Miss Cayman Islands Georgina Kerford left Wednesday morning for Israel as she prepares to take part in Miss Universe on 12 Dec.
Before boarding the Cayman Airways flight, she told the Cayman Compass she was looking forward to representing the Cayman Islands on an international platform.
“I am so excited,” she said. “I still can’t believe I’m going to Israel right now. And I’m just excited to see how the world is living with COVID, and try something new. This is definitely something that I haven’t done before, so I’m really excited and I’m ready to make Cayman proud.”
Kerford, 18, was crowned Miss Cayman Islands in September.
The beauty queen has a long trip ahead of her, flying first to Miami, and then onto Germany, before getting on a flight to Israel, where the 70th Miss Universe competition will be held in the southern resort city of Eilat.
“The flights will be very long,” Kerford said, “When I arrive, I will be there a day earlier than registration, so that day I’m just going to get rested and adjusted to the time zone, and get mentally and physically prepared to compete at Miss Universe.”
She said she wants to remember her participation in the event for the rest of her life “and to grow as a person through travelling, meeting people and networking, and being on an international stage. I know this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”
She hopes to finish in the top 20, something Miss Cayman Islands Universe director Derri Dacres says competition bloggers are already predicting.
Dacres said Keford has been preparing “extensively” for the pageant over the past couple of months, “so we have no doubt she is prepared for the international stage”.
She added, “She’s leaving today, which is a huge milestone for us, … because, with COVID raging in the community, nerves were on edge…. We had nail-biting days, where we were, ‘Oh, my God, we have to keep her safe from COVID.’”
Dacres, in some words of advice to Kerford, said she always tells contestants, “The sky is the limit. Never give up until you hold the universe in the palm of your hand.”
She added, “Georgina is fierce, she’s confident. I believe she has everything. She encompasses all the qualities we’re looking for in a Miss Cayman Islands.”
She said she had received very positive feedback from Miss Universe pageant coach Lou Sierra about Kerford, and that several pageant blogs have placed Miss Cayman in their top 20.
The pageant will be broadcast on Fox on Sunday, 12 Dec.
Those who wish to support Miss Cayman Islands in the competition can do so by visiting her profile on the Miss Universe website or downloading the Miss Universe app and voting for her.
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