Following claims of cyber-bullying and alleged threats against members of the Miss Cayman Islands Universe committee, police have confirmed they are reviewing a complaint from the members “to determine whether it meets the threshold for criminal investigation”.
The RCIPS, in response to queries from the Cayman Compass, did not go into further details about the complaint that was lodged, only saying it was “currently” reviewing it.
This news comes as three committee members, Cassandra Powell, Lynn Bodden and Dawn Mclean-Brady, recently resigned in the wake of mounting pressure after the crowning of Tiffany Conolly as Miss Cayman Islands Universe 2022 in August.
After the pageant winner was crowned, there followed an outcry on social media amid revelations Conolly was facing trial on assault charges.
She has pleaded not-guilty and the case is expected to be heard later this month in that case.
Conolly, 24, of West Bay, faces two counts of common assault, two counts of damage to property, two counts of disorderly conduct and one count of assaulting a police officer.
Those charges stemmed from an incident which occurred nine months before she was crowned the 2022 Miss Cayman Islands Universe.
In their respective resignation letters, several reasons were cited for the decisions to step back from the committee. Two of them referred specifically to the challenge of facing consistent attacks on social media.
One of the committee members, in a letter seen by the Compass, explained her decision to withdraw from the committee after serving for a number of years. She said, although she believed in the committee’s objective to empower the women of the Cayman Islands, she could no longer continue to serve.
She referred to personal “bullying and retribution” and wrote “I no longer feel it aligns with the stage I am at in my life”.
When reached for comment, the committee declined to add anything further, instead directed the Compass to its most recent statement, which said that is awaiting the outcome of the pending court case regarding the reigning Miss Cayman Islands Universe.
It also indicated, in that statement, that Conolly will not make any appearances or interviews until further notice.
The Tourism Ministry was also approached for comment. None has been received.
Editor’s note: Compass Media was a sponsor of the Miss Cayman Islands Universe pageant and of one of the contestants.
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