Amenti Philip Crowned Miss St. Croix 2025–2026 After Head-to-Head Pageant Showdown
Amenti Philip was crowned Miss St. Croix 2025–2026 on Sunday night after earning the highest overall score in a focused two-contestant competition that tested intellect, cultural awareness, and stage presence. Rayniyah Ilaraza delivered a strong and thoughtful performance throughout the evening, as the Crucian Christmas Festival’s weekend of pageantry came to a close. The final pageant featured Ms. Philip and Ms. Ilaraza, both 20 years old, competing across multiple segments designed to highlight leadership, cultural insight, and presentation. Ms. Ilaraza is an aviation management senior at Elizabeth City State University who aspires to become a commercial pilot, while Ms. Philip is continuing her family’s long-standing baking legacy into a new generation.
2025-12-29 13:07:09 - VI News Staff
The competition opened with the question-and-answer segment, where each contestant responded to three questions, two of which were scored by the judges. Asked how she would use the Miss St. Croix title to strengthen cultural pride among young people, Ms. Ilaraza said her focus would be on “instilling cultural programs into our education system.” Her second judged question addressed long-term economic priorities, and she pointed to the importance of investing in opportunities that keep young people rooted in the territory. “Creating more internships and mentorship programs for our youth in the community so they can create a career right here at home,” she said.
Ms. Philip’s responses centered on community wellbeing and civic engagement. When asked what she believed was most critical to preserving Virgin Islands traditions, she highlighted mental health as a foundational concern. “If you're mental isn't doing okay, there's no way that we can make sure that our community is surviving,” she said. Her second judged question focused on encouraging youth participation in policymaking. Ms. Philip noted the high level of engagement among young people on social media and mentioned the V.I. Consortium and government agencies for maintaining active online platforms. “On these pages, you can find the information necessary…to know about what's going on in our community and how you can be involved,” she said.