Three pageants held over one night led to three young women walking away with crowns at the Arts and Recreation Centre in Camana Bay on Saturday.
All together, 13 contestants shared the stage as they vied for one of three titles: four competing for Miss Teen World Cayman, and nine contesting Miss Supranational Cayman Islands and Miss World Cayman Islands.
Shiiannte Sterling, 16, was declared the first Miss Teen World Cayman; Tracey Campbell, 19, was crowned Miss Supranational Cayman Islands, and Latecia Bush, 22, was named Miss World Cayman Islands.
Campbell, from Bodden Town, succeeds the first Miss Supranational representative from last year, Melissa Bridgemohan. Bush, who was crowned by Miss World 2022-2024 Leanni Tibbetts, also won a $70,000 four-year educational scholarship and a variety of gift certificates from local companies.
For Campbell, the third time was definitely the charm, as she had competed in the last two pageants. She thanked her “village” of family, sponsors and supporters for encouraging her on her journey.
“The hard work has definitely paid off and I’m so honoured, and I hope to represent with purpose and pride,” Campbell told the Cayman Compass after her win.
The journey to the crown “took a lot of self-belief,” Campbell said, adding, “I never gave up on myself, being resilient…my tenacity definitely showed and I’m just really excited that I was able to achieve the goal I set out to accomplish.”
She added she wants to inspire people to focus on their health and wellness, “because holistic health really plays such a big role in the future and success for those who prioritise it, so I’m really hoping to inspire everyone to follow their dreams because I did and I’m here!”
For the new Miss World Cayman Islands, Bush, from George Town, told the Compass, “I feel so blessed for their opportunity. I’m really looking forward to making my mark this year.”
Advocacy
The public speaker and aspiring lawyer added, “It was a strenuous journey getting to this moment, but I’m so happy that I stuck to it, and I knew that through hard work and determination, it would pay off and it really did.
“I plan on continuing my [advocacy] for implementing a safe transitional house for the youth, and I really want to see how far that goes. We’re in the proposal stage of it but hopefully we will get up and on the ground in two years.
Bush, who is no stranger to pageantry, now has four titles under her belt, having previously won 2017 Miss Agriculture, 2018 Miss Teen Cayman Islands and in her first international competition was crowned the 2020 Our Little Miss World’s Universal Beauty queen.
With her share of dealing with criticism and body transformations over the years, as one of the curvy girls in the competition, she said, “Beauty runs deeper than your physical attributes as long as you are able to spread love and accept it, you are truly beautiful in your own way.”
Cayman’s first Miss Teen World Cayman, Sterling, from Bodden Town, told the Compass, after being crowned, “I’m feeling very excited, my hard work has paid off and I’m ready to make a change.”
She added, “I plan to continue being a role model, inspire my peers, to continue working on my organisation ‘Ignite Your Purpose,’ and connect our youth to driving meaningful change in our community.”
The St. Ignatius Catholic School student, who aspires to become a criminal lawyer, will now prepare for the Miss Teen Mundial competition in Mexico next summer.
Special Awards
Teen World
Miss Multimedia – Azaria Wright
Miss Photogenic – Amy Barrett
Miss Best in Top Model – Shiiannte Sterling
Miss Congeniality – Sheridan Seymour
Miss Best in Sports – Shiiannte Sterling and Azaria Wright
Miss Best in Interview – Shiiannte Sterling
Miss Beauty with a Purpose – Shiiannte Sterling
Miss Best in Gown – Shiiannte SterlingWorld and Supranational
Miss Multimedia – Jada Ramoon
Miss Photogenic – Nahomi “Linda” Duarte
Miss Best in Top Model – Tracey Campbell
Miss Congeniality – Steff McDermot
Miss Best in Sports – Steff McDermot
Miss Beauty with a Purpose – Hailey Myles
Miss Best Interview – Hailey Myles
Miss Best in Gown – Tracey Campbell
The grand finale featured several segments including Top Model, Swimwear, and Evening Gown, and an onstage question, themed around ‘Beauty with a Purpose’, which embodies the international organisation’s mission of fusing glamour and meaningful impact.
The pageant also introduced a ‘head-to-head’ challenge segment, which is included in the Miss World competition and was moderated by visiting judge, Miss Universe 1992 Michelle McLean.
In that segment, each top five finalist of Miss World/Supranational was given the chance to articulate their ‘beauty with a purpose’ platform and show the judges how they plan to enact meaningful change to issues affecting their community, society and world.
Franchise owner and director Pamela Ebanks-Small told the Compass that the three international pageants now under the organisation’s umbrella represented a break from tradition when only one queen would be crowned.
“It was easier and more affordable to hold these pageants on one night. We had to be more creative. We took a chance, we took a risk, and it seemed to have worked out for us.”
Thanking the Ministry of Tourism for their support, she added, “It was important to show that we have strong Caymanian women that are stepping into their power and wanting something that is going to make them ambassadors for the Cayman Islands and something that is going to help to develop them and that’s what pageantry is all about.”
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