Sharifa Maloney – Miss UVI and SGA President

By Jáedee S.K. Caines

“The winner of the 2007 Miss UVI Ambassadorial Competition is Sharifa Maloney!” the MC shouted, and nobody was more surprised than Sharifa herself. For many seasoned pageant contestants, winning the Miss UVI Ambassadorial Competition would have been an exciting time and another accomplishment, but for UVI Accounting student, Sharifa Maloney, it was the biggest highlight of her life because, according to her, it doesn’t fit into her personality and is not a reflection of anything she would normally do.

On the outside, Maloney looks like a simple, laid back, easy-going individual, but on the inside, she has the heart of an angel, and the passion of a civil rights activist. She wears two major hats at the University of the Virgin Islands: Miss UVI and President of the Student Government Association and she still manages to be a Golden Key honor student.

Her dedication the two major tasks at UVI is evident as she centers her life on two mottos: “Adjust to changing times but, hold to unchanging principles” and “Our life begins to end the day we remain silent about things that matter.”

A product of Belmont Village in Trinidad, and born to Donna Haynes and Hayden Maloney on April 17 1985, Maloney has always been involved in community life. She moved to Virgin Gorda in 2004 after completing her ‘A’ level courses in Trinidad. She did not allow the change to a new home on a different island to stunt her drive of being involved in the community, hence, she became the president of her church’s youth group. Also in Virgin Gorda, she worked as an office manager for Trinity Financial Services.

At 23, her future ambition is constantly changing. The one thing remains strong is her ultimate goal of getting into charity work for nonprofit organizations.

In addition to the two major hats she wears at UVI, Maloney is the student representative on the Business Grievance Committee, Vice President of the Golden Key Honor Society and a member of the Rotaract Club.

When asked “What makes you be a leader?” Maloney responded, “I have asked myself that question over and over again but that’s who I am and I can’t run from it.” Ironically, no other member of the Haynes-Maloney family has travelled the same journey as the vibrant queen and president. “I’m blazing my own trail,” she says, when she talks about her family.

Maloney, who is also very spiritual, says that God has been the conductor of her life. “My faith in God and the mere fact that he comes through for me every time gives me strength to persevere,” she says.

According to her, it takes a lot to make her angry. “Not in any boastful way, but I don’t really crumble. I sometimes get discouraged, but I don’t crumble,” she says. On the other hand, she dislikes injustice and finds it hurtful “seeing people be taken advantaged of” and “seeing people take advantage of their positions.”
Nursing senior Schenell Weekes, who has resided in the same residence hall as Maloney for almost two years, describes her [Maloney] as being friendly and easy to get along with,” and added that Maloney ‘seems to get along with everyone in the building.” While Maloney says that being an ambassador for UVI has forced her to “step out” of her comfort zone,” Weekes says that the Miss UVI title did not change the kind of person she [Maloney] is. “She’s the same. She didn’t change that much. She didn’t allow her reign to change the person she is and has been.”

As the time draws near when she will no longer be the reigning Miss UVI and SGA president, Maloney is making plans to earn her master’s degree at another university, gaining employment and starting her own family. Even as she prepares to make that big step she has a desire to make her family proud. “A lot of what I do is for my family - a family with many broken relationships and shattered dreams and goals.”

Former SGA president Rick Grant defines his role as being Maloney’s “unpaid personal assistant and friend.” As someone who has worked closely with Maloney, Grant believes she “is a well rounded young woman who is purposed on setting goals and meeting them.” While Maloney says that her reign has been a “rewarding experience” that challenged her in many ways, Grant underscores that by saying it [her reign] was “abundant with opportunities and challenges.

“She had the opportunity to redefine the premise of Miss UVI and she was also challenged to encourage others to embrace her new premise,” Grant said. While Maloney is thrilled that her leadership role exposed her to networking, she is more grateful for the “rewarding and dear friendships that come out of being a UVI ambassador.”

The UVI student body pays special attention to their queen and president and expects her to be an exemplary role model for them. “As SGA President, I think she’s doing a good job. If you ask her anything she’ll find out and get back to you. As Miss UVI, she carries herself with pride and dignity and she represents the university well,” said dorm mate Weekes.

One might think that Maloney’s two roles may often work against each other when she’s faced with representing the university versus being a voice for the students facing problems at UVI, but she [Maloney] has a different outlook on it. “In any institution you find yourself a part of, you’ll find things you don’t like, but part of being mature is recognizing the good, not necessarily ignoring the ills but focusing more on the good, because there’s good and bad wherever you go.”

As the Trinidadian-born, with a “simple clothing style” as she defines it, continues to make a name for herself, she makes others proud in the process.

“Holistically, I believe that Sharifa upheld the queen-like demeanor of Miss UVI. On the other hand, I think that she broke the stereotypical type of thinking that a queen is beauty and no brains,” said Grant.

She’s a sister to three, a daughter to two and a role model to many, she’s Sharifa Maloney, living by her two mottos “Adjust to changing times but, hold to unchanging principles” and “Our life begins to end the day we remain silent about things that matter.”