Leanni Tibbetts, who was crowned Miss World Cayman Islands in September 2022, is finally getting her chance to represent her home as one of more than 100 international pageant winners set to compete in Mumbai, India, in March.
Originally scheduled to take place in December last year, the event was postponed due to the upcoming elections in India.
“The Miss World Organization had to move their pageant a couple of times,” Pamela Ebanks-Small, director of Miss World Cayman Islands, explained. “When they finally decided on India, that country had elections in December, and out of safety concerns, decided to move the date to March 2024,” she said.
The change in dates, however, has turned out to be a blessing in disguise, as it enabled Tibbetts to take more time to work on her ‘Beauty with a Purpose’ initiative for the pageant, for which she is focusing on sustainability and youth empowerment, as well as continue her work within the community.
Tibbetts told the Compass the preparation process has been “very humbling”.
“I have had help locally and internationally, through the committee and community; so many people selflessly helping, not requiring anything in return. My weeks are filled with walking and interview practices, gym sessions and meetings. All while working my full-time job as a pilot for Cayman Airways.”
In addition to fulfilling her joint duties as Miss World Cayman Islands and as a pilot for the national carrier, the 27-year-old is also a volunteer sub-lieutenant with the Cayman Islands Cadet Corps, and a volunteer call-taker at the National Emergency Operations Centre.
As she prepares to proudly wave the Caymanian flag in India, Tibbetts said the “emotions, nerves and excitement seem to have not settled in as yet”.
‘Honour and privilege’
Noting, “it is always an honour and a privilege to represent the Cayman Islands in every conceivable way”, she added, “whether through sports, music, the Cayman Islands Cadet Corps, education, and now, pageantry”.
Before her departure, on 16 Feb., Tibbetts is touring all across Cayman, including visiting schools.
In India, Tibbetts will be competing in the longest-running international beauty contest.
“I am most excited to meet the brilliant young women that are inspiring many and impacting change within their communities through their ‘Beauty with a Purpose’. As someone who is also quite a foodie, I am also ecstatic to experience the rich Indian cuisine! However, above all else, I am looking forward to learning and developing as an individual,” she said.
The pageant will feature key competitions and initiatives that empower women through humanitarian service. Contestants will go through a number of challenges, including head-to-head, sport, top model, talent, multi-media, and beauty with a purpose.
Of Tibbetts’s upcoming trip, Ebanks-Small said, “We’re really excited to see Leanni leave to participate in India. She will travel for three weeks to make it to Mumbai. Leanni has waited for over a year. The last Miss World was held two years ago, so I know everyone is excited for the show.”
She added, “We’re proud and excited for the Cayman people to see Leanni’s traditional dress but reimagined, designed by local designer, Selita Ebanks and gown designed by Renasci of Becky’s Closet.”
Contestants will have their own media channel on the MissWorld.com platform to give them a chance to showcase why they deserve to be among the Top 20 finalists.
Follow Leanni’s Miss World journey on social media @missworldcayman.
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