Karen “Lady Mac” McIntosh-Bruce won her second St. Croix Calypso Monarch after the Calypso Monarch Finals on New Year’s night.

The talented Lady Mac’s rendition of ‘Lend A Hand’ and ‘Puppet Man,’ earned her the title.

“I’m elated because what I really focus on is putting on a good show for the people,” McIntosh-Bruce said about her win. “And if I capture the crown, then that’s like icing on the cake.”

The win is the second for McIntosh-Bruce, who won the 2005-2006 Calypso Monarch.

McIntosh-Bruce said she felt relieved — until now, she hadn’t been able to enjoy the festivities because she was so focused on how best to prepare and present her music. The last time she was supposed to enter the competition, in 2019, McIntosh-Bruce said she lost her voice.

“Nothing was coming out. So, one of the songs that I was supposed to sing then, I sang it this time,” she said, adding that everything happens for a reason. In the years since, she said she was able to add another verse and tighten up other areas of that song, “Puppet Man.”

She credited well-known calypsonians Fitzroy “Figgy” O’Garro for helping out with that song and Wilbert “Waggy” Brooks, who wrote the other song she performed during her winning performance, “Lend A Hand.” Both Brooks and O’Garro are winners of the St. Thomas Carnival Calypso Monarch.

In the other categories Di’Jon “JonDi” Baptiste was recognized as the Most Improved Calypsonian, singing his compositions “Ah Bust” and “Drunk.”

Other notable participants included Samuel “Mighty Pat” Ferdinand, who was the third runner up with his songs “It’s A Shame” and “Extra Income.”

Hansill “Richie” Buntin was named second runner up for his songs “So Many Too Many” and “Calypso Lover;” and the reigning Calypso Monarch, Emogene “Blakness” Creese, secured the 1st Runner Up position with her tunes “Festival Is Culture” and “Bring It Back.”