Last chance to enter Miss Bermuda pageant

WEDNESDAY, APR. 18: The cash prize for this year’s Miss Bermuda Pageant has doubled from last year with the winner looking to walk away with  $3,000 as well as an iPad, a new wardrobe and more.

Local girls who think they have the potential to become the next Miss Bermuda, and even the next Miss World, should apply soon as the final recruitment period for the pageant is this Saturday.

The 2012 pageant is scheduled to take place Sunday July 8, when reigning queen, Jana Outerbridge, will crown her successor. The event will be hosted by the cimedy duo  Patrina “Power Girl” Paynter and Nadanja Bailey.

Organizer Milika Seymour, who brought back the pageant last year after a ten-year hiatus, said she hoped that the pageant can again become a permanent fixture on the island’s social calendar.

She said: “It was always my intention to bring back the Miss Bermuda Pageant as an annual event. As long as young women are interested in participating and the community supports Miss Bermuda, I will continue to produce the pageant.

“I believe it is a wonderful outlet for the young women of Bermuda and is life changing for those who use the experience to their benefit.”

There were 15 contestants in last year’s pageant and Seymour said that the response to the first recruitment period this January was good.

She added: “If we have five or 50 contestants, our goals are the same. To have a quality programme for the contestants, to produce an entertaining final and to also have Miss Bermuda represent the island internationally. We want to encourage as many ladies as possible to take advantage of this opportunity.”

Here are some testimonials from last year’s contestants:

Davina Cannonier:

“My most enjoyable experiences were group outings and photo shoots primarily because this is where friendships were truly made and my confidence and poise were refined. These memories along with others of my experience in the pageant will always be cherished. Hence, my advice to other young women is to seize this opportunity because it is an experience you will never forget and will never regret.“

Sharmaine Landy:

“While placing in the Top Five was indeed a wonderful accomplishment it paled in comparison to the new friendships, network connections, and other opportunities that entered my life as a result of my involvement in this pageant.

I encourage any young Bermudian female who believes that she can be positive role model who will make a priceless contribution to our island to register today. 

Deonae Dickinson:

“This pageant wasn’t about validating our beauty, it was about showing young girls that it’s perfectly acceptable to take pride in your appearance, be intelligent, and use all that to be a role model for the generation after you. This was an experience I wouldn’t trade for the world!”

Kyla Burch:

Entering the Pageant personally was a challenge, simply because it’s totally out of my element. However, I don’t regret it at all. I encourage every young Bermudian female to enter. It’s worth it and you’ll love it. From the photo shoots, to the outings, even just practice, the entire experience of The Miss Bermuda Pageant is life changing and memorable. If I can do it, You can do it.”

The 2012 Miss Bermuda sponsors include, The Bermuda Department of Tourism, A.S. Coopers, Blanc Bridal Boutique, Sandstorm Boutique of London, Tekoa Photography, O’Faces Makeup Artistry, Impressions Hair Artistry, Flowers by Gimi, and Dasani Water.

Tickets for the pageant will go on sale May 14th exclusively on www.bdatix.bm

All applications need to be sent to the director of the 2012 Miss Bermuda Pageant director, Milika Seymour, at [email protected] or by calling 704-1469 by April 21.