ST. THOMAS -- Baltimore resident Joyce Arias won the Virgin Islands Department of Tourism's (DOE) "Virgin Islands Nice" competition, a social media contest launched to kick off the department's summer promotion campaign.
The contest, which began on May 1, asked participants to record themselves singing the chorus or a verse of USVI native and popular reggae recording artist Pressure Busspipe's hit song.
According to DOE, Arias received 1,757 votes for her rendition of "VI Nice," earning herself a five-night/six-day stay at a luxury resort on St. Thomas, complimentary airfare for two; roundtrip airport transfers on St. Thomas; $500 in VI Nice certificates for shopping, dining and activities; a private dinner with Pressure Busspipe; plus VIP access to the Virgin Islands Nice Peace Concert this fall.
"I'd literally be the happiest person in the world if I won and I'd surprise my mom and take her on an amazing trip to the USVI," wrote Arias, a previous visitor to the territory on her blog. "I figured I have nothing to lose and a whole trip to the VI to win."
DOE partnered with Pressure Busspipe to launch the USVI Nice challenge, a competition designed to showcase the beauty of the territory as well as the creativity of VI artistes -- all while having some fun.
"The buzz and the vibe for this competition were exceptional," DOE Commissioner Beverly Nicholson-Doty said. Impressed by the submissions of the contestants, Nicholson-Doty says she looks forward to meeting Arias in person when she visits the territory.
Watch Arias' winning rendition of VI Nice below.
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