The Tribune

GRAND Bahama is the home of the nation’s beauty queens this year. For the first time in the history of the Miss Bahamas contest, Grand Bahama women claimed both the Miss Universe and Miss World crowns.

Tomii Culmer won the Miss Bahamas Universe title and Rosetta Cartwright took the Miss World Bahamas crown at the Atlantis, Paradise Island, resort on Saturday night.

Miss Culmer, 23, noted that she was looking forward to sharing her Miss Universe Bahamas win with the girls of the Brownies troupe that she mentors.

“I promised them that I would bring home the crown, and I am ecstatic that I am able to do just that,” she said.

“It is so important for little girls to love themselves. When I was younger, I didn’t like what I saw in the mirror. But, thanks to a number of supportive people in my life, I grew to love myself, and I want to be that person who can help build young girls’ confidence, and teach them to love every single aspect about themselves.”

Miss Culmer’s confidence set her apart from the five other contestants, Nicole Murphy, a judge, said.

The model, entrepreneur and television star, said: “The way she spoke, her presence, what she spoke about, the way she answered her questions – her gown was absolutely stunning. She just took over the stage.”

Miss Culmer will compete for the Miss Universe title, which is scheduled provisionally for Brazil later this year.

Miss Bahamas Organisation president, Michelle Malcolm, said she was pleased with the results.

“It was an extremely tight competition this year, but we are confident that Rosetta and Tomii will represent not only the Miss Bahamas Organisation well, but also the Bahamas and, of course, the Grand Bahama community.”

Before a crowd of pageant enthusiasts, family and friends, in the Grand Ballroom 19-year-old Miss Cartwright was “speechless and still in shock” when she was announced as having beaten six other competitors to win the Miss Bahamas World title. She will compete in London in December for the Miss World title.

• Full report and photographs from the pageant in tomorrow’s Arts and Entertainments section.