Officials of the new Miss Bahamas Organization announced on Wednesday that they have acquired the exclusive rights to select a young woman to represent The Bahamas in the Miss World pageant.
Michelle Malcom, the organization’s president, said the news came as a pleasant surprise just one week following the organization’s formation.
“The Miss World Organization Ltd. has chosen MBO to become the exclusive licensee allowed to conduct a contest to select a representative who will represent The Bahamas in the Miss World contest. Apparently they have been searching for a suitable representative in The Bahamas for some time,” Ms. Malcolm said.
Prior to MBO’s acquisition of the Miss World franchise, a Grand Bahama-based group held the pageant. However, the group has not had a pageant in several years.
The Miss World contest has become one of the world’s biggest pageant events. With more than 140 licensees around the world, the pageant attracts more than 100 contestants each year.
With the Miss World competition just months away, Ms. Malcolm said that the organization will be working quickly to select a beauty queen to represent the country.
In this regard a pageant will not be held this year to select a young woman to represent The Bahamas in the Miss World pageant.
Rather, the organization has arranged a private screening for September 17 for the selection of this year’s queen.
Applications can be collected from Michelle la Nuit on Shirley Street.
The Miss World pageant will be held in Sanya, China in December and over 120 contestants are expected to participate.
The Miss Bahamas Organization currently holds the franchises for the following international pageants: Miss Earth, Miss Asia Pacific International, Miss Intercontinental, Miss World Coffee Queen, Miss Mesoamerica International, Top Model of the World and Miss World.
Ms. Malcolm said the organization will also be acquiring two additional pageant franchises next year.
MBO is also seeking to acquire the Miss Universe Pageant franchise when the contract with its present holders expires this year.
The organization feels that it has a good chance of acquiring the Miss Universe franchise because the organizers of the Miss World pageant had contacted the group to take over the Miss World franchise.
The organization is looking for women between the ages of 17 and 24 to compete in a private screening for the opportunity to represent The Bahamas in this year’s Miss World pageant.
Entrants should be beautiful in form and face, graceful, intelligent and charming while possessing poise, a pleasing character and high moral convictions, Ms. Malcolm said.
Candidates must also be single with no children. The minimum height requirement is 5’5″ and the maximum height is 6’2″. Weight must be proportionate to height. Candidates must also be of Bahamian ancestry, citizens of The Bahamas and hold a Bahamian passport.
Applicants are being asked to submit a headshot and a full body shot with the application no later than September 10.
By: Bianca Symonette, The Bahama Journal
