Truth or False: Miss Trinidad and Tobago is competing at Miss Universe 2009 with Kerry Ann King?

The participation of a Miss Trinidad and Tobago at the ongoing Miss Universe 2009 is still a mystery.

We all knew that Peter Elias, the franchise holder for this Caribbean country, has already confirmed that there will be no more  Miss TT for this year due to lack of sponsorhip.

But with the keen eyes of beauty pageant fans, rumours started to circulate that there is a Miss TT this year because of a sash hanging at the back of other contestants registering for the pageant in Atlantis Hotel. It was captured by the camera.

Click on the picture to view it larger in order for you to see the sash of Miss Trinidad and Tobago.

Some "informants" also claimed in beauty pageant message boards that Wendy Fitzwilliam, Miss Universe 1998, acquired the franchise of Miss Universe at the last minute and she decided to send a representative this year. The representative was said to be a close relative of Wendy and she is Kerry Ann. Well, this is only a rumour.

Michelle Malcolm, Senior Manager at the Bahamas Ministry of Tourism and a broadcast journalist, who does a daily updates on Miss Universe at Critical Beauty also wrote that the last candidate to arrive in Bahamas for the pageant was "Miss Trinidad and Tobago - Kerry Ann King".

In an update dated August 6th, Michelle said "there are now 85 contestants competing in this year’s pageant. Miss Trinidad and Tobago Kerry Ann King, who was a finalist in the 2008 Miss Trinidad and Tobago pageant, was the last delegate to arrive."

A pageant fan also claimed that he saw a picture of Miss TT along with Miss Turks and Caicos Jewel Selver but that was the only picture he saw. I have been searching for that picture but to no avail.

But a quick check at the official Miss Universe site, not a single shadow of Kerry Ann King or a Miss TT can be seen.

So, what is the truth on this? It's already 15-days before the coronation and we haven't seen Miss TT in action.

I found this picture of Kerry Ann King who is a beauty queen from Trinidad and Tobago. i just don't know if this is the Kerry Ann we are talking here.

Walcott: It’s too late for Miss Universe

If asked to Gabrielle Walcott will not represent Trinidad and Tobago (TT) in the Miss Universe 2009 pageant which takes place in the Bahamas next month.

There is just not enough time for either her or any other woman to prepare for the internationally popular beauty competition, said Walcott, the third-placed winner in the Miss World 2008 pageant.

“I understand girls have to be there in the Bahamas in the next two weeks. I would never do myself or our country that injustice or disservice. How could I be prepared in just two weeks?” Walcott told Newsday.

Several broadcast media reports over the past two days claimed Walcott was expected to be approached by the Government to represent this country at the pageant. TT has had two winners at Miss Universe, Janelle Penny Commissiong in 1977 and Wendy Fitzwilliam in 1998, along with a string of semifinalists in recent years. Giselle La Ronde won Miss World in 2006, and again, this country has had successful runner-ups in this competition.

In 2008, Anya Ayoung-Chee represented the country in the Miss Universe in Vietnam, while Walcott went to South Africa for the Miss World competition. Ayong-Chee did not place among the semifinalists but Walcott placed third, and even won the Queen of the Caribbean prize.

Walcott denied the media reports and said no one from the Government had approached her to be a possible delegate to send to Bahamas. Even so, Walcott said it would be too late for her to get ready to compete.

“I think it’s just too late to be properly prepared. Our girls have done well at that competition before and I don’t want to be one to spoil that record.”

Former pageant trainer Allyson Brown, who has previously helped past delegates to both beauty competitions, was also in the dark about Walcott or any other woman being selected for Bahamas.

“I did not hear anything. I have absolutely no information whatever on that,” said Brown.

According to Miss Universe Inc, 86 countries have already confirmed their attendance with this country listed as a withdrawal along with Antigua & Barbuda and Sri Lanka.

That this country would be without a delegate at Miss Universe and possibly Miss World 2009, stemmed from the previous struggles of former franchise holder Peter Elias to obtain consistent support from the Government and the business community. In 2007, TT did not take part in Miss Universe because of lack of funding, and afterward Government stepped in and supported Valene Maharaj’s entry to Miss World 2007 where she placed third.

Elias could not be reached for comment yesterday. However, after Walcott’s success at Miss World last year, Elias stated that he was giving up the franchise for both competitions.

Source: Joan Rampersad of newsday.co.tt