Steven Brown, an employee of The Gleaner Company (Western Bureau) presents a token to Mauvalyn Williams, of Nain in St. Elizabeth, after she was unanimously voted winner in The Star's Tiny Winey Dance Contest at the Supreme Ventures/Digicel Jamaica Carnival, held in Junction, St. Elizabeth, last Saturday. Williams will compete with other parish winners in the finals at the Richmond Park Estates in St. Ann on April 8. The overall winner will receive J$10,000. At centre is disc jockey Jerry D, who emceed the carnival. - Noel Thompson photos

By Noel Thompson, Freelance Writer

WESTERN BUREAU

When Mauvalyn Williams, of Nain, St. Elizabeth, was demonstrating her dancing prowess in the audience at the Jamaica Carnival in neighbouring Junction, last Saturday, she was unaware that she would walk away a winner.

From the start of the carnival, Mauvalyn seemed to have been addicted to dancing, as she could not contain herself, although she was without a dancing partner. Clad in a skimpy Jamaica-branded shorts outfit, a stocky built Mauvalyn showcased that size did not matter.

She was attending the Supreme Ventures/Digicel Jamaica Carnival in Junction for the third consecutive year. Last year, she entered The Star's 'Tiny Winey' Contest, but the crowd did not cheer her as the winner. This time, she returned with a vengeance.

At about 2:30 a.m. Sunday, MCs Lady T and Jerry D announced that five women were needed on stage to compete in The Star's Tiny Winey Dance Contest.

Mauvalyn was among the first, but this was due to much prodding by her friends.

"My friends know that I can dance and they believe that I would win if I give it a shot on stage, so they pushed me on," said Mauvalyn, who by then had reverted to a shy, unassuming character.

Many patrons wondered where she got all the energy from to out dance the other contestants, as she had been earlier dancing for hours, with limited breaks. "What a gal can wine," a member of the audience shouted. Others who expressed total agreement cheered him on.

After receiving a unanimous 'yes' vote from the crowd to signal her win, MC Jerry D challenged Mauvalyn to a dance, but cried 'cree' within a few seconds. He called for the macho Jomo Primo, lead singer with Byron Lee and the Dragonaires. Jomo put on a good match, but he seemed too unfit to keep up with Mauvalyn's strength and agility and called it quits shortly after.

'"I always like dancing. It is just a pleasure for me to dance and I can compete at any level, Mauvalyn told The Star. She feels confident that she will walk away with the J$10,000 cash prize at the finals at Richmond Park Estate in St. Ann on April 8.

Winner of The Star's Tiny Winey Dance Competition, Mauvalyn Williams, of Nain in St. Elizabeth, putting Jomo Primo, lead singer with Byron Lee and the Dragonaires, to the test on stage at the Supreme Ventures/Digicel Jamaica Carnival, held in Junction, St. Elizabeth, last Saturday.