Gabby's dad proud

Beauty returns to T&T on Wednesday Camille Bethel cbethel@trinidadexpress.com Monday, December 15th 2008

FLYING THE FLAG: Miss Trinidad and Tobago Gabrielle Walcott, centre, who emerged second runner up at the 2008 Miss World competition in Johannesburg, South Africa on Saturday, is flanked by Miss World Kseniya Sukhinova of Russia, left, and Miss Angola, Brigite Santos. -Photo: MICHEAL BRUCE Winning the Beauty with a Purpose segment at the 2008 Miss World competition was the most important thing for Miss Trinidad and Tobago Gabrielle Walcott, who placed third in the international pageant on Saturday night, her father Derek Walcott (not the Nobel laureate) said yesterday in a telephone interview. "As any father would be, I am extremely proud of Gabrielle. She did the best that she could and I know that the Beauty with a Purpose will be the most important thing for her because she has always had a passion for the underprivileged," he said. Describing his daughter as a child who has always been focused and always known what she's wanted, he said, he remembers seeing her cry when she raised funds for the Just Because Foundation and her asking him to pray for her to remain grounded. "She said to me: 'Dad this is what I want to do. Even if this is all that comes out of this - the pageant.'" Walcott who left South Africa yesterday for London is expected home on Wednesday. In a brief telephone interview yesterday Earl Nesbitt, Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Community Development and Gender Affairs, said he was not yet aware of what the official arrangements would be as it relates to rewarding Walcott for her performance but: "The Ministry made a statement on the results on Saturday, today is Sunday but I believe that those arrangements will be made tomorrow," he said. On Saturday, Minister of Community Development Marlene McDonald congratulated Walcott on her "excellent performance at the 2008 pageant and the great charity work she did during the local leg of the competition by raising $100,000 for her charity. "The Ministry shares with the national community our immense pride in the achievement of Miss Walcott and her embodiment of beauty with a purpose, the true ethos of the competition." "The Government of Trinidad and Tobago remains conscious of the tremendous opportunity afforded by the Miss World pageant for the promotion of our country and the development of delegates like Miss Walcott as possible role models for our young women," the Minister said in a release. She went on to thank Peter Elias and Associates for their contribution in preparing delegates for both the Miss World and Miss Universe competitions and called on the private sector to play a role in partnering with franchise holder for future competitions. Queen-maker Elias announced his decision on Saturday to bow out as franchise holder to select local women to participate in the Miss Universe and Miss World competitions. http://www.trinidadexpress.com/