By Natalie Maximin in conversation with Clayton Goodwin
Caribbean and African beauty contests are blooming in the United Kingston, and Caribcommx’ own blooming beauty Natalie Maximin has been there to ensure that our readers shared in the events. Generally, she was well-impressed by the high standard of presentation and participation, while, at the same time, noticing some short-comings in punctuality and catering. Nevertheless, it was an opportunity which she would not have missed, and Natalie, herself a model and former beauty contestant with Miss Caribbean & Commonwealth and Miss Trinidad & Tobago UK, can speak with experience. She is already preparing herself for the next round of pageants, and rounded-off the pre-Christmas season by attending a special television-sponsored event at the Excel Centre – but more of than later in this report.
It was encouraging to see that some of the personalities who have dominated the beauty pageant scene are still among the foremost promoters of today. As we stated in a previous report, Natalie was accompanied by Angels Cox, doyenne of Caribbean contests and former director of Miss Trinidad & Tobago, in attending Miss Caribbean UK, promoted by Clayton and Jacqui Brown, at the Shaw Theatre. There they saw Zhane Fritz, representing Grenada, crowned as the new title-holder with Tansy Daniel of St Vincent & the Grenadines second and Aaliyah Brown of Trinidad & Tobago taking the other podium places. The occasion was well-attended by representatives of the UK-based diplomatic corps.
Next was the double-event of Miss Jamaica UK and the Pride of Africa held in different parts of London on the same evening – don’t ask me how she did it! The former is directed by June Daley, another long-standing principal of pageantry, and the Miss Jamaica UK crown was won by Kria McKenzie, a singer from St Elizabeth parish, with Siobhan Witter, a dance-teacher and actress, and Dominique Harvey, a legal executive, in deputy positions. The Pride of Africa title, meanwhile, was presented by CEO Mariam Kintu and director Denise Nadunga. Here the newly-crowned title-holder was Iman Tadu of Zimbabwe with Kadiatu Fofana of Guinea Conakry and Natasha Labeja of Uganda her deputies. With so much on her schedule Natalie was not able to get to the Queens Luncheon arranged by Miss Caribbean & Commonwealth which will be covered elsewhere.
Ms Maximin is dedicated to seeing that every notable person and event is photographed at the moment of their success, but, unfortunately, there is not adequate space on the page to do justice to her selection. This has been due primarily to the main events being held so close together. Therefore, Caribcommx has chosen those images which reflect a rounded impression of the events, and we are happy to give an opportunity to any of the directors, the title-holders, and their deputies, who would like to be presented in a follow-up interview, or to have the journey of their “Queens” throughout the coming year highlighted.
Natalie closed her own journey of 2025 by attending the “One Day at Christmas” organised by Good Morning – Breakfast Show (BBC1) for some 700 attendees at the Excel Centre in East London, where she was delighted to be photographed with star presenter Richard Madeley. This is a worthy, as well as enjoyable, occasion, and Caribcommx has invited her to explain its purpose and achievements in greater detail in a later report. So, I hope, you will excuse us, if we don’t spoil the anticipation by giving too much away here. Sufficient to say that there are quite a lot of people who do not get the chance to enjoy the full hospitality and joy of the Christmas, and “One Day at Christmas” gives them the chance to mingle, mix and let their hair down with others in a similar predicament. That’s a worthy idea, don’t you think? Natalie and Caribcommx most certainly think that it is.
Over to you Natalie …..