Doha: Bold & beautiful Corraine Santos crowned May Queen at GWA Annual Ball

By Vinod Lewis
Bellevision Media Network

Doha, 20 May 2013: When the bold and brainy, and breath-takingly beautiful Corraine Santos from Kuwait was crowned the 13th May Queen at a little past 2.30 am on Friday May 10 by Bollywood’s Mr Handsome Aftab Shivdasani, the full-house weekend audience rose in deafening applause that reverberated through the majestic Giwana Hall in Radisson Blu Hotel here.

Beautiful Jolin Rodrigues, bagged the first runners-up while gorgeous blonde Brunele D’Souza was adjudged second runners-up award. London-born Indian model Nin Dusanj (Narinder Kaur) who would shortly be Mrs Aftab Shivdasani, former Miss Singapore Kelly Kaur Adams, Bollywood director Glen Baretto, fomer office director of the office of CEO of Qatar Airways Archie D’Mello and Goan Welfare Association president Simon D’Silva too were present at the stage.

The Goan Welfare Association has been the voice of Goans living in Qatar for the last 13 years without any doubts. Superbly led by affectionate Simon D’Silva, the association has rendered yeoman’s service in nurturing Goan culture and spirit among the large number of Goan expatriates. On a larger note the association has always been in the forefront of reaching out to various causes back home, thus setting a shining example to all. It is therefore not astonishing to see them host events with great aplomb and success over the last decade. The association is known not only for meticulous planning but also perfect execution and the annual May Queen Ball has been the true example for this.

 

This is one of the eagerly-awaited annual events in Doha and every year it attracts full-house audience who make it a memorable event. Thursday May 9, 2013 was no different and renowned Updesh Swar, the top-most compere of Goa set the tone for the evening. Updesh has a unique hold over the audience, His eloquent, witty compering is second to none and he has often been billed not just as the mood-setter by even the trend-setter.

However it was the much-awaited entry of legendary Goan band ‘Forefront’ that upped the mercury within the four walls of unusually cool Giwana ballroom. Forefront and Updesh together are a lethal combination that has the ability to set floor on fire with their spectacular performances. Forefront has blazed the music world with their sensational blend of vocals, instruments, rhythm, visual technique in trend and showmanship. The musical history of Forefront reveals amazing performances in India and abroad with several award winning live concerts that have virtually cornered them at the vertex of billboard graphs. With mercurial Seby Pinto, the founder of Forefront bass, incomparable Melvin Rosario on lead guitar, accomplished Agnelo Mascarenhas on keyboard the stage was perfectly set for peerless Savio Fernandes and Agatha Jilugu. Savio is the co-founder of Forefront and is a versatile singer and drummer. He sings main vocals and plays drums which not many can. As he belted out English retro, pop, rock, reggae, bollywood numbers, the audience had no choice but to storm to the dance floor. And then there was the undisputed Agatha, the queen of retro, pop, rock, bollywood and Goan songs. Gifted with amazing voice and talent she left the audience spellbound with searing vocals and impeccable style of grooving on stage. Forefront truly satiated the music buds of all the guests by playing fantastic music catering exclusively to taste and choice of all.

Renowned DJ Glorio had the audience asking for more as he played some of the most groovy and peppy numbers. As DJ Glorio made it a point to play fantastic music to cater exclusively to the taste and choice of all, the dance floor had the couples flooding in large numbers.

As the entertainment continued and Forefront and DJ Glorio kept the floor busy, special guests of the evening Bollywood heartthrob Aftab Shivdasani along with his fiancé and model Nin Dusanj, Chief Guest Indian Ambassador to Qatar Sanjiv Arora and wife Chaya Arora made their entry to the jam-packed hall amidst the thunderous applause of the gathering.

After the guests welcomed with flower bouquets, Forefront kept the audience well on the dance floor with some truly scintillating dance numbers. As they belted out some of the popular golden oldies, jazz standards, retro, ballads, the bustling dance floor provided perfect deck for Jive, Salsa, Cha Cha Cha and other Latino dances.

But the moment of the evening came in the form of the crowning of the 13th May Queen who was chosen among 13 beautiful contestants. The beauty pageant was judged by famous bollywood director Glen Baretto, former Miss Singapore Kelly Kaur Adams and model Nin Dusanj while Archie D’Mello was the coordinator of judging panel.

The May Queen contest was indeed glamorous and conducted in great style and fanfare. Each contestant was a winner in her own way with graceful looks, proud walk, witty answers and alluring smile, making it very difficult for the jury panel. Witty yet thought-provoking questions shot at them but the contestants were up to the task as they came out with equally-good answers compelling the audience to put their hands together in sheer appreciation of beauty and wisdom of the contestants.

Finally it was fabulous Corraine who came out with flying colours and was showered with bunch of lavish and luxurious prizes such as gold necklace given by Prakkat Jewellers, a Doha-Dubai-Doha return ticket by Cleopatra Travels, free 7 nights stay for a family of four in Royal Goan Beach Club, Goa, Buffet dinner for two at the Ritz Carlton Doha, wrist watch by Westar, perfume set by Doha Decoration Hut, a DVD player by LG, VIP trolley bag by Gulf Incon and free 24 carat gold facial by Doha beauty centre. First and second runners-up were also awarded with similar fantastic and memorable prizes.

Felicitation was held for an outstanding Goan student Marika Mascarenhas for receiving Her Highness Sheikha Moza Bint Nasser Scholarship for Creativity award. Token of Appreciation momentos were presented to Morgan Fernandes of Qatari Industrial Equipment, Ali Farabi of Qatar Airways, James John of Gulf Times, Peroz Pereira of Radisson Blu, Keiron Rodrigues and Godfrey Noronha.

The main sponsor was Qatari Industrial Equipment, official airline was Qatar Airways, official Bank - Doha Bank, official hotel - Radisson Blue Doha, official video/photography – Gulf Colours, official media partner - Gulf Times and official web partner is daijiworld.com.

All in all it was yet another wonderful and successful May Queen Ball that added another glittering feather to the already glittering cap of Goan Welfare Association. The organizers ably led by Simon D’Silva and well assisted by the GWA managing committee members presented a superb, flawless and memorable show for the 13th consecutive time leaving the audience waiting for the next year.