Safiyah Wharton Crowned 2026 St. Thomas Carnival Queen After Six-Hour Pageant

Safiyah Wharton was crowned the 2026 St. Thomas Carnival Queen on Saturday night after a six-hour Ambassadorial Pageant at the Eldridge Wilburn Blake Sports & Fitness Center, where four contestants competed in five judged segments designed to test poise, intelligence, style, and creativity. By the end of the evening, Wharton emerged with the crown after a competition that included introductory speeches, swimwear, ambassadorial presentations and interviews, cultural historical dress, talent, and evening wear. Wharton, Contestant #1, entered the pageant on a platform centered on mental health literacy, particularly among young people. Contestant #2, D’Quaña Lewis, focused on increasing civic engagement. Contestant #3, Ajeuné Willett-Tyson, campaigned on preserving cultural heritage, while Contestant #4, Jahniya Williams, promoted sports tourism as a driver of economic growth in the Virgin Islands. The pageant opened with introductory speeches and then moved into the swimwear segment. F...