|
|
|
|
|
|
Last Updated: Feb 13, 2017 - 1:45:37 AM |
The new owner of Miss Bahamas Universe, Michelle Collie as seen 'back in the day' as a pageant queen herself. Collie was Miss Bahamas 1995 and competed in the Miss Universe contest in 1996 in Las Vegas. She was also a semi-finalist in Miss Model International.
|
In 1961 the Bahamas Pageant Committee was formed by a group of civic
minded women who where well respected in the community. In August of
1961 the first Miss Bahamas contest was held with Brenda Barry (nee
Major) being crowned the winner.
The intent was to give Bahamian women a platform to express themselves.
In 1962 after a visit from the founder of the Miss Universe contest Mr.
Bottlefield and the reigning Miss USA Marcel Wilson of Hawaii, the
Bahamas Pageant Committee became enfranchised
by Miss Universe. As a result of this their was no Miss Bahamas contest
in 1963 and Sandra Louise Young became the first Miss Bahamas to
compete in the Miss Bahamas contest.
Bahamian women have competed in the
Miss Bahamas contest every year since 1963, missing only
the years 1973 and 1984 making The Bahamas one of the most consistent
countries in sending a representative to the Miss Universe contest.
Over the years the Miss Bahamas contest was one of the
biggest events of the year with some of the top names in
the entertainment business performing,and some of the most prominent people
in society, as well as international celebrities
served as judges. At the 1995 Miss Bahamas contest Sir Sidney Poitier
was honoured.
In the 1960's the contest took the form of a dinner dance.
The Miss Bahamas winners went on to lived charmed lives. The Bahamas
Pageant Committee held the Miss Universe franchise
until 2000 with their final Queen Nakera Symonette (nee Simms) walking
away with Miss Congeniality award. In 2000 Gaynelle Rolle acquired the
Miss Universe franchise holding the franchise until 2009. In 2010 MBO
Miss Bahamas headed by Michelle Malcolm and Jerome
Sawyer acquired the franchise which they held until 2015.
In 2016 a new organization headed by Ivy League Limited
acquired the franchise, and the
Miss Universe Bahamas 2016 will take place
on
Saturday, September 17th at the Albany Resort Aviva Beach Western in New Providence.
The winner
will receive
a deluxe prize packages which resembles prizes received by the Queens
under the Bahamas Pageant Committee including a trip to Miss Universe
all expenses paid, an official car for use during her reign, and a complete wardrobe.
New additional prizes include a Ten Thousand Dollar
Cash Prize, a year's membership at Albany, a $50,000
appearance contract , and she will also be the official hostess of the Hero
World Challenge PGA Tour.
The Deadline for entries is
July 2nd 2016. You can follow Miss Bahamas Universe2016 at
www.missbahamas-universe.com at their Facebook page Miss Bahamas Universe.
Michelle Collie who spearheads the new Miss Bahamas Universe
group is no stranger to pageants, as she was Miss RND Cinema's and captured
the Miss Bahamas 1995 crown. Michelle competed in the 1996 Miss
Universe contest which was held in Las Vegas Nevada,
where she made it into the top ten. She was also a finalist in the Miss Model International contest.
The Miss Universe Bahamas 2016 contest will hold a
traditional preliminary contest as has been the case in past pageants and
will also feature a popular pageant tradition in The Bahamas, the
National Costume Event. The girls selected to compete
will undergo a 7-week training exercise that will include sessions
in choreography, stage walking, public speaking, style and beauty etiquette, along with fitness and nutrition.
This years contestants
will embody beauty class and sophistication. One thing that has
always been noticeable, is that Bahamian women are world class beauties, and are
just as beautiful as women in other countries. It is said every year,
that the girls keep getting better and better, and The Bahamas certainly has
some of the most natural beauties in the world.
It is only
a matter of time before this beautiful archipelago of 700 Island produces
a Miss Universe winner.
About the author: Neil Alan Craig is the creator of the
Miss Bahamas Blast from the Past Facebook page which covers Miss Bahamas and the history of pageantry in The Bahamas from 1961 to present. Neil began following pageants in the Bahamas in the 1980's, and as a hobby began researching the history of Bahamian pageants. Neil has contributed to many international pageant websites including Pageantopolis, where a Miss Bahamas section was created, and has judged local pageants including Miss Bahamas Universe in 2009, Miss Earth Bahamas and Miss Teen Bahamas 2010, Little Miss Bahamas 2010, Miss Earth Bahamas & Miss Teen Bahamas 2011, Little Miss Bahamas 2013 and Miss Bahamas Teenager 2014. He can be reached at neilocraig3@hotmail.com
© Copyright 2016 by thebahamasweekly.com
Top of Page
|
|
|
|
