Nicole Moses-Beckles wins Tobago Carnival Monarchs of Mas

Nicole Moses-Beckles secured the title of Monarchs of Mas at the Tobago Carnival competition held at Market Square in Scarborough. Her winning portrayal, titled ‘Looking for Mr John Boulay’, featured a burrokeet costume depicting an elegantly dressed woman riding a donkey in search of a man from Charlotteville. For her victory, Moses-Beckles received a TT$30,000 prize.

The competition, which officially opened the Tobago Carnival festivities, featured ten female contestants. Participants utilized the event to showcase and revive traditional masquerade characters. Notable presentations included Janelle Eastman’s ‘Queen Moola’, which focused on the traditional cow mas, and Leslie-Ann Benjamin’s ‘Dance of the Fire Coral’, a handmade costume combining sailor mas with Tobago’s underwater themes. Other contestants, such as Marisa Ward-Robley, used their portrayals to celebrate historical fashion and cultural identity.