JCI Queen Competition Cancelled

The Junior Chamber International (JCI) Queen competition will not be held during this year’s Carnival celebrations in Antigua and Barbuda, marking the second consecutive year the long-running event has faced cancellation.

JCI organizers cited escalating production costs and a broader regional decline in pageant participation as the primary factors behind their decision. Minister of Creative Industries Daryll Matthew confirmed this development during a recent appearance on ABS’s First Look programme.

“It has been a staple on the Carnival calendar for decades,” Matthew said during the interview. “Last year, we managed to convince them to reconsider, but this year, they’ve once again indicated the show will not be taking place.”

Matthew noted that the trend extends beyond Antigua’s borders, stating, “Queen pageants generally throughout the region have been cancelled. They are tremendously expensive to put on.”

In 2024, the show faced a similar cancellation threat but was brought back to life through last-minute intervention from private sponsors. While Matthew expressed hope for a comparable rescue effort this year, he acknowledged that time constraints make this increasingly challenging.

Following initial reports about the cancellation, Minister Matthew issued additional clarification about the government’s relationship with the event.

“For clarity, the JCI queen show is a privately owned and privately run event,” Matthew stated. “Over the years the government has provided financial, logistical, and venue support to the JCI group to assist with the show. That has not changed.”

He emphasized that the decision came directly from the organizing body, adding, “The JCI group took a decision that THEY will cancel THEIR show. A similar decision was taken in 2024 and we were able to support them with finding additional private sector sponsorship and they reversed their decision. They have reverted to their 2024 position and have decided to cancel. This has nothing to do with the government. Hope this clears things up.”