Contestants and the reigning queen. (L-R): Miss World New Providence Andrea Bowleg, Miss World Exuma Aria Romer, Miss World Cat Island Rotalya Williams, Miss World Bimini Bryneeah Gray, Miss World Bahamas Chantel O’Brian, Miss World Abaco Whender LaFrance, Miss World Staniel Cay Shanice Burrows, Miss World Paradise Island Pischia Adderley, Miss World Eleuthera Geena Thompson and Miss World Long Island Ashley Hamilton.

Road To The Crown Airs Tuesdays at 8 p.m. on Our TV; Pageant Finale July 24 on REV TV

The 2016 Miss Bahamas Beauty Pageant to choose the new Miss World Bahamas got off to a roaring start on July 1 with the official “I am every woman” Launch Party, sponsored by Bahari Bahamas. The much anticipated event did not disappoint as 10 gorgeous women from across the Bahamas were formally introduced as contestants in the country’s most prestigious pageant following their television debut on the Reality TV Series Road to the Crown days earlier.

The ladies looked stunning wearing edgy but sophisticated dresses provided by Bahari Bahamas, a second-year Miss Bahamas sponsor which will also be providing a full wardrobe for the new Miss World Bahamas.

"We are very enthusiastic about our partnership with the Miss Bahamas Organization this year." Says Bahari's Brand Manager- Eduardo Collie. "I am every woman really speaks to the core ethos of our female customer base; stunning, intelligent and versatile women that represent a spectrum of beauty," he said. "In addition to sponsoring the launch event, we will also be awarding one of the young ladies a one year, $5,000 endorsement contract to become the next face of Bahari."

Their physical appearance aside, equally impressive was the delegates’ presentations as each young lady spoke passionately about her platform and how she intends to impact her community. The ladies were well received by the scores of pageant fans and supporters attending the event which was held at Melia Nassau Beach All Inclusive, official home of the Miss Bahamas Pageant.

2016 promises to be a banner year for the Miss Bahamas Organization® (MBO). Known to be an innovator in Bahamian pageantry, MBO will make history once again when it crowns the new Miss World Bahamas on July 24, 2016. For the first time in Bahamian pageant history, the general public will not only get to watch the pageant live, but will also help to select the winner by voting in real time.

Voting duties for the general public begin with the Road to the Crown Reality TV Show, which airs Tuesdays at 8 p.m. on Our TV for the remaining weeks leading up to the pageant. The show serves to introduce the contestants to the public by showcasing the young ladies through interviews, challenges, activities and preliminary competitions. The TV audience then votes for their favorite contestants via the new Miss Bahamas app, now available on Google Play or IOS on Android or Iphone devices. The votes are cumulative, and it is vital for fans to continue voting for their favorites because their votes account for 25% of the contestants scores to determine which five (5) will escape the dreaded “chopping block” – the hot seats reserved for the contestants whose combined preliminary scores and votes are the lowest in the competition.

The voting process has never been easier, thanks to the slick new Miss Bahamas app. The app is free to download and features contestants’ photos, profiles and interviews, and a behind-the-scenes look at their lives as Miss Bahamas contestants via personally uploaded photos and videos. Those without smart phones wishing to vote can do so at MBO’s revamped website www.missbahamas.net.

The excitement will culminate with the live, pay-per-view broadcast of the Miss Bahamas Beauty Pageant to choose the new Miss World Bahamas on July 24, 2016. The contestants who find themselves on the chopping block on the day of the finale will face automatic elimination. The public will then be given the chance to “instantly save” only one of them to continue on in the competition during an interactive live vote in real time.

“Our new queen will truly be the queen of the Bahamian people, so it is only fitting that the people should help to choose her,” says MBO President Michelle Malcolm. “Now that we are focusing on only one queen, we see this as an opportunity to redirect our energies into ensuring that our program truly reflects our mandate of Passion for Pageantry with Purpose, and that our new winner fulfills the tenet of the Miss World pageant Beauty with a Purpose with distinction. With all of our new alliances and sponsors, we expect that our new queen will be very busy, very visible, and very impactful. She’s going to have an incredible year.”

Pageant fans are encouraged to frequently visit the Miss Bahamas Beauty Pageant Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and soon-to-come SnapChat accounts for updates.

The 2016 Miss Bahamas contestants are officially sashed. (L-R): Miss World New Providence Andrea Bowleg, Miss World Exuma Aria Romer, Miss World Cat Island Rotalya Williams, Miss World Bimini Bryneeah Gray, Miss World Abaco Whender LaFrance, Miss World Staniel Cay Shanice Burrows, Miss World Paradise Island Pischia Adderley, Miss World Eleuthera Geena Thompson and Miss World Long Island Ashley Hamilton.

About MBO
The Miss Bahamas Organization (MBO) is a company that advances and supports today's women through its Passion for Pageantry with a Purpose. Our mission is to bring out the personal bests women seek to achieve by cultivating their passions, self-image, and education in an environment that encourages the pursuit of purpose, promotes discipline, and supports the strengthening of character. The Miss Bahamas Organization will prepare them to take on the world as women who are aware of the power that derives from fulfilling their purpose, and who use that power to impact the welfare of humanity. MBO achieves its mission by training and unveiling the nation's finest women through an annual national beauty pageant system in The Bahamas. This system incorporates months of intensive grooming, coaching and preparation that culminate with the coronation of a goodwill ambassador, who represents her country in Miss World, at promotional events, and charitable endeavors. More information about the Miss Bahamas Organization® is available at www.missbahamas.net.

By Jerome Sawyer

Miss World New Providence Andrea Bowleg, Miss World Exuma Aria Romer, Miss World Cat Island Rotalya Williams, Miss World Bimini Bryneeah Gray, President of The Miss Bahamas Organization Michelle Malcolm, Miss World Bahamas Chantel O’Brian, Miss World Abaco Whender LaFrance, Miss World Staniel Cay Shanice Burrows, Miss World Paradise Island Pischia Adderley, Miss World Eleuthera Geena Thompson and Miss World Long Island Ashley Hamilton. (Photo Credit: George Ratliffe)

2016 Bahari Miss Bahamas Launch Gallery Captions:

Photo 1- Miss World Abaco Whender LaFrance.
Photo 2- Miss World Bimini Bryneeah Gray.
Photo 3- Miss World Cat Island Rotalya Williams.
Photo 4- Miss World Eleuthera Geena Thompson.
Photo 5- Miss World Exuma Aria Romer.
Photo 6- Miss World Long Island Ashley Hamilton.
Photo 7- Miss World New Providence Andrea Bowleg.
Photo 8- Miss World Paradise Island Pischia Addrley.
Photo 9- Miss World Staniel Cay- Shanice Burrows.

Source: J. Sawyer & Associates