The Tribune

By ALESHA CADET

Tribune Features Reporter

acadet@tribunemedia.net

IN ONE of the most highly anticipated preliminary events of the Miss Bahamas pageant, six lucky contestants celebrated that they placed in the Top 3 of the swimsuit category for the Miss World and Miss Universe Bahamas pageants respectively last Sunday.

The top three contestants in the Miss World Bahamas Swimsuit Competition were Chantal O’Brien, Rosetta Cartwright and Rontre Rolle.

The top three contestants in the Miss Universe Bahamas Swimsuit Competition were Tomacina “Tomii” Culmer, Rokara Hepburn and Gabrielle Wong. The winners of both competitions will be announced during the August 3 Miss Bahamas pageant finales at the Atlantis Resort.

The contestants sat with Tribune Entertainment to share their thoughts on their Top 3 swimsuit placement, exercising schedules, diet tips as well as hopes going forward.
Ocean Cay contestant Gabrielle Wong said it felt awesome to hear her name called, because this is a stage in the pageant that plays a really big part in the overall scores.

Calling it “a big deal”, Gabrielle said Miss Universe focuses a lot on a person’s body and physique.

“I had hopes of placing because I have been working on my body for a long time, exercising and eating right. We are on this diet called the alkaline diet where I eat strictly vegetables and fruits to get my body ripped. I also drink a lot of green tea,” she said.

Gabrielle said she is excited and confident about what is still to come in the Miss Universe Bahamas pageant. The finale is fast approaching and Gabrielle said she is not holding anything back; she is ready.

“If I were to conquer the crown I would do as much networking as possible so that one day I would be able to open a performing arts school in Grand Bahama; just to help expand the doorway for performing arts in the Bahamas. I also want to start a beauty school,” said Gabrielle.

Chantal O’Brien, Miss World Ocean Cay, is a repeat performer on the Miss Bahamas stage. Last year, she participated as a contestant in the Miss Universe Bahamas pageant.

“I did work hard to be placed, because last year when I participated I didn’t advance in the swimsuit category, and so I said to myself if I were to come back I should come back with a bang,” she said.

Chantal said she was worried she had failed this time around as well, because her name was the last to be called for the Top 3.

“All of the preliminary events, they all add up at the end of the day and you have to bring your A game. If you don’t, you are going to fall short. The goal is to capture the crown, so if you don’t do your best and try to win at these events, then why are you here?
“I know now to be more relaxed and not to let things frustrate me easily, because last year I’d say was like a (trial run) where you come in, see how it is and learn from it. I placed first runner-up in Miss Universe Bahamas last year and that motivated me to know that I did something right, but at the end of the day I know that I can do better this time around,” she said.

Like the Ocean Cay contestants, both Grand Bahama contestants also placed in Top 3 – Rosetta Cartwright for Miss World and Tomii Culmer For Miss Universe.

Rosetta said she is happy for every girl that advanced on Sunday.

“We had two events prior to this, but this was like ‘game on’, so I am ready and excited. Going further, I want to give it my best, a thousand per cent and nothing less than that. I only can do my best, so that is what I have to do, push myself, encourage my teammates and stay positive,” said Rosetta.

Tomii, who won the Top Model part of the competition and earned a placement in the Top 3 for the National Costume segment, is basking in her achievements.

The contestant said she came into the competition with very few expectations, however, she is grateful to have come this far.

“Being in this pageant (Miss Bahamas 2011) before and dropping out after the unveiling, I learned so much more. This is not something you take lightly; you have to prepare yourself and be serious about it, because it comes with a lot of responsibility,” said Tomii.

She said placing in the Top 3 was not as important to her as to other contestants because she feels as if she has already won based on her experiences in the Miss Bahamas 2014 pageant so far.

“I have already changed into an inspirational woman. I have already been groomed and I have gained. This now is just fun for me and it is icing on the cake,” said Tomii.

For the past two months, Tomii said people would be surprised to learn that she stayed out of the gym as she prepared for the pageant, but she still keeps up with her squats, jump ropes and lunges.

Rokara Hepburn, Miss Universe New Providence, said she is loving how her hard work is paying off. She is in the gym four days a week. She exercises by way of running every morning and continues to eat healthy.

“I really never missed a day in the gym, so I expected this and it is something that I wanted. The first thing I do while I’m there is stretch, hit the stair climber for 15 minutes and then some squats and weights,” said Rokara.

Meanwhile Rontre Rolle, Miss World Paradise Island, said she is happy that she got to prove the naysayers wrong. She said her body is not what people would call small, but she is confident.
“Hopefully I come out on top and win the category overall, that would just seal the deal. For three days a week I am at Better Bodies Gym, Shirley Street, for two hours. I also play beach volleyball, so that has been helping. My plan is to just keep doing my best as I continue to promote the words, ‘Be who you are’,” she said.

• See page 8, Made You Look, for the Miss Bahamas World and Miss Bahamas Universe cultural costumes.