The Tribune

By ALESHA CADET

Tribune Features Reporter

acadet@tribunemedia.net

From a young girl who enjoyed climbing trees on the islands to becoming the newest Miss World Bahamas, Geena Thompson has truly undergone a metamorphosis - which was also the theme of this year's pageant.

With style and grace, the 24-year-old Miss Long Island captured the crown during the finale held at the Baha Mar Convention Centre. In a sit-down with Tribune Woman last week, Geena described the experience of winning as "dreamlike".

"I felt it most when Sharonique Russell, the Miss Abaco contestant, grabbed me and I was like, 'This is it'. I have said in the past that I wanted to be the queen, but actually being successful in that goal is beautiful," she said.

Geena exemplifies the adage of "if at first you don't succeed, try again", with this being her second go at the crown. In 2016, she made it to the top five in the 2016 Miss World Bahamas Pageant.

"The pageant experience is designed to develop a young lady no matter if she wins or not; it's a great experience. People know me as a very 'island-y' girl. I like to climb trees and I am usually in flats, so to be in heels now all the time is a new thing for me, but so very exciting. I experienced the idea of what a lady looks and acts like, but I don't believe there is just one definition of what a beauty queen is. I believe it changes with whoever is wearing the crown at the time, so you have to take your own personal attributes and make it your own," she said.

When making the decision to enter the pageant for a second time, Geena said she was given the advice to always be kind to herself and to also learn to forgive herself.

"For me this year it was more about believing in myself and not looking at other people's strengths. There were eight other contestants who were just as deserving and beautiful as I am, so my whole mindset was to show off Geena. I enjoyed the swimsuit part of the competition because it allowed me to be confident. I got to speak from the inside," she said.

"You are only wearing a bikini so you have to definitely show off your personality and be able to talk and speak to people through your body language, and that was important for me. I fell in love with Geena, so I wanted everyone else to fall in love with her."

With a platform focusing on putting an end to homelessness and hunger in the Bahamas, Geena hopes to continue her efforts in this regard during the remainder of the year. She is already off to a good start, having been named the official ambassador for the Hands For Hunger non-profit organisation for the month of August.

"They are definitely a local team that has pushed the mission of ridding the Bahamas of hunger. This advocacy started out mainly with my grandfather because he literally took two homeless persons in and they became a part of our family, and just going through life with them and being able to help them in certain ways where others would not, that gave me an appreciation for what I have and to also serve and give to others," she said.

Additionally, Geena said she would also like to speak to the youth of the nation about not giving up on their dreams.

"I believe that we all have desires and God has placed us here with talents and gifts to execute those desires. My third goal is to definitely become Miss World, so that is what is next for me. Going into training and trying to accomplish that," she said.

Geena now has a hectic schedule to fulfil.

"I am going into full training with Club One Fitness and then I go into training with a coach. I am also travelling to Chicago to fit a wardrobe for Miss World and so much more," she said.

The Miss World Pageant is scheduled to take place in Sanya, China, on Saturday, November 18. Readers are asked to follow the Miss Bahamas Organisation social media pages for updates.