Truly Better in The Bahamas for Miss Bahamas Universe ? National Costume Competition

Thu, Aug 30th 2018, 05:07 PM

On Saturday, August 25, 2018, It was a “Splash of Pink” that carried throughout the color scheme of this year's Miss Bahamas Universe® National Costume Competition. Eleven incredible, young women lined up for an islandwide motorcade, which covered North, South, East and West New Providence with a 90 minutes of excitement and anticipation and Yasmine Cooke, Miss Bahamas Universe® 2017 leading the way.

The “Empowered 11” Motorcade began at Arawak Cay, circled the island and ended with a grand entrance into the inaugural Miss Bahamas Universe® Island Festival hosted at the Nassau Botanical Gardens where the “Empowered 11” were welcomed by fans, family, sponsors and onlookers who enjoyed food from local vendors, drinks and music while supporting their favorite Contestants.

Confidently beautiful, each Contestant displayed the finest artistry from of top Bahamian designers both experienced and new to Bahamian Pageantry.

This year’s competition theme “World View" lends itself to expanding the thinking of Contestants beyond our nation’s waters as the new Miss Bahamas Universe will not only be role model for women in The Bahamas but an international ambassador when abroad. Miss Bahamas Universe® pushed the envelope by teaming up with Commonwealth Fabrics, who has partnered with new franchise holders Westpoint Media since 2013 with Miss Teen Bahamas Scholar and Miss Teen Bahamas International.

Commonwealth Fabrics provided each Contestant with four yards of material as inspiration and a blueprint to collaborate with a designer to depict a national symbol, treasure or valuable resource.

It was a sight to behold and truly better in The Bahamas as the ingenuity and ability of fellow countrymen rivaled, and arguably surpassed, many top costume designs produced for the world’s stage at Miss Universe® by any of the 92 countries who participate annually.

According to Anthony Smith, new Miss Universe® franchise holder and National Pageant Director for Miss Bahamas Universe®, “historically Miss Bahamas has stood out for decades due to our flamboyant display of indigenous costumes.

Contestants and their designers work arduously to create intricacies inspired by Bahamian people, places and things.

Since the inception of Miss Bahamas in 1961 it has been a tradition that the winning local costume is often worn during Miss Universe®, but that is not a Miss Universe® policy or rule,” according to Mr. Smith.

However, the media surrounding the National Costume Winner customarily provides momentum for the contestant. Additionally, the winning designer greatly benefits as the success, exposure and media attention has launched many careers, attracted new clients and catapulted the local designer brands to new heights, increased social media impressions and heightened revenue outcomes.

The backgrounds of this year's crop of young ladies range from college students and athletes, to entrepreneurs and working professionals, or a combination of those designations. They are all unique in their own way.

The ‘Empowered 11” Miss Bahamas Universe® 2018 Contestants in are: Dimarcia Bethel, Shantera Brown, Vernique Chandler, Gabriela Collie, Danielle Grant, Raven Hepburn, Ianthé Kellman, Samia McClain, Shauntae Miller, Devyevette Nagee and Selvanique Wright. Some of the contestant platforms include: Animal Abuse Awareness, Colourism, Empowerment and Entrepreneurship, Cervical Cancer Awareness and Sexual Abuse.

Newscaster Chester Robards was the Event Host, and the excitement filled the air when the Top 5 Winners were announced for the National Costume Competition. They are:

● Winner – Selvinique Wright designed by Bahamas Masqueraders and House of Raphelita
● 1st Runner Up – Danielle Grant designed by Javotte Bethel
● 2nd Runner Up – Vernique Chandler designed by Javotte Bethel
● 3rd Runner Up – Devyevette Nagee designed by Cedric Bernard
● 4th Runner Up – Samia McClain designed by Javotte Bethel

Cheer on the “Empowered 11” as they compete in the Swimsuit, Evening Gown and Swimsuit Preliminary Competitions on Sunday, September 2, 2018 at Melia Nassau Beach Resort. Doors open at 5pm and Showtime begins at 6pm. Tickets are $50 in advance and $60 at the door.

Who will win “Best Body” at The Kalik Beer Swimsuit Competition? Who will win “Best Evening Gown”? Who will rock the runway for “Avant Garde Model”? Which Bahamian designer will win “Best Designer of the Year”? Online voting opens on Monday, September 3, 2018, so friends, family, supporters and fans have an opportunity to choose a favorite contestant through a special “People's Choice” vote that will fast-track her into the top six, as the competition preliminaries and categories progress.

The Contestant who sells the most tickets and advertisements will win the “Queen of Commerce” Award. Online sales count towards that total and are credited to a contestant upon check out.

Who will be crowned the NEXT Miss Bahamas Universe® The “Empowered 11” are narrowed to a Top 6 and compete in the Grand Finale on Sunday, September 16, 2018 at Atlantis Theatre, Coral Towers at the Atlantis Paradise Island Resort. Doors open at 5pm and Showtime begins at 6pm. General Tickets are $75 in advance and $100 at the door. VIP Tickets are $100 in advance and $125 at the door, which include a signature cocktail presented by Bombay Sapphire.

