A new and improved Miss Bahamas Organization with four pageants

Fri, Jul 5th 2013, 11:52 AM

The nation's premier beauty pageant organization has a new face, and the leadership of the Miss Bahamas Organization (MBO) say it is the last piece of the puzzle needed to fulfill its vision. Some of the nation's leading business and civic minds are now at the helm of a newly formed board of directors which will guide the organization as it branches out from one to four national pageants each year.

MBO's new structure comes at a time when the organization is experiencing explosive growth, branching out into three divisions. In order to solidify the distinction between its two major franchises, the organization is now separating the Miss Universe Bahamas and Miss World Bahamas pageants, holding two separate competitions instead of one event in which two winners will be crowned.

Its first Miss Universe Bahamas pageant will be held on August 11 at the Atlantis Resort, which has once again partnered with MBO to stage the event.

The Miss World Bahamas pageant is slated for later in the year. The reigning Miss World Bahamas De'Andra Bannister will compete in this year's Miss World pageant in Indonesia this September.

In addition to the two "Miss" pageants, for the first time in its history, MBO will stage a "Little Miss" pageant for girls between the ages of five and 12 years old. The Little Miss Sunburst Bahamas pageant will be held in the spring of 2014. It will be open to girls in three divisions: Pee Wee (four-six), Little Miss (seven-10) and Pre-Teen (11-13).

In keeping with its mandate of character development, the organization will place heavy emphasis on fostering self-esteem, social graces and a sense of purpose in the girls who undergo the pageant program. Winners will compete at the prestigious Sunburst International Beauty Pageant, which has a mission to provide wholesome competition that creates an environment where contestants can grow, mature, develop while exhibiting their talents, personalities, interpersonal skills and sportsmanship. Sunburst provides opportunity and rewards that will further enhance their lives and provide direction as they pursue their ambitions. Winners have gone on to become Miss America, Miss USA, Miss Universe, doctors, lawyers, CPAs, business entrepreneurs, engineers, actors, singers, dancers, musicians and many other success stories over the years.

While the Miss Teenager Bahamas pageant will not be produced by MBO, it will be held under its auspices. MBO Contestants' Manager Anishka Lockhart, who is co-owner of the Miss Teenager franchise in The Bahamas, will serve as national director of that pageant, which will launch in the summer of 2014. Winners will compete in the Miss Teenager International pageant.

Serving as chairman of the board is orthodontist Dr. Barry Russell. In 1991, Dr. Barry Russell became the first Bahamian orthodontist to establish a practice in The Bahamas. He has been a long supporter of MBO, serving as the organization's official orthodontist and dental sponsor for several years.

Coralie Adderley is on board as vice-chair. Adderley is the president of creative leadership and management solutions and an accomplished leader with over 25 years in public and private healthcare systems in The Bahamas and the United States.

Other members of the board include international motivational speaker, best-selling author and senior pastor of Bahamas Faith Ministries International Dr. Myles Munroe.

Munroe is a sought after lecturer, educator, leadership and business consultant who travels the world extensively addressing critical issues affecting individuals' social and spiritual development.

Also serving on the board is CEO of Digicel TCI E.J. Saunders.

Board member Beverly Saunders serves as vice president of training and organization development for Atlantis Resort, Paradise Island. Her portfolio includes Atlantis University, customer service training, orientation, technology training, student internships and other talent development initiatives. She is a certified coach, performance consultant, motivational speaker and local and international speaker and workshop facilitator.

The role of the board of directors is to ensure that strategic decisions achieve the organization's objectives in the most efficient way, including scrutinizing investment decisions and the expenditures required to support the organization's efforts. An executive committee headed by MBO President Michelle Malcolm will answer directly to the board of directors. That committee will be supported by several working committees. Other new talent joining the executive committee include businesswoman Loretta Thomas, who will serve as the Miss Universe Bahamas national director; veteran child educator and former Miss Bahamas Lisa Sawyer McCartney, who will serve as Little Miss Sunburst Bahamas director; former Miss Bahamas Michelle Collie, who joins the team as director of the contestants enrichment program; former Director of the Cindy Thompson Miss Teen Bahamas Pageant and current Marketing Manager/Home Consultant at Arawak Homes' Chakita Archer, who will serve as assistant director to Collie, and Vice President Of Public Relations and Marketing Bianca Carter, a businesswoman and social media specialist.

Returning MBO alumni include Events Manager Zhivon Young; legal counsel Genell Sands; accountants Christine Rollins and Latia Duncombe; Contestants Manager Anishka Lockhart; Assistant Contestants Manager Khandise Smith; Fundraising Coordinator Yvonne Gibson-Sands; Media Relations Manager Jerome Sawyer and Pageant Coordinator Leslia Miller.

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