Photo: Miss Universe Organization L.P., LLLP/Photographer: Fadil Berisha

Nassau, Bahamas - On August 23, 2009 she was crowned Miss Universe in the beautiful islands of The Bahamas.  Now Stefania Fernandez is preparing to return to the place where her dream came true as 17 Bahamian beauties officially begin their journey to fulfill the same dream.  Under the theme Timeless Beauty, the launch of the 2010 Miss Bahamas Beauty Pageant season is set for Friday, April 9 at the British Colonial Hilton Hotel at 8 p.m. with a glamorous Charity Gala to raise money for the Red Cross’ Haiti Disaster Relief Effort.  Miss Universe, who is passionate about helping the people of Haiti, will be the special guest in attendance.  

The Miss Bahamas Charity Gala will be the first opportunity for the public to meet this year’s contestants face to face. While there, they will be able to bid on auction gifts provided by the contestants themselves, as well as the Miss Bahamas Organization®.  All of the proceeds from the auction will be donated to the Red Cross. “It’s going to be a very elegant affair”, says Miss Bahamas Organization® (MBO) President Michelle Malcolm.  “In keeping with the theme of the night, you will feel like you’ve walked into an old Hollywood movie premiere, red carpet and all.  And of course, you can’t have a premiere without celebrities, so Miss Universe, our reigning queen Joanna Brown, and our contestants will be the glamorous starlets of the night.”  

Under the leadership of Miss Malcolm, the Miss Bahamas Pageant has placed heavy emphasis on charitable endeavors. In addition to the queen’s annual Beauty with a Purpose project, each year contestants in the pageant are required to raise money for charity as a group as well as complete individual projects designed to benefit their communities.  During the course of the evening, the contestants will present more than three thousand dollars that they raised to benefit homeless persons within The Bahamas.   

Pageant fans and the charitable at heart are being encouraged to attend the fete.  ‘This is going to be a swanky affair with fancy food, fabulous music by the Royal Bahamas Defence Force Pop Band, and a chance to mix and mingle with beautiful people,” says Miss Malcolm, “but more importantly, it’s an opportunity to lend a helping hand to those desperately in need.  We are encouraging Bahamians to come out and dig deep, because as the old saying goes, there but for the grace of God go I.  You just never know when it will be our time of need and when we will be calling on others to be in the giving spirit, so we should give while we can.”  

Miss Universe concurs with those sentiments.  In a video posted on the Miss Universe Organization’s You Tube channel, she talks about how she was saddened by the events in Haiti, and approached the organization about doing something to help.  “The Earthquake was on January 12, but now many people are like, Ok, no worries,” she says, “(but) they need our help then and now, more support.” She pledged to donate a portion of her salary as Miss Universe to the Haiti Disaster Relief effort and encouraged others to do the same. She concluded the video by saying “Please help us help Haiti” which is the Miss Universe Organization’s official call to action.  Bahamians can further help by attending the Miss Bahamas launch, and bidding on the gifts up for auction.  

The April 9 launch kicks off an exciting season of events in which the contestants will compete for the chance to represent the Bahamas at both the Miss Universe and Miss World pageants.  Those events include the Sportswoman Competition at the Thomas A. Robinson Track & Field Stadium on Saturday April 10; the Top Model of the Bahamas Competition at Club Luna Courtyard, West Bay Street on  Sunday April 18; the Swimsuit Competition, ICandy Swimwear Fashion Show & Pool Party on Sunday May 2 at The Dig, Atlantis Resort; the Talent & Evening Gown Competitions on Friday May 7 in the Imperial Ballroom, Atlantis Resort, and finally, the 2010 Miss Bahamas Beauty Pageant on Sunday May 9 at the Imperial Ballroom, Atlantis Resort. 

Tickets for all events are available online at Diamonds International Watch & Design on Bay Street; Mario’s Bowling & Entertainment Palace on the Tonique Williams Darling Highway; Bani Shoe Warehouse on Mackey Street; and online at www.caribtickets.com.