La Toya Mathew

La Toya Mathew is no stranger to the stage. A proud Anguillian and lifelong lover of the arts, her passion was ignited at the age of six through dance, dramatization, and modeling. During her formative years, she was a member of the renowned Supreme Dancers, led by Ms. Edith Gumbs, and captivated audiences in pre-and primary school plays, high school lunch-time dramas, dances, and national stage plays. She played a key role in Sunshine Theatre’s community productions including God’s Trombones, You the Jury, Shelter from the Storm, and most recently The Rivalry, directed by Anguillian playwright and dramatist, Mr. Felix Fleming. In 2016, La Toya was honored with the Sunshine Theatre Award for Outstanding Dramatic Performance; that same year, she was also recognized nationally as a Youth Award Nominee in the Division of Performing Arts by the Department of Youth and Culture in Anguilla. La Toya’s competitive edge came to light early on. She was crowned Miss Talented Teen Anguilla 1998, and later placed First Runner-Up in the Miss Anguilla 2007 pageant, winning Best Talent and Best Speech Presentation in both competitions. She proudly represented Anguilla regionally at the Miss Caribbean Talented Teen Pageant held in St. Kitts and the Leeward Islands Talented Teen Pageant, placing in the top three (3) in both competitions. On the international stage, she earned the prestigious title of Miss Homecoming Queen at her Alma mater, Florida International University in 2007. La Toya continues to champion the performing arts and is currently a dedicated member of the Kingdom Awakening Outreach Dance Ministry, where she also coaches and mentors young dancers from various church communities. Over the years, she has also assisted local carnival and high school pageant contestants in refining their stage presence and performance delivery. A former educator of approximately 12 years, La Toya served as a Graduate Teacher, with much of her instruction rooted in hospitality and tourism studies. She has since shifted her focus to direct operational service within the hospitality industry, applying her expertise hands-on in guest experience, luxury service delivery, and villa operations. She is the founder of the non-profit organization Future Hospitality and Tourism Leaders (FHTL), which provides mentorship, training, and career development opportunities for aspiring professionals in the tourism and service sector. A member of the Anguilla National Choir, La Toya remains passionate about empowering youth, celebrating creativity, and giving back to various communities that are less fortunate.