28 year old Keeleigh Griffith who lives in North London stole the show at last year’s inaugural Miss Caribbean UK beauty pageant which was held at Notting Hill’s heritage site, the Tabernacle.  Representing Barbados, Keeleigh came through the different stages to   be   crowned   the   winner.   Winning   Miss Caribbean UK has allowed her the opportunity for great exposure by hitting red carpets, attending special events, backstage networking, guest public   appearances, interviews, photo shoots, Travel opportunities, work experience opportunities and mentoring support.

 

With both grandparents of Barbadian heritage from St Patrick and Christchurch, Keeleigh has regularly visited her beautiful Barbados since she was three years old with her Grandad (who she has a very close relationship with) and therefore, her love for the island has never ceased.  She is extremely proud of her heritage and culture which is what prompted her to enter the competition.  Being her very first pageant, she felt that she possessed the qualities required to become a successful ambassador as Miss Caribbean UK Beauty Queen which are to be: Smart/Intelligent, Well-travelled, Caring, Compassionate, Humble, Down to earth, Understanding, Witty, Good morals, Streetwise, Comforting, Passionate, Dedicated, Hardworking, CONFIDENT.

 

Keeleigh works very hard as an Admissions Officer at Middlesex University and has recently graduated and received a degree in International Business Management.  However, she has ambitions to set up a community organisation to provide training opportunities for young people helping them gain to employment and also to provide a place for young people to be safe.  She regularly advises the young people that she has connected with to always follow their dreams, never, ever, ever, ever give up and not to let anyone get in their way or try to put them down.  She received the same inspiration from her Mum and Grandparents who have guided her to be the person she is today in order to get on and be successful in her life: confident, knowledgeable, dedicated, driven and ambitious. Her Grandparents instilled that there is nothing that she cannot achieve once she put my mind and heart to it.

 

Keeleigh’s ultimate ambition is to one day, own a successful business in Barbados. 

 

On the 5th December 2015, Keeleigh will be handing over her crown to the 2nd Miss Caribbean UK contestant.  Although tinged with sadness of giving up her crown, she realises that she has a bright future ahead of her.  She will continue to be part of the organisation where the pageant Director’s; Clayton and Jacqui Brown have created a platform that positively promotes the Caribbean countries under one umbrella.  With its logo ‘Positively Promoting the Caribbean’ the event aims to raise awareness of issues relating to the Caribbean people in the UK and the wider Diaspora by inspiring, informing and uniting both those taking part and the UK audience. The pageant also seeks to address social issues by empowering  the  next  generation  to  think  beyond  the physical,  whilst  encouraging  and  unearthing  new  and existing  talents. 

 

Unlike many other pageants, MCUK has no swimwear section, replacing this with a more culturally appropriate carnival costume round. The organisers felt that this is more in keeping with the MCUK ethos and eliminates any sexual connotations.

 

This year, pageant winners will receive £1,500 in prize money, the chance to visit the Caribbean country they represent, and a £1,000 designer evening gown, along with many more prizes.

 

The Miss Caribbean United Kingdom Grand Finals will be held on 5th December at The Shaw Theatre, 100-¬-110 Euston Road, London, England, NW1 2AJ.

 

 

PUBLIC ENGAGEMENTS that Keeleigh Griffith has attended so far:

 

30/11/2014

won Miss Caribbean UK

05/12/2014

Interview with Maureen Smith, Founder of Tropical Connections

10/12/2014

Met the Deputy High Commissioner for Barbados

14/12/2014

Featured in Panache e-Magazine

19/12/2014

Featured in Barbados Nation newspaper

01/01/2015

Featured in the Phoenix Newspaper

14/01/2015

Met with H.E. Mr Laleshwar KN Singh, CCH-T – The High Commissioner for Guyana and Dean of all the Caribbean

30/01/2015

First photoshoot with photographer Karlton Chambers

19/02/2015

Special guest at the Yarico Musical Gala night produced by international model Jodie Kidd

21/02/2015

Attended the “Positive Runway” a training programme for models and beauty queens as HIV / Aids peer educators

27/02/2015

VIP guest at the London Catwalk Society’s fashion show

28/02/2015

VIP guest and fundraiser at the HARTOWN FUNDRAISING DINNER & DANCE

15/03/215

VIP guest at the “In Celebration of My Sister’s” Mother’s Day event

10/04/2015

VIP guest at the “MakKinh Carnival” mas band launch

25/04/2015

VIP guest and crowning of the 1st Miss Barbados UK

24th & 25th /05/2015

Walked the runway at the Annual Afro Hair & Beauty show

30/05/2015

VIP guest at the Asian Business Awards

18/07/2015

VIP Guest at the “Miss Caribbean Teen UK Beauty Pageant

23/07/2015 - 8/8/2015

Trip to Barbados (Curtseyof the Barbados Tourist Board)

04/08/2015

Live interview at the CBC TV in Barbados

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

21/08/2015

TV Interview @ B.E.N TV with Roy McEwan of MaKING Carnival mas band

21/08/2015

Live TV Interview @ LONDON LIVE with MCUK Director; Jacqui Brown

23/08/2015

Included on the judging panel for the Miss Caribbean UK 2015 London Heat at the ShakaZulu Restaurant in Camden

25/08/2015

Radio Station interviews: Mystic Radio and Station FM

03/09/2015

Attend the FASHION-BOUND Model / Fashion / networking and casting event at the prestigious Zari Gallery

12/09/2015        

VIP guest at the Enfield Lupus Support Group charity event