U.S. resident Joyce Arias was the winner of the Virgin Islands Nice Challenge, a social media competition launched by the United States Virgin Islands Department of Tourism to kick off a summer promotion built on its current "Virgin Islands Nice" campaign.
The contest, which began on May 1, asked participants to record themselves singing the chorus or a verse of USVI native recording artist Pressure Busspipe's hit song "Virgin Islands Nice."
Arias of Baltimore, in Maryland, received 1,757 votes for her rendition of "VI Nice," earning herself a five-night/six-day stay at a luxury resort on St. Thomas; complimentary airfare for two; roundtrip airport transfers on St. Thomas; $500 in VI Nice certificates for shopping, dining and activities; a private dinner with Pressure Busspipe; and VIP access to the Virgin Islands Nice Peace Concert this fall.
"I'd literally be the happiest person in the world if I won and I'd surprise my mom and take her on an amazing trip to the USVI. I figured I have nothing to lose and a whole trip to the VI to win," Arias, a previous visitor to the Territory, wrote on her blog after recording her submission.
The Department of Tourism partnered with Pressure Busspipe to launch the USVI Nice Challenge, a competition designed to showcase the beauty of the Territory as well as the creativity of VI artistes - all while having some fun.
"The buzz and the vibe for this competition were exceptional," reported Commissioner of Tourism Beverly Nicholson-Doty, who was impressed by the talented entrants. The Commissioner hopes to meet Ms. Arias in person when she visits the Territory.