On the night of Saturday, 24 Sept., at the Harquail Theatre, Leanni Tibbetts was crowned Miss World Cayman Islands 2022.
Melissa Bridgemohan was announced as first runner-up, and Latoya Jackson was second runner-up.
Miss World Cayman Islands 2021 Rashana Hydes passed the mantle on stage to Tibbetts, who then walked out to greet her cheering audience, wearing her crown and sash.
There were other awards given throughout the night. Jackson also picked up trophies for Best in Gown, Best in Swimwear and tied with Deverlee Ramos Bodden for Miss Congeniality.
Angelique Copeland won Miss Multimedia, and Tibbetts was awarded Best Island Couture, Best in Interview, Miss Photogenic, and Best in Sports, in addition to the grand prize.
With the title, Tibbetts won a $70,000 four-year scholarship and a variety of gift certificates from local companies.
Pageant staged despite delays
They say ‘the show must go on’, but organisers of the Miss World Cayman Islands pageant must have almost wondered if they were going to be able to fulfill that promise last month.
The event, originally scheduled for 27 Aug., was postponed to 17 Sept., and then moved back another week, in order to respect the mourning period for the death of Queen Elizabeth II.
The approach of Tropical Storm Ian threatened the possibility of another postponement, but with a westward change in the storm’s track and the fact that it wouldn’t be moving near Grand Cayman until the early hours of Monday morning, the decision was made to move forward with the pageant.
Director of Miss World Cayman Islands Pamela Ebanks-Small said that even though they had had to move the dates to accommodate unexpected situations, it all came out very well in the end and she was glad they had been able to finally hold it on 24 Sept.
She also said that Tibbetts probably wasn’t going to have much time to savour her win. The new Miss World Cayman Islands is a pilot, as well as a member of the Coast Guard and the Cayman Islands Cadet Corps, which likely meant she would be up early to assist with preparations for the approaching storm.
“We are very proud of her,” Ebanks-Small said.
Tibbetts will be representing the Cayman Islands at the international Miss World pageant, when the reigning Miss World Karolina Bielawska of Poland will crown her successor.
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