Grand Bahama Miss East End 2009-2010
By Deborah Pratt
Dec 3, 2009 - 9:27:41 PM
Outgoing queen, Miss Antonio Carey crowning Miss Cindy Lewis, Miss East End 2009-2010
Freeport Grand Bahama - Under the theme “Beauty from the East, A
Journey through the wetlands”, five young beauties representing four
settlements of East Grand Bahama, competed for the title of Miss East-End
2009-2010, in a pageant held at Bishop Michael Eldon School’s auditorium this
past Saturday, November 28, 2009.
Minister Russell presenting trophy to new queen. From L-R Antonia Carey, Cindy Lewis and Mr.Russell
The five beauties vying for the title were:
Miss
Aquatic- Tellishia Woods, a 19 year old Associate Degree Student studying Business
Administration at BTVI who represented Mather Town
Miss
Evergreen- Sharanda Roberts, a 19 year old student
at the College of the Bahamas, pursuing studies to
become a registered nurse, representing High Rock
Miss
Green Turtle- Kayla Bevans, a 17 year old twelfth
grader at St.Georges High School representing the settlement of Mclean's Town
Miss
Queen Conch - Althea Pinder, a 16year old final
year student at Jack Hayward High School who also represented McLean's Town
Miss
Sand Dollar-Cindy Lewis, a 22 year old 4th
grade teacher at Freeport
Gospel Chapel
School who represented
Water Cay.
Hon Kenneth Russell & Beauties from the East. From L-R Kayla Bevans, Sharanda Roberts, Tellishia Woods, Cindy Lewis (Miss East End 2009-2010), Minister Russell, Miss Antonia Carey (Miss East End 2008-2009) and Miss Althea Pinder
The young ladies were judged in seven
categories: A private interview which took place two weeks before the pageant,
a swimsuit and costume competition which was held one week prior to the
pageant, and on the night of the competition they were judged on their talent,
Evening Gown, and a Question and answer segment. Each contestant was also
required to set up a display board in the auditorium for the night of the
pageant, depicting more about their life and accomplishments. This was also
judged.
At the end of the evening, after all the
scores were tallied, the winner of Miss East-End 2009-2010 was Miss Sand
Dollar, Cindy Lewis who represented the small settlement of Water Cay. The
first and second runners up were Miss Althea Pinder of McLeans
Town and Miss Tellishia Woods of Mather Town,
respectively.
The evening was filled with excitement with
dance performances by the contestants, modeling of their swim suits, costumes
and elegant evening gowns, talents that ranged from monologues to singing to
dancing and entertainment from “Ligit All Stars Dancers” and the melodious
voice of Mr. Richard Rolle.
The outgoing queen, Miss East End 2008-2009,
Miss Antonia Carey, was also a highlight of the evening making several wardrobe
changes on her final night as queen before graciously taking her final
walk.
“It was quite an exciting reign as the
third Miss East End Grand Bahama and it has also
been a pleasure representing the East End
community at the various functons in whichI attended,” she said. “This
was indeed an enjoyable experience in which I am sadden has come to an
end. I must thank the entire East End community for their love and
support, my coordinator Ms. Denise Robinson, for her timely encouraging words and support, my extended and immediate family, a special thanks to my sponsors, who
are my number one supporters none other than my parents, Reverend Fredrick and
Mrs. Carey, I love you both, and to the Heavenly Father who has guided and
protected me throughout my reign.”
Miss Althea Pinder in her costume "Bahamian Bride". Winner of the costume competition
During the pageant the Honorable Kenneth
Russell, Minister of Housing and member of parliament for High Rock and Mr.
Bradley Ambrister, Administrator for local Government, East
End, were both presented with a framed photo of Ms. Carey to
display in their offices.
The first Miss East End Grand Bahama was
said to be held in 1974 when Miss Mavis Hall (now Mrs. Mavis Hall-Grant) was
crowned queen. The second was held in 1976 with former senator Pleasant
Bridgewater being crowned Miss East-End. After a hiatus of 32 years, Ms. Denise
Robinson, a teacher at McLeans
Town primary school
reintroduced the pageant last year when Antonia Carey was crowned as the third
Miss East-End.
Ms. Robinson is grateful to the young
ladies their parents and sponsors for allowing them to participate and
assisting them with preparing for the pageant. She also expressed gratitude to
the community of East-End for their support , Mr. Glen Davis, co-ordinator of
the Miss Grand Bahama Pageant for his assistance, Miss Willamae Deveaux, Mrs.
Remelda Thomas, the Bahamas Dance Theatre, Mr. Walter Smith and all others who
assisted in making this year’s pageant a success.
In a private interview with the new queen
Miss Cindy Lewis after the pageant she said,
“I
was elated to have had the opportunity to represent my home settlement- North
Water Cay. North Water Cay is somewhat unheard of but it is the most tranquil
settlement with miles of majestic shores in East End Grand
Bahama. Although our settlement is small the people who have migrated from
there and are still there are some of the most talented Bahamians you will ever
meet. I am looking forward to having the
opportunity to make a positive impact in the East End
communities and also the opportunity to show and educate other Bahamians about
what North Water Cay has to offer.”
Miss Lewis expressed gratitude to Ms.
Robinson, the co-ordinator of the pageant for affording the young ladies from East-End
such an opportunity. She said that she was also grateful for the experience;
all that she learnt and the people, namely the other contestants that she met.
“Through this experience I was able to develop my public
speaking skills, exercise my communication abilities and even learn how
to dance. If I was given the opportunity to trade in my experience I would say
no without a doubt. I know that this experience would be very beneficial to
many young ladies in the East End community
because it can help to develop self-esteem, self -worth, confidence and poise.