A week after returning home from competing at the 71st edition of the Miss World pageant in Delhi, India, Leanni Tibbetts is reflecting on her journey to the world stage and what’s to come as she carries out the remainder of her reign.
Miss World Cayman Islands 2022-2024 was greeted with flowers, hugs, tears, cheers and applause from family members, friends, government officials and other well-wishers who greeted her at Owen Roberts International Airport on 14 March. An emotional Tibbetts told the Compass seeing everyone was “overwhelming”.
“God’s grace is what I felt because when you know you’re just so blessed, and you’re not deserving of it… I was very overwhelmed with gratitude as a result.”
The 27-year-old pilot and volunteer sub-lieutenant, who was crowned in 2022, got her chance to step on the world stage after waiting several months due to India’s elections and out of safety concerns.
Tibbetts joined more than 100 contestants to compete in the pageant held on 9 March. She was being watched across Cayman and the world as she graced the stage of the oldest international beauty pageant.
Over three weeks, contestants took part in various segments and challenges such as sports, head-to-head challenge, multimedia, top model, judges’ interview, and ‘Beauty with a Purpose’.
Krystyna Pyszkova from the Czech Republic was ultimately crowned the 2024 winner.
Although Tibbetts did not win, she said her Miss World experience was “very empowering”.
She added, “There were ups and downs and my faith was tested, but overall, I was able to learn so much from the remarkable women, and trust that, at all times, God was in control.”
Pamela Ebanks-Small, director of Miss World Cayman Islands, was able to attend the pageant through government sponsorship, and told the Compass Tibbetts did an amazing job.
“She represented Cayman very well and I am extremely proud of her,” she said. “All the girls loved her. She was a friendly face. I was happy to be there and support her, the pageant and the wider Miss World Organization.
“I look forward to amazing things from Miss World, and especially Leanni. She is a special girl who really incorporates that beauty with a purpose into her life, it’s a natural thing and I know that she’s going to do amazing things in the future.”
A game of endurance
Tibbetts described the Miss World pageant journey as “a game of endurance,” as a contestant has to fulfil many roles. “She has to be a professional, speaker, leader, presenter, servant, model, makeup artist, hairstylist, and so much more,” she said.
She says she is most proud of “not losing sight of who I am and whose I am.
“Every day of my journey, I journaled and gave thanks to my creator. My purpose was to ensure that God was known. Whether that be through me or someone else, I understood that none of this was about me, but about Him.”
‘This journey was bigger than me’
Tibbetts documented her journey throughout the pageant daily on social media, giving followers and supporters an intimate look into moments of her time in India.
This included rallying her pageant sisters together to encourage ‘End the violence, sending love from Miss World’ following the West Bay stadium shooting in February, as well as getting sick and losing her voice in the first week.
“I had the flu twice and got sick from the food multiple times,” she said. “All of these moments allowed me to strengthen my faith as I searched for the lesson in the trials I faced.”
She added, “Above all else, in the final week, I learnt that prayers do work! I got the flu and pulled my hip three days before the final night. I sent a message to everyone I knew and asked them to pray for me. The following day my hip was fine, and the fever broke. I had taken no medication, only drank some electrolytes; yet I was healed.”
Bringing Cayman to the rest of the world
Tibbetts said embarking on this journey was something “I knew was so much bigger than myself”.
“I represented not just my country, but also my God,” she said. “Through Him, I was able to share the CaymanKind spirit, to the point that many of the girls are looking forward to coming and visiting. I was able to promote our culture, cuisine, people and so much more.”
“My favourite outfit would have to be my national costume. I was able to showcase my national pride. Walking on an international stage bearing the coat of arms, which is a homage to the men and women who built this beloved country on the foundation of faith, community, and hard work.”
With the competition now behind her, Tibbetts said she’s returned from the world stage with her “head held high as I am on fire with purpose”.
“I will be establishing my own non-profit and have some other exciting endeavours planned,” she said.
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