Articles - Cathy new Campari it girl! Written By: Toni Nicholas

Saint Lucian beauty Cathy Daniel has won the first ever Campari Caribbean Poster girl search competition. The grand final of the event was held this past Saturday September 26 at the Coconut Bay Beach Resort and Spa in Vieux Fort and featured sixteen beauties representing the Bahamas, Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, Guyana and host country Saint Lucia. The contestants had previously been through auditions and preliminary rounds in their respective islands, before being selected to participate in the grand finals.In the past, Campari has been represented by international celebrities in print ads and their highly sought after calendars, but with the increasing popularity of the brand in the region, it was felt that the time was right to put a Caribbean face to the drink. And so the concept of the regional event was introduced with JEM Music group (which includes Jah Bami a former host on TEMPO) being contracted to film and produce the event which will be aired as a mini reality series on TEMPO next month. As part of the show, there were several auditions, prejudging and various challenges, screenings, talking parts and photo shoots which took place ahead of the main event. On arrival here last Wednesday the visiting contestants joined the four Saint Lucian finalists on a round the island tour visiting locations like the Pitons, Sulphur Springs and Gros Islet where they were also filmed as part of the television production.

For the final part of the made for TV event, on Saturday the sixteen contestants made their final appearance before the judges, in an amazing outdoor setting at the Coconut Bay Resort which featured a glass catwalk on water and the judges placed on an island in the pool. The audience which included the media, the ambassadors of Taiwan and Mexico as well as the Minister for national security and specially invited guest were treated to this special all inclusive event in grand style.

The ladies first appeared in stunning swimwear to the music of TEM band which did a great job entertaining the crowd. As they made their way across the catwalk in their evening wear, they were serenaded by Shayne Ross. The judges, who included Coconut Bay’s GM Vishal Balal, make up artiste Jojo and Entrepreneur and fashion consultant Theresa of Canada, then deliberated. Shortly before the results, the ladies were brought back on by hosts Jah Bami and Lydia Pattel, where Jah Bami then treated the contestants and the audience to a couple of his songs. The moment of truth then revealed Stacey Cornish of the Bahamas in fifth place, Soowan Bramble of Trinidad and Tobago fourth, Dionne Ellis of Jamaica-third, Rasheeda Alexander of Trinidad and Tobago-second, with Cathy Daniel being announced as the grand prize winner to overwhelming applause. This is the third major win for the 22-year-old beauty who in 2006 represented Saint Lucia at the Miss Earth pageant in Manila after winning the local leg and in 2008 she won the national carnival queen pageant here.

Besides the title Cathy Daniel will receive a cash prize of US$3,000 and an opportunity to travel to Shanghai as well as frequent travel across the Caribbean as the Campari Caribbean Poster girl 2009, representing Campari at different regional locations. Ms Daniel will also receive a full makeover and as the poster girl for the brand, her image will be the official image
appearing on all Campari posters, shelf talkers and banners regionally.

Regional Campari Manager Carlos St Omer offered his congratulations to Ms Daniel, stating that he thought that all of the contestants helped put on a good show but that there could be only one winner. “I think overall the event was a wonderful experience and I am really looking forward to seeing the television production when it airs,” St Omer told the STARBryden and Partners is proud to have been chosen as the first island to host the Campari Caribbean Poster girl search, bearing in mind the fact that Saint Lucians have made the product so successful.

Brand Manager Ed Mathurin told the STAR that for the first event he felt that Saint Lucia was a proud and great host.

“For something we were doing for the first time I think we did a great job and I want to thank all the persons who contributed to that including the staff at Bryden and Partners, all of the contestants, the management and staff of Coconut Bay who went out of their way in ensuring all of the regional delegates and guests were treated to true Saint Lucian hospitality during the course of this event.”

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