TT in Miss Universe pageant

Trinidad and Tobago is in, a representative of the Miss Universe organisation told Newsday yesterday. The representative did not wish to state his department nor name, instead transferring Newsday to its PR department. Newsday then got the voicemail of Jackie Shahinian, listed on its website, as the organisation’s PR representative.

However, there is still no picture of this country’s representative, Yvonne “Yvee” Clarke, on the organisation’s website.

Newsday contacted the organisation to confirm whether or not the country was disqualified from the upcoming November 26 competition.

Clarke was stripped of her title on October 30 but then reinstated on November 2 by local franchise holder Jennifer Douglas. The stripping of her title resulted in widespread public comment and also involved soca star Fay Ann Lyons-Alvarez who stepped in to assist Clarke.

When Newsday called Miss Universe’s New York office at around 2.45 pm yesterday, a representative confirmed that the country is scheduled to participate in the competition. However, Newsday was unable to speak to the organisation’s licensing director, Carlos Fernandez, to confirm TT’s participation and explain how one acquires a franchise. Newsday was told he was out and it was unknown when he would return.

When Newsday checked the organisation’s website again yesterday at 3.36 pm, there was still no picture of Clarke nor any statement that she was TT’s representative.

This was even after Lyons-Alvarez told Newsday that photos and videos of Clarke had been sent from her company, via the official Dropbox set up for Clarke, to the international pageant organisation.

Lyons said she was still assisting Clarke, although she now had to focus on her own work, especially with Carnival 2018 approaching.

Clarke is expected to leave for Las Vegas on November 11.

Martrecia Alleyne, the local first runner-up then tipped to replace Clarke when she was removed, told Newsday via a What’s App message, “The matter was resolved yesterday and I don’t have anything to add at this time except to say congratulations to Yvonne.

“I am happy that she will be able to live out her dream this year and I am looking forward to doing the same next year. This is Yvonne’s time to shine.”