WEST END BEAUTY QUEENS: Winners in the 2008 West End Beauty Pageant (left to right): Ashanti Stuart, Jr. Miss; Ansonique Hanna, Little Miss; and Mariah Williams, Miss West End. Each received a $1,000 scholarship along with other gifts and prizes.

WEST END, Grand Bahama Island–  Thirteen young ladies charmed their way into the hearts of judges and well-wishers as they vied for the titles of Little, Junior Miss and Miss West End.   Capturing the crowns were, Ansonique Hanna, Ashanti Stuart and Mariah Williams, who each received $1,000 scholarships.

Sponsored by Ginn sur Mer, contestants were judged on speech, talent and evening gowns.

Runners-up in the Little Miss division were: Trevesia Rolle, 1^st runner-up and Kaiden Hepburn, 2^nd runner-up.   In the Junior Miss category, 1^st runner-up was Breneka Stubbs, and Jean Hanna placed second.   Runners-up in the Miss category were: Shaquel Hepburn, 1^st runner-up and Taveka Russell, 2^nd runner-up.

Receiving special awards were: Kaiden Hepburn, Miss Amity and Little Miss Photogenic; Breneka Stubbs, Junior Miss Photogenic; Mariah Williams, Miss Photogenic; Ashanti Stuart, Best Float, Miss Popularity and Junior Miss talent winner; Trevesia Rolle, Little Miss talent winner; and Taveka Russell, Miss talent winner.

Highlights of the pageant included special performances by 10-year-old Clarissia Smith as Lil Miss Jessie Pearl (a younger version of the infamous Miss Daisy); the West End Marching Band; and soloist Lashando “Ace” Burnside.

Pageant organizers were pleased with the overwhelming support received from the West End community and announced that the three winners will travel to Atlanta, Georgia, in July, to compete in the Sunburst International Beauty Pageant.

Brightly costumed contestants performed a cultural dance during the opening number.

About Ginn sur Mer

Ginn sur Mer is a 2,000-acre resort community on Grand Bahama Island’s West End that will contain more than 4,400 condominium and hotel units and nearly 2,000 single-family residential homesites. Luxury amenities include Signature golf courses designed by Jack Nicklaus and Arnold Palmer, clubhouses, two marinas, a private airport, a Monte Carlo-style casino, water and swim pavilions, a spa and beach club. The $4.9 billion resort community will serve as a flagship development for Ginn Resorts.

Breneka Stubbs brought the audience to tears as she paid tribute to her mother as her role model during the Junior Miss speech segment of the West End Beauty Pageant.

The West End Marching Band, comprised of youngsters from throughout the West End community, entertained the audience with a medley of songs.

Harold Rolle and Carmel Churchill were lively hosts for the evening’s events.

(left to right): Mary Culmer, Philip Franks, Patra Stuart, Bob Van Bergen, Antoinette “Monice” Neely, and statistician, Roger Rolle. Gloria McGlone (not pictured) also served as a judge.