Queen & Court L to R Gabriel Wong, Nevandria Rolle,Winner Standria Moss and Dawnishka Morley. Photo: Derek Carroll

The Freeport News: (Grand Bahama, Bahamas) Judged on both beauty and intelligence, Standria Moss was named winner of the first annual Miss Highs Abrave Edubeauty Pageant which took place on Saturday, January 2, in the Grand Ballroom at Our Lucaya Resort.

Moss, who boasts a 4.0 grade point average, was well qualified to compete in the pageant, which required its 13 contestants to have at least a 3.0 GPA.

She will hold the overall title of Miss Highs Abrave Valedict for one year and a month.

Also capturing titles that night were Gabrielle Wong, Miss Highs Abrave Salutor, Nevandria Rolle, Miss Highs Abrave Scholar, and Abaco resident Donishka Morley, Miss Highs Abrave Inter-scholar.

Pageant coordinator Bethsheba Russell said she organized the pageant because she was "tired" of "smart girls" being overlooked.

Offering these girls a chance to shine, Russell scouted out contestants from the northern islands of the Bahamas, including Abaco and Bimini, to find queens with intelligence, fortitude, determination and the "right attitude."

She spoke highly of the top four finalists, noting that they will act as advocates to bring to light issues that affect the youth.

Moss, who is no stranger to pageants, said her experience at Miss Highs Abrave Edubeauty was filled with "firsts."

Grand Bahama Beauty Queens: left to right - Miss East End Grand Bahama Cindy Lewis; Standria Moss (center); and Miss Bahamas World (right) Joanna Brown Photo: Derek Carroll

"My experience was great. I got to meet a lot of girls. I (went) to Abaco for the first time. I never went to Abaco. I got to ride on a horse and carriage for the first time, I got to ride an excursion for the first time, also the prizes. I got a lot of prizes," she said.

While holding the crown invites Moss to enjoy certain perks, she understands that she is called to be a beauty with purpose during her tenure as queen.

The 14-year-old student at St. Paul's Methodist College told The Freeport News that she will visit various schools on the island to speak on issues such as drug abuse, teenage pregnancy and academics.

"I (believe) that grades are important, and education, because you need it in life. That's something no one can take away from you," she said.

"I encourage everyone to ...study, try to stay positive, stay around positive people, don't let anyone influence you, and don't crash under peer pressure."

Likewise, Miss Highs Abrave Scholar, 15-year-old Rolle, offered sound advice to young girls.

She said, "I'd like to encourage all teenage girls to continue to stay positive, try their best to be on the honour roll at their school and to join the pageant (because) it's a really good one."

Rolle admitted that she was skeptical about entering the pageant believing they focused too much on beauty.

Now, balancing a crown atop her head with a 3.3 GPA to her credit, the Bishop Michael Eldon School student has had a change of heart.

Winner Standria Moss Photo: Derek Carroll

Asked what she would say to those who deem pageants superficial, Rolle said, "I would tell them that they're wrong because this pageant really opened my eyes... that's how I felt before, that it was all about beauty but then its about etiquette, speaking; you have to be knowledgeable about your surroundings."

Rolle revealed that she has a new found love for pageantry and would like to compete in Miss Teen Bahamas and Miss Bahamas World in the future.

Eager to uphold her duty as Miss Highs Abrave Salutor, Wong said she looks forward to reaching out to those that look up to her.

"I want to teach them that anything is possible especially with God, to show them that dreams are real," said Wong.

"When you have dreams, no matter what society says... with God all things are possible because he opens doors for you that you never imagined, and even joining this pageant he opened a lot of doors that I didn't know were going to be opened. So I want to be an example. I want to be like Christ and just to show them that...once you seek the kingdom of Christ, everything pursues you."

The senior at Alpha Omega High School currently holds a 3.3 GPA and dreams of becoming a writer.

She revealed that upon graduating she will use her leadership scholarship, a consolation prize, to attend a college in Georgia.

As part of their prize package, the queens will travel to Fort Lauderdale this weekend to enjoy a day of relaxation.

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