Tickets can be purchased online from our website missbahamaspageant.com, EyeCandy Makeup in Harbour Bay Shopping Plaza, Jemi Fitness in Caves Village, Rare Finds in Prince George Plaza, Mon Qir Fashion on Carmichael Road, or from any of our Miss Bahamas Universe® Contestants. Program advertisements and corporate sponsorship opportunities are also available.

The prize package for Miss Bahamas Universe® is valued at over $70,000, which includes an all-expense paid, once-in-a-lifetime experience to represent The Bahamas at Miss Universe® in Thailand; a scholarship to attend Midwestern State University as either an undergraduate or graduate student; a full wardrobe; local and international speaking engagements; cash prize; one year of orthodontic and cosmetic dentistry, luxury jewelry; air travel; local and international advertising campaigns and hosting opportunities; personal coaching; media training; a modeling portfolio; one year of brand management; makeup, skin and hair care products and a whole lot more.

Miss Bahamas Universe® sponsors include Midwestern State University, Atlantis Paradise Island Resort, Bahamas Ministry of Tourism, Bioré, Bombay Sapphire, Brightly Awake, BTC EveryDay, Canvus Art, Commonwealth Fabrics, Comfort Smiles Family and Cosmetic Dentistry, Digital Pixxels Web Design, DNewton Photography, DS3 Global Brand Strategies, Dupuch Publications, EyeCandy Makeup, Influential Voice, Jemi Fitness, Jergens, Kalik Bahamian Beer, LUXE Worldwide Travel and Events, Nassau Guardian, New York Dress, ORS Olive Oil, PS Obrian Consulting, Rare Finds, Shoreline Distributors, The Bold Catalog, Tiltify, The Shoal Restaurant, Toastmasters Club 1600, Valentino Omar Designs, Vell Monkey Foot! Catering, Westpoint Global Media and others who will be mentioned in future releases.

For more information and to purchase tickets, visit the website at www.missbahamaspageant.com and Miss Bahamas Universe® Official Facebook page at www.facebook.com/missbahamauniverse. You can also follow Miss Bahamas Universe® on social media via Twitter at www.twitter.com/bahamasuniverse or Instagram at www.instagram.com/missbahamasuniverse.

About the Miss Universe® Organization

The 2018 Miss Universe Competition will take place in Bangkok, Thailand, and will air in the United States LIVE Sunday, December 16, 2018, at 10:00 PM ET live on FOX. Five-time Emmy® Award winner, and one of television’s favorite entertainers, Steve Harvey returns to host. The three-hour event will feature women representing nearly 100 countries. The Miss Universe Organization (MUO) is a global community that empowers women to realize their goals through experiences that build self-confidence and create opportunities for success. MUO believes that every woman should be “Confidently Beautiful.” MISS UNIVERSE®, MISS USA® and MISS TEEN USA® programs provide the 10,000 women who participate annually an international platform to affect positive change through influential humanitarian and professional efforts.

About Miss Bahamas Universe®
Miss Bahamas Universe® believes in the empowerment of women as one develops the confidence needed to achieve personal best. A confident woman has the power to make real change, starting in our local community with the potential to take her influence from the Islands Of The Bahamas to the world. Our Organization seeks to fulfill the legacy and tradition as the official Miss Bahamas Pageant. Historically, Miss Bahamas Universe® queens have gone on to high-profile careers in law, science, government, hospitality, tourism, business, finance and broadcasting, as well as film, stage and television. The Miss Bahamas Universe® Competition will offer far more to all of the young women participating nationwide, including over $70,000 in prizes, scholarships and gifts for Contestants and the Titleholder. Miss Bahamas Universe® has designed a competition and preparation regimen, which compliment the powerful, international Miss Universe® brand. Our vision is for a pageant system that is fair and attractive to the most beautiful, talented, educated, and confident young Bahamian women who want to serve as international ambassadors and spokeswomen. Miss Bahamas Universe® is also a unique opportunity to work with Corporate Bahamas to create a plethora of opportunities for young ladies who participate as Contestants by partnering with our organization to truly live the mantra of “Confidently Beautiful,” as well as to expose the wider beauty, fashion, culture and artisan industries of The Islands Of The Bahamas to a global audience as the OFFICIAL Miss Bahamas Pageant.

About Westpoint Global Media
As an organization, Westpoint Global Media Inc. not only believes in producing an outstanding stage production together with a cadre of activities designed to crown a beautiful, young woman. Westpoint Media is a marketing, events and special projects agency founded by Anthony Smith that has forged alliances with international partners and affiliates. Incorporated in The Bahamas and the United States, Westpoint is the franchise holder for Miss Teen Bahamas Scholar as well as Miss Bahamas Universe.® Westpoint also manages a portfolio of local and international clients implementing marketing, branding and consulting strategies for products and services. Projects have included Miss Teen Bahamas International, Downtown Nassau Magazine, Magazine Bahamas, Top Barber & Stylist 242 Competition, Seahorse Institute’s Blue Tie Shindig, and Bahamas Amateur Bake-Off Competition.

 Sponsored Ads