The Tribune

By BIANCA CARTER

Have you ever failed in life, and if so, what did you learn from it? This was the basis of the final question at Sunday night’s Miss Universe Pageant in Manila.

With grace and poise, over 80 women from around the world competed for the title of Miss Universe, including our very own queen, Miss Universe Bahamas 2016 Cherell Williamson.

Being a part of the Miss Universe Bahamas committee, I had the unique opportunity to join an education programme centered around the concept of “Living Beautifully”.

It has always been a dream of mine to participate in a programme that mentors young people, and I was honoured to be a part of a hand-picked team under the guide of another amazing and beautiful Miss Universe Bahamas, Michelle Collie.

Over the last few months, and leading up to the Miss Universe Bahamas pageant late last year, I had the pleasure of meeting some of the most beautiful, energetic, fun loving, happy, graceful and nice young ladies. Cherell was one of those women.

She was tall, beautiful and had this coyness about her. She walked with elegance and it was hard to miss her given her height. She walked with confidence, but she wasn’t pushy or arrogant. As the pageant process continued, all of the girls worked hard to learn and improve themselves in preparation for pageant night and their desires to win the crown.

Cherell, dressed in blue, dazzled with her calm and collected nature. She was beautiful, poised and confident. She was crowned Miss Universe Bahamas 2016. One of the judges at Miss Universe in Manila noted that the real pageant process happens on the night, which is where you see the true winner start to emerge and rise to the top. It takes a special person to walk away with the crown and Cherell was one of those girls that had what it took to win.

Although Cherell didn’t make the finals cut at Miss Universe, and Miss France was crowned the winner, I can say that Cherell’s journey to the pageant was an experience of a lifetime. And she was stunning thanks to wardrobe by Bahamian fashion designer Theodore Elyett.

I’ve truly enjoyed watching Cherell learn and grow along the way. Her support system is incredible, and the love that our Bahamians have for her is heartwarming. At the end of the day, Cherell is our queen and she has made many of us very proud.

I look forward to watching Cherell as she imparts her experience of this year on others and in all her future endeavours Miss Universe Bahamas. She takes with her an experience that most never get, and I have no doubt that she will thrive in whatever she does. She may have failed in bringing home the crown, but she’s gained by following her dreams, working hard to achieve them, and by just by being a part of it all. Cherell will do incredible things; let’s continue to support her and all our young people as they strive to make ripples in this world.

Love & hugs!

• Bianca Carter is a certified lactation counsellor (CLC) and founder of Bun in the Oven.

For more information, e-mail her at info@babybunintheoven.com. Follow BITO on Facebook at babybunintheoven, and check out the BITO Blog every Monday and Thursday at http://babybunintheoven.com.