Miss Cayman pageant postponed to 2015

The Miss Cayman pageant, last held in 2011 and previously announced as resuming this year, has been postponed until 2015, according to pageant officials. 

Nicole Broderick, deputy chairperson of the Miss Cayman committee, said, “The pageant has been postponed for the past two years due to budget constraints with the Ministry of Tourism. … It gives us the opportunity to put it back on track.” 

She said the ministry is contacting the Miss Universe franchise to confirm Cayman’s participation in that pageant because it has been two years since Cayman sent a contestant. 

As a result, Ms. Broderick said, the committee is projecting that the Cayman pageant will be held in January 2015, a few months later than what was originally planned.  

“It should give the committee and the girls time to prepare for next year’s Miss Universe,” said Derri Dacres-Lee, chairperson of the Miss Cayman committee. 

Ms. Broderick said Brazil was the host country chosen for this year’s Miss Universe, “but at the last minute Brazil pulled out, so the Miss Universe are in a bit of quandary in terms of where the contest will be.”  

Contestants on tour 

Meanwhile, the committee has selected 10 young women to compete in the Miss Cayman pageant: Anika Conolly, Tonie Chisholm, Jenique Smith, Stephanie Scott, Latrese Haylock, Mahalia Seymour, Schilo Scott, Kamala Murugesu, Emily Bodden and Adrianna Christian. 

An interview and orientation session was held at the Westin resort on Saturday, the first official registration and screening of applicants. The event also served as an opportunity for the young women to learn the basics of skin and hair care, makeup application, speech etiquette and health and fitness. 

Vendors at the orientation acting as Miss Cayman partners have agreed to assist and support the young women. 

“What the Miss Cayman pageants has been for many years is an incredible opportunity for young women in the community to grow, learn and present themselves,” said Ms. Broderick. “It is not just about being beautiful on the outside, but becoming active participants in the community.” The committee aims to have all of the contestants to become aware of the committee’s chosen organization, the Cayman Islands Cancer Society. 

“As part of the overall program, we are looking to help develop great ambassadors for the country and the major part of that is competing on an international level and representing the Cayman Islands but also locally as well,” Ms. Broderick said. “This year is particularly interesting for the Miss Cayman committee because it gives us the opportunity to kick-start the contest all over again,” she said.