screening show is more me”.

The enchanting Jevon King. It is mere minutes since she was crowned Miss Universe Trinidad and Tobago and everyone is flocking to the tall, beautiful woman with the glowing skin and pretty cheekbones. She is sitting and soaking in the reality that she “is” Miss T&T, a fantasy she had since she was nine years old watching and wishing that she would one day fill the shoes of her icon, Miss Universe 1998, Wendy Fitzwilliam.

Like a fairytale, King is now on her throne, wearing the crown, posing for photos and sharing her queenly back story with me. “How are you feeling right now?” I ask (clichéd for the moment but I am curious as to what is going through her mind at this jubilant time). The former Belmont Girls’ RC School pupil is ecstatic, “To be honest, I am still in shock. I knew I made that promise to mummy so many years ago but to actually be wearing this crown is so surreal!”

Then comes one the many interruptions, “Jevon can you take these photos with me?” asks a man in a three piece suit. King obliges. “Oh Jevon, can I have one with the queen,” inserts a group of young women. And the others come forward fast and furious, like honey bees to a pretty rose; King commands the cocktail room at the Trinidad Hilton, the venue for the Tribe Ultimate Events franchised Miss Universe Pageant, like true royalty. Fashion designer Anya Ayoung-Chee,

who was one the judges comes across to congratulate the blushing 24-year-old and another judge, attorney Justin Phelps, commends her for her great performance... and the list continues. Trinidad and Tobago just can’t get enough of the Belmont born belle as Sydney’s eyes are filled with motherly tears of admiration.

Finally King and I get another quiet moment. She is so easy to talk to, so charismatic; I am surprised that with all the frenzy and euphoric bliss she still has the composure to reflect on her life story, her rough childhood and growing up without a father... But hers is not a sad story although perforated with moments of pain. King’s story is inspiring.

It is a story of how a young girl, the first of three children, grew up on St Barbs Road, Belmont, a quiet street back in the day although a busy hotspot now. “We didn’t have much; we never had material possessions and never enjoyed luxuries as children. I remember days of drinking flour porridge and sugar water at nights because mummy couldn’t afford anything else. Mummy...” She sighs and her eyes sparkle. “My mother is my hero. We didn’t have the luxury some kids had, like a present father to name a few. My mother grew us up on her own strengths. She struggled to make ends meet but she was very hardworking, ambitious and strong.

“Would you believe me if I told you that mummy used to work at a fast food outlet and went back to school and made her climb to a nursing profession which she enjoys today? My mother...She taught us to be grateful for the simple things in life, the value of hard work, faith in God and humility. The thing is in as much as we didn’t have gourmet food that porridge was like gourmet to us because it comprised of the most important ingredient- love!” 

It’s amazing indeed that King takes me back to a small modest house in St Barbs in her account and here we are amongst the celebrities and fans in a bourgeoisie hotel where she is the star. “Jevon, I was backing you all the way, you answered the question the best, your gown is breathtaking!” says a well-dressed middle-aged woman. “Yes she has queen qualities, I can see it,” mentions another older woman dressed to kill. “Can I have another photo,” beckons a photographer while the paparazzi snap every moment. Sydney, King’s sister and her brother join for the photo opportunities as the newly crowned queen smiles modestly.

Then they give a breather—Jevon King take two... We get another moment to chat. I rewind the chat to the extensive Miss Universe training which included physical training sessions, catwalk strutting sessions, cosmetic workshops, motivational/esteem building talks etc. “It was a lot of work. Some people only see the glamorous side but it’s a mix of lipstick and tears,” she laughs.

“Lipstick and tears? I ask

She explains, “The lipstick is the pretty side, the well made faces and dazzling gowns. The tears are the sleepless nights, aching toes after walking in stilettos for hours and the moments where T&T loves you and then they don’t (I don’t bother too much with this part of it though). Through it all the journey to Miss Universe was beautiful with a great qualified team, I learned so much!” “How did you cope with the challenges of your journey?” I ask. “Tribe was a good teacher and I had great family support. My mom used to make salads for me because I had to maintain a healthy balanced diet in order to look the part, my boyfriend used to massage my feet after blistering catwalk sessions and my sister, cousins and brother were my best fans. Also the people at work were very accommodating thankfully, they granted me time off for Miss Universe coaching sessions,” responds the Human Resource Administrator with the Maritime Financial Group.

“And the criticisms which I’m sure will start piling in at your win?” I engage. 

King’s expression changes with this question. Frankly, she explains, “In this life you can’t please everyone and so there will always be critics. It’s either you’re too fat or too skinny and some Trinidadians, believe me, are extremely hard to please but I don’t dwell on negativity I rise with the positive feedback and use it as my inspiration to go forward. If its one value I mastered in my childhood is strength and grace in adversity.” 

And then, the millionth interruption. “Jevon are you feeling better? I hope you are, take a good rest tonight, please do,” urges Leah Mari Guevara, Coordinator for the Miss Universe Pageant. I wonder at Guevara’s statement as King assures that she is fine. Was the winner sick before the competition? Hmmm, she didn’t seem that way. The way she majestically worked the stage/catwalk, her confident voice against youth violence — her response to the final question, oh and her pretty smile which told many words of courage, resilience but certainly not illness...

“I caught the flu a few days ago. Many of the girls in the competition got it. I was very sick last night and during the show. I actually fainted before the show because I felt a bit ill, as if my body was telling me ‘rest Jevon, rest!’ But I couldn’t give in, this is “the” chance to realise my childhood dream, to keep my promise to my mom, I couldn’t succumb...” “But you seemed so strong on stage?” I interjected. “In all the battles we

faced in the past, not once did my mom cry or sulk. A woman has to do what a woman has to do and I did what I had to do regardless of the situation. It’s just the beginning, I will put my best foot forward as Miss T&T and continue to do what I believe I am destined to do- to represent the multicultural essence of my amazing country and show the diversity and beauty of a Trinidadian woman. I want the world to see and feel who we are. I want to boost the morale of my country and bring some happiness back to my lovely nation. This is a mission I will accomplish regardless of any adversity I will face!”

It starts again, “Jevon, ah, darling, come this way, you must take these pics!” It’s the request of a stylish man in a white suit. “Jevon, girl, you’re the one, baby!” shouts a woman in a green dress who tells me that she is King’s best friend. “Jevon, drink some water at least, you must be thirsty,” is Sydney’s maternal suggestion. I take this opportunity to talk to the glowing mother of the queen once more who informs me of a million great things about her daughter. 

“She promised me she would win and she did it. And you want to hear something? Jevon and Wendy both share the same birthday — October 4th!” And so after hearing Sydney talk about King’s disappointment at not passing for her first choice, St Joseph’s Convent at SEA exams and her unexpected blissful experience at alma mater, Woodbrook Secondary School and the former model’s allergy to grass but affinity to people, I get my final interview moments with the lady in the spotlight.

L-R: Sarah Jane Waddell (Miss World TT 2014) with Jevon King (Miss Universe TT 2014)

Source: Miss Universe TT facebook page

Source: Miss T&T Jevon King's FB page

L-R: Miss EarthTT 2004 & national Miss Universe TT director - Leah Marie Guerva; Jevon King

Source: Jevon King Miss Universe T&T facebook page

Photographer: Riley Kerron

Makeup: Kirk Thomas

Hair: Sherma Salandy

Swimsuit: Bikini Cabana

Jewelry: ilmesjewelry

Sun glasses: Optometrist Today