She’s been modelling since the wee age of 10 and now she’s taking her talents to the international scene. Twenty year-old Sherice Major was crowned Miss Hawaiian Tropic at the Graycliff restaurant last month and now she’s on her way to Antigua for a chance at the coveted Miss Hawaiian Tropic International crown.
“I’m very excited about having this opportunity to participate in this competition. My mom is especially happy because she really pushes me a lot – So she’s really supportive,” said Major.
Major was a contestant in Little Miss Bahamas in 1997 and later entered and won the Miss Aquinas pageant in 2001. She then turned to Pia Glover of PTG Modelling Agency for training. She subsequently started to model with Oilin Coakley. The vivacious Major also freelances as a model at fashions for Diva’s Inc. Clothing and other retailers.
She said that she found out about the Miss Hawaiian Tropic competition one day while surfing the web. “I was surfing the Internet when I saw that the organisation was coming to The Bahamas. I then saw a flyer by Fifth Avenue Models with information about the competition. I entered and won.’
Fifth Avenue Models is operated by Kevin Strakan, The Bahamas’ leading model, talent and casting coordinator, with decades of experience on the local and international fashion/style scene.
Miss Major, along with other winners from various countries, will be travelling to Antigua in April for a semi-final competition and the winner will subsequently travel to Las Vegas for the final competition. “We won the trip to Antigua as a part of the prizes. The final competition will be staged in Las Vegas and I’m hoping to do well enough to go there.’
Even though she’s presently doing something that she loves, Major said that she also sees the value in pursuing education. “I am presently studying journalism and communications at The College of the Bahamas. I know, realistically, because of my height, that there will be a lot of doors closed in my face. But that won’t stop me from pursuing my dream. At the same time, I still want to pursue my education.”
To others who aspire to be models, Major said that it’s important to stay positive. “I know that a lot of young women aspire to be famous models, so my advice to them is not to limit yourselves by harping on your limitations. It’s all about personality and how you market yourself.”
She says that she knows that young people are getting a lot of negative publicity nowadays, but she’d like people to know that there are many young people like herself who are trying to stay on the right path. “Today, everyone has a pessimistic view of young people, but there are a lot of us who are doing positive things in this society.” She describes herself as ‘outgoing’ and ‘crazy’ but says that she’s very reserved when it comes to competitions. “I just like to carry myself well and do things properly.”
Major, who does not have a sponsor at the present time, says that she’s keeping positive and hopes to be successful in Antigua. In the meantime, as she gets ready for the competition, she continues to pursue her studies and will also be travelling soon to participate in a modelling exposition on Miami Beach.
Betty Vedrine, The Nassau