The Retreat Gardens provide Perfect Backdrop for Top Model of The Bahamas contest...
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SLIDESHOW - See all the girls in the Top Model Competition. Photos by Vaughn Scriven.

Nassau, Bahamas– In surroundings reminiscent of the Garden of Eden, the thirteen Earth Angels commanded attention as they strut down a red carpet catwalk, wearing sexy white swimwear, and not much else.   Even the rain stopped for the highly anticipated Miss Bahamas World Swimsuit and Top Model of the Bahamas competitions held at The Retreat – headquarters of the Bahamas National Trust, on Village Road. The ladies did not disappoint, displaying spectacular runway skills and even more impressive physiques in one of the most important events on the Miss Bahamas World calendar.  

The exciting double-header began with the Swimsuit Competition, which is one of the “fast track” events of the Miss Bahamas World pageant – the winner automatically advances to the semifinal round of the competition.   With so much at stake, the ladies had been working out for months – and it showed!   One by one, the contestants faced a distinguished panel of judges which included Top Model of the Bahamas 2008 Chrystal Bethell; Bahamian snowboarder Korath Wright; Pilates instructor Denise Carter; fitness coach Nardo Dean, and MBO Assistant Director of Pageant Affairs Anishka Lockhart.   The judges’ task was to look for body symmetry, the general fitness of the contestant, poise, stage presence, and modeling skills. After appearing individually before the judges, the ladies then stood before them as a group, giving the panel one last look before they made their final decisions.   The winner of the Swimsuit competition will be announced during the finals of the Miss Bahamas World pageant on May 31^st.

Following a brief intermission, the show’s focus switched to haute couture as the Top Model of the Bahamas competition got underway.   A competition within a competition – this event is used to select the Bahamian representative for the Top Model of the World competition. Last year’s winner Chrystal Bethell travelled to Germany earlier this year to compete in the Top Model of the World competition.   She just recently returned from China where she competed in the Beauty and Model Festival, capturing the title Miss Caribbean in the process.   She and her fellow judges – Bahamian models Stephanie Smollet, Felicia Forbes, Kendrick Kemp, and MBO Assistant Director of Talent Development Shavonne Bain, were looking for the young woman who owned the catwalk in the strength of her walk, attitude, and the way she carried the clothes.   The fashions of Bahamian designers Lisa Humes, Apryl Burrows, Patrice Lockhart, Sabrina Francis, and Jarvi created a colorful, festive atmosphere while the Earth Angels brought attitude galore to the runway.   Like the Swimsuit Competition, the winner of the 2009 Top Model of the Bahamas Title will be announced during the pageant on May 31^st.

There are five fast track events in this year’s Miss Bahamas World pageant.  The first - the Sportswoman Challenge – was held on May 9^th.   Miss Bella Donna Michaela Ferguson won that event, and in doing so became this year’s first semifinalist.   She will be joined by other fast track winners from the Swimsuit and Talent competitions, the Beauty with a Purpose Challenge, and the winner of the People’s Choice award which goes to the contestant who receives the highest number of votes online at the Miss Bahamas Organization’s website www.missbahamas.net.   The Miss Bahamas World Pageant finale will be held on May 31^st at the Wyndham Nassau Resort’s Rainforest Theatre on Cable Beach.

SLIDESHOW - See all the girls in the Swimsuit Competition. Photos by Vaughn Scriven.

Photo by Vaughn Scriven.

SLIDESHOW 2 - See all the girls in the Swimsuit Competition. Photos by Vaughn Scriven.