ORANJESTAD, St. Eustatius – A large crowd gathered at the F.D. Roosevelt Airport on Friday to welcome home Kentonea Fortin following her performance at the St. Maarten Carnival Caribbean Queen Pageant 2026.
Representing St. Eustatius, Fortin placed first runner-up in the regional pageant and also received the award for Best Answer in the identical question segment. The event is one of the highlights of the St. Maarten Carnival and brings together contestants from across the Caribbean.
Her return was marked by an official welcome at the airport, where she was greeted by Deputy Island Governor Sharon Hassell, alongside family, supporters and members of the public. A motorcade through the island followed, ending with a community reception along the boardwalk.
Several local officials had travelled to St. Maarten to support Fortin during the pageant, which is seen as an important platform for cultural representation in the region.
Visibility
Fortin’s performance has been widely welcomed on Statia, where her achievement is being viewed as a notable moment of visibility for the island at a regional level.
