Kimley Yon is Miss St Helena 2016.

Kimley Yon is Miss St Helena 2016.

New Beauty Queen Donates Half Her Winnings To Charity | Sharon Henry

The newly crowned Miss St Helena, Kimley Yon shed happy tears tonight when her name was announced as the winner of the biennial beauty contest to a cheering audience. Kimley who looked stunning in emerald was the judges’ favourite; they cited her as ‘highly intelligent, considerate and compassionate’ as she ticked all the boxes of their beauty queen criteria.

There were 13 girls in the competition with Kaylee Young named 1st runner-up and Jodie Scipio-Constantine the 2nd. The contestants were whittled down in stages to eight, then five after striding down the catwalk in casual wear and evening wear and answering questions.

The judges’ task was tough and it would have been interesting to be a fly on the wall during their elimination discussions.

Megan Peters, contestant no.1, in first round casual wear. Miss St Helena 2016 beauty pageant held at Prince Andrew School.

Megan Peters, contestant no.1, in first round casual wear.
The 2016 St Helena beauty pageant held at Prince Andrew School.

Brianna Yon, contestant no.2, in first round casual wear. Miss St Helena 2016 beauty pageant held at Prince Andrew School.

Brianna Yon, contestant no.2, in first round casual wear.
The 2016 St Helena beauty pageant held at Prince Andrew School.

Kimley has won the coveted title in a year that promises to be a historic one for St Helena in terms of air access, tourism and island development. One of her contest questions inevitably touched on the airport subject asking, which destination she thought the most important to reach from St Helena airport? “I would say any airport would be important to our Saints,” she replied, “because all Saints want to return to our island. But most importantly I think Ascension Island, because from there people can fly from the UK as well as the Falklands then to St Helena.”

Miss St Helena Donating To Charity

Best joke of the night came from compere, John Woollacott who declared open the first working runway [catwalk] on St Helena, having a good-natured poke at the delayed airport opening.

Miss St Helena 2016, MC for the evening, John Woollacott.

MC for the evening, John Woollacott.

One of the new Miss St Helena’s first official duties will be to open St Helena Day celebrations on the 20 May. Before that, she committed on stage through her final question that she’ll donate half her winnings of £700 to disabled charities. “If that crown was placed on my head tonight the first thing I’d do which would most probably be tomorrow, would be to take half of that prize and donate it to the disabled, I would visit Ebony View, the CCC, the Deason Centre and other elderly homes and make a donation to them.”

A sparkling crown was indeed placed on her head (by 2014 winner, Sinead Green) and Kimley was also given a bouquet, laptop and an array of prizes donated by local businesses.

We congratulate the new Miss St Helena 2016, Kimley Yon, and wish her well throughout her reign.

Roberta Thomas, contestant no.3, in first round casual wear. Miss St Helena 2016 beauty pageant held at Prince Andrew School.

Roberta Thomas, contestant no.3, in first round casual wear.
The 2016 St Helena beauty pageant held at Prince Andrew School.

Gemma Lawrence, contestant no.4, in first round casual wear. Miss St Helena 2016 beauty pageant held at Prince Andrew School.

Gemma Lawrence, contestant no.4, in first round casual wear.
The 2016 St Helena beauty pageant held at Prince Andrew School.

Kaylee Young, contestant no.5, in first round casual wear. Miss St Helena 2016 beauty pageant held at Prince Andrew School.

Kaylee Young, contestant no.5, in first round casual wear.
The 2016 St Helena beauty pageant held at Prince Andrew School.

Jessica Sim, contestant no.6, in first round casual wear. Miss St Helena 2016 beauty pageant held at Prince Andrew School.

Jessica Sim, contestant no.6, in first round casual wear.
The 2016 St Helena beauty pageant held at Prince Andrew School.

Megan Young, contestant no.7, in first round casual wear. Miss St Helena 2016 beauty pageant held at Prince Andrew School.

Megan Young, contestant no.7, in first round casual wear.
The 2016 St Helena beauty pageant held at Prince Andrew School.

Tara Plato, contestant no.8, in first round casual wear. Miss St Helena 2016 beauty pageant held at Prince Andrew School.

Tara Plato, contestant no.8, in first round casual wear.
The 2016 St Helena beauty pageant held at Prince Andrew School.

Maria Francis, contestant no.9, in first round casual wear. Miss St Helena 2016 beauty pageant held at Prince Andrew School.

Maria Francis, contestant no.9, in first round casual wear.
Miss St Helena 2016 beauty pageant held at Prince Andrew School.

Kimley Yon, contestant no.10, in first round casual wear. Miss St Helena 2016 beauty pageant held at Prince Andrew School.

Kimley Yon, contestant no.10, in first round casual wear.
Miss St Helena 2016 beauty pageant held at Prince Andrew School.

Lisa Hercules, contestant no.11, in first round casual wear. Miss St Helena 2016 beauty pageant held at Prince Andrew School.

Lisa Hercules, contestant no.11, in first round casual wear.
Miss St Helena 2016 beauty pageant held at Prince Andrew School.

Jodie Scipio-Constantine, contestant no.12, in first round casual wear. Miss St Helena 2016 beauty pageant held at Prince Andrew School.

Jodie Scipio-Constantine, contestant no.12, in first round casual wear.
Miss St Helena 2016 beauty pageant held at Prince Andrew School.

Ayla Phillips, contestant no.13, in first round casual wear. Miss St Helena 2016 beauty pageant held at Prince Andrew School.

Ayla Phillips, contestant no.13, in first round casual wear.
Miss St Helena 2016 beauty pageant held at Prince Andrew School.

Megan Francis performed two songs at Miss St Helena 2016, part of the interval entertainment.

Megan Francis performed two songs at Miss St Helena 2016, part of the interval entertainment.

'African Queens' performance at Miss St Helena 2016, part of the interval entertainment.

‘African Queens’ performance at Miss St Helena 2016, part of the interval entertainment.

The 'Summer Jam' entertainment by contestants at Miss St Helena 2016.

The ‘Summer Jam’ entertainment by contestants at Miss St Helena 2016.

The 'Summer Jam' entertainment by contestants at Miss St Helena 2016.

The ‘Summer Jam’ entertainment by contestants at Miss St Helena 2016.

Nicola Essex with her own dance routine as part of the interval entertainment at the Miss St Helena 2016 beauty pageant held at Prince Andrew School.

Nicola Essex with her own dance routine as part of the interval entertainment at the 2016 beauty pageant held at Prince Andrew School.

The O'Keeffe sisters sang three songs at Miss St Helena 2016, two of which were originals which they wrote, 'Say The Word' and 'Red Light.'

The O’Keeffe sisters sang three songs at the 2016 pageant, two of which were originals which they wrote, ‘Say The Word’ and ‘Red Light.’

Paul Tyson performed two songs at Miss St Helena 2016, part of the interval entertainment.

Paul Tyson performed two songs as part of the interval entertainment.

A dance performance, 'Aeroplane' by Prince Andrew School students, part of the Miss St Helena 2016 interval entertainment.

A dance performance, ‘Aeroplane’ by Prince Andrew School students, part of the 2016 interval entertainment.

Megan Peters, contestant no.1, in second round evening wear. Miss St Helena 2016 beauty pageant held at Prince Andrew School.

Megan Peters, contestant no.1, in second round evening wear.
Miss St Helena 2016 beauty pageant held at Prince Andrew School.

Brianna Yon, contestant no.2, in second round evening wear. Miss St Helena 2016 beauty pageant held at Prince Andrew School.

Brianna Yon, contestant no.2, in second round evening wear.
Miss St Helena 2016 beauty pageant held at Prince Andrew School.

Roberta Thomas, contestant no.3, in second round evening wear. Miss St Helena 2016 beauty pageant held at Prince Andrew School.

Roberta Thomas, contestant no.3, in second round evening wear.
Miss St Helena 2016 beauty pageant held at Prince Andrew School.

Gemma Lawrence, contestant no.4, in second round evening wear. Miss St Helena 2016 beauty pageant held at Prince Andrew School.

Gemma Lawrence, contestant no.4, in second round evening wear.
Miss St Helena 2016 beauty pageant held at Prince Andrew School.

Kaylee Young, contestant no.5, in second round evening wear. Miss St Helena 2016 beauty pageant held at Prince Andrew School.

Kaylee Young, contestant no.5, in second round evening wear.
Miss St Helena 2016 beauty pageant held at Prince Andrew School.

Jessica Sim, contestant no.6, in second round evening wear. Miss St Helena 2016 beauty pageant held at Prince Andrew School.

Jessica Sim, contestant no.6, in second round evening wear.
Miss St Helena 2016 beauty pageant held at Prince Andrew School.

Megan Young, contestant no.7, in second round evening wear. Miss St Helena 2016 beauty pageant held at Prince Andrew School.

Megan Young, contestant no.7, in second round evening wear.
Miss St Helena 2016 beauty pageant held at Prince Andrew School.

Tara Plato, contestant no.8, in second round evening wear. Miss St Helena 2016 beauty pageant held at Prince Andrew School.

Tara Plato, contestant no.8, in second round evening wear.
Miss St Helena 2016 beauty pageant held at Prince Andrew School.

Maria Francis, contestant no.9, in second round evening wear. Miss St Helena 2016 beauty pageant held at Prince Andrew School.

Maria Francis, contestant no.9, in second round evening wear.
Miss St Helena 2016 beauty pageant held at Prince Andrew School.

Kimley Yon, contestant no.10, in second round evening wear. Miss St Helena 2016 beauty pageant held at Prince Andrew School.

Kimley Yon, contestant no.10, in second round evening wear.
Miss St Helena 2016 beauty pageant held at Prince Andrew School.

Lisa Hercules, contestant no.11, in second round evening wear. Miss St Helena 2016 beauty pageant held at Prince Andrew School.

Lisa Hercules, contestant no.11, in second round evening wear.
Miss St Helena 2016 beauty pageant held at Prince Andrew School.

Jodie Scipio-Constantine, contestant no.12, in second round evening wear. Miss St Helena 2016 beauty pageant held at Prince Andrew School.

Jodie Scipio-Constantine, contestant no.12, in second round evening wear.
Miss St Helena 2016 beauty pageant held at Prince Andrew School.

Ayla Phillips, contestant no.13, in second round evening wear. Miss St Helena 2016 beauty pageant held at Prince Andrew School.

Ayla Phillips, contestant no.13, in second round evening wear.
Miss St Helena 2016 beauty pageant held at Prince Andrew School.

Kimley Yon, contestant no.10, on her way to winning the Miss St Helena 2016 crown.

Kimley Yon, contestant no.10, on her way to winning the 2016 crown.

Miss St Helena 2016, Kimley Yon with 1st Runner Up, Kaylee Young (left) and 2nd Runner Up, Jodie Scipio-Constantine (right).

Miss St Helena 2016, Kimley Yon with 1st Runner Up, Kaylee Young (left) and 2nd Runner Up, Jodie Scipio-Constantine (right).