Soca Star Montano Adds Calypso Monarch to His List of Achievements

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad – International Soca star, Machel Montano Sunday night added the Calypso Monarch title to his list of achievements when he won the first prize of TT$500,000 and a TT$350,000 vehicle, as Carnival celebrations continue here.

Machel Montano (wearing crown) wins the Calypso Monarch 2024 competition on Sunday night.Montano Montano has now become the first person to win the Young Kings, Road March, Soca Monarch, and Calypso Monarch titles here.

“If you win a title, then you must defend it,” the 10-time Road March champion Montano said, hinting that he would be in the arena next year.

Singing ‘Soul of Calypso’ in which he said his current studies in Carnival Arts had led him to an appreciation of the origins of the art form, Montano defeated 11 other contestants.

Former monarch Karene Asche placed second with her song “No Excuse,” urging citizens to never resort to crime, while another former monarch Roderick “Chucky” Gordon placed third with his tune “Charlsie,” a call to Britain’s King Charles III to pay slavery reparations.

Young Kings winner Mical Teja placed fourth, with his hit DNA that could propel him to the  Road March this year.

Former Monarchs Helon Francis, Kurt Allen, and Winston ‘Gypsy’ Peters finished fifth, eighth, and 10th respectively.

Meanwhile, Roxanne Omala and Joseph Lewis were crowned the Queen and King of Carnival respectively at the Dimanche Gras show on Sunday night.

Omala portrayed ‘Queen Tarantula’ while Lewis performed ‘Xhiokomak-Lord of the Underworld.”

The Carnival celebrations will climax on Tuesday with the traditional street parade and jump-up.