The Tribune

By RASHAD ROLLE

Tribune Staff Reporter

rrolle@tribunemedia.net

A NEW ‘Miss Cultural Bahamas’ will be crowned at the Rainforest Theatre on Sunday.

Six contestants will vie for the crown - hoping to become the eighth winner in the competition’s history.

Miss Cultural Bahamas is the brainchild of William Reginald Deveaux, who told The Tribune yesterday that after vacationing in Jamaica, he was inspired to establish the pageant in 2006.

“When I went to a function in Jamaica, I found the people to be so patriotic,” he said. “That stunned me and I came back home thinking we have to do something that would get people more into our culture. The pageant is all about appreciating what we have here at home and everything the young ladies deal with is Bahamian related.”

Whereas the annual Miss Bahamas pageant follows the rules of the international Miss Universe competition, Miss Cultural Bahamas is a local event where “everything must be Bahamian,” Mr Deveaux said.

“Evening gowns must be Bahamian and songs and talents must be Bahamian,” he said, adding that the main sponsor of the pageant is the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture.

‘40 Years of Independence’ is the theme for this year’s pageant and the winner will be expected to represent the Bahamas in all things cultural, Mr Deveaux added.

The winner will receive a scholarship to attend either Atlantic College or the Bahamas Agricultural and Industrial Corporation (BAIC) while the first and second runner up will receive a scholarship to attend the Bahamas Technical & Vocational Institute (BTVI).

Six contestants were selected to participate after organisers received applications from 14 women between the ages of 17 and 27.

The talent show segment of the competition took place on Sunday at the Shirlet Street theatre, as our pictures show, and the contestants will be interviewed by judges on Thursday ahead of the October 27 finale when a new queen will be crowned.

The contestants each have a title.

They are: Jennifer Gordon, Miss Goddess of Junkanoo; Tamika Ferguson, Miss Bahamian Straw; Latisha Rolle, Miss Goddess of Bahamian Independence; Nickila Williamson, Miss Bahamian Woman; Mya Morley, Miss Coat of Arms and Elnicka Gibson, Miss Bahamian Regatta.

The legacies of three cultural icons will also be honoured during the pageant:

Dr Ann Peterson Higgins, the late Cedric Neymour and his widow Veronica Neymour are the honourees.

The pageant begins at 8pm.