Majestik Estrada-Petersen Crowned 2024 St. Thomas Carnival Queen

As the countdown to Carnival moves into high gear on St. Thomas, the island’s female mas monarch has been crowned, following fierce competition between three worthy contestants.

Majestik Freedom Estrada-Petersen, 21, Iniyah Griffin, 17, and Caricia Caesar, 18, made their first appearance to the audience in identical black and white gemstone-draped dresses. Each contestant was individually escorted to and from the microphone by a troupe of dancers.

They next appeared in swimwear for the first scored segment of the evening. Majestik’s translucent, pearlescent, pleated cover up gave way to an iridescent pink maillot with one slashed shoulder and a deep cutout at the midsection. The edges of the fabric glittered with gems as the leggy contestant #1 strutted in clear platform heels. Iniyah followed, her appearance initially concealed behind two large ostrich-feather fans, before she downed them to reveal a strappy pink monokini, its metallic fabric adorned with rhinestones and her ensemble paired with silver glittered heels. To close the segment, Caricia strutted on stage wearing a yellow chiffon cover-up, which she shed to reveal a Barbie-pink monokini, its straps creating an asymmetric neckline and flattering silhouette.

Swimwear gave way to ambassadorial presentations, where the contestants made presentations on various aspects of Virgin Islands culture while wearing businesswear-adjacent outfits made of the vibrant official madras fabric. Ms. Estrada-Peterson’s skirt suit featured a royal blue jacket, its cuffs, lapels, and button placket trimmed in madras, and a pencil skirt entirely made out of matching madras. A large madras bow was tied around her waist, and she gave the listening audience a brief historical tour of the territory, speaking of the 1733 slave revolt on St. John, the 1917 transfer from Danish to U.S. rule, and reciting a list of native Virgin Islanders who have risen to national prominence due to excellence in their respective fields.