Search Begins for New Miss Bahamas to
Compete in World’s Most Prestigious
Pageants
The Miss Bahamas Organization®
(MBO) has acquired the Miss Universe franchise, making it the first
organization in the history of Bahamian pageantry to hold both the Miss
Universe and Miss World licenses concurrently.
Under the theme
Timeless Beauty,
the pageant will select one winner who will compete in both the Miss
Universe and Miss World pageants – joining the
ranks of Ava Burke Thompson - the only Bahamian woman to do so to date.
“This is
an exciting time for us,” says MBO President Michelle Malcolm who
never gave up on the vision of having both international franchises
under her directorship. “By acquiring this franchise, we will
now be able to crown one Miss Bahamas, and in so doing hopefully rid
the Bahamas of all the confusion about which is the real national pageant
system in the country,” she says. “Ever since our launch back
in 2005, we were hopeful that the day would come when we could be managing
both Miss World and Miss Universe in the Bahamas. And now that
day is finally here.”
The 2010 pageant
is set for April 25 and eligible young women are encouraged to apply
to enter quickly as there is only a two-and-a-half-week window to do
so before the pageant’s contestants screening and training regimen
begins. The age limit has been raised from 17 to 18, which is
the starting age of the Miss Universe pageant. Additionally, MBO’s
minimum height requirement has been adjusted from 5’ 5” to 5’
3” to allow for wider participation. “A few of our Regional
Directors have been after us for a while to relax our height limits,
so that they could have an easier time of choosing a representative,”
said Miss Malcolm. Interested young women can apply online at
MBO’s website
www.missbahamas.net
. “We are looking for the complete
package,” she says, “someone who can make her presence felt at both
international pageants, and hopefully capture one of the two crowns
for the Bahamas.”
Strategic partnerships
are being formed to ensure that the new Miss Bahamas receives a prize
package like none before her. “Getting the opportunity
to compete in both Miss Universe and Miss World is thrilling within
itself,” says Miss Malcolm, “however that’s just the beginning
of the amazing prize package that awaits our new queen.”
Plans are underway
to make the historic 2010 Miss Bahamas Beauty Pageant a grand affair.
During the course of the events, past queens from both the Miss Bahamas
and Miss Commonwealth Bahamas pageants of yesteryear will be honored.
Additionally, they will be invited to play an active role in the Miss
Bahamas Foundation, which will focus on raising money for charitable
endeavors throughout the Bahamas.
The news of
this acquisition comes on the heels of a stellar performance by Joanna
Brown at the Miss World pageant this past December. Although she
did not become a semifinalist, Joanna made her presence felt by placing
4th in the Beauty with a Purpose competition, and by becoming
a finalist in the Talent Competition, and a semifinalist in the Sportswoman
competition. “Joanna has set the bar very high for the queens
who follow her,” says Miss Malcolm. “We expect no less than
the very best a young lady has to offer, because that after all is what
we are giving to her.”
Entrants should
be beautiful in form and face, graceful, intelligent and charming, while
possessing poise, a pleasing character, and high moral convictions.
Candidates must be single, must not have children, nor have ever been
pregnant or given birth. Minimum height requirement is 5’ 3” and
maximum height requirement is 6’ 2”. Weight must be proportionate
to height. Candidates should be of Bahamian ancestry, or citizens of
The Bahamas. The Miss Bahamas Organization
® reserves
the right to refuse an application or dismiss a contestant, using the
Organization’s codes and regulations as the basis for its decision.
Applicant must submit a headshot and a full body shot of her own choice
for review with her application. The deadline for entry is January 29,
2010.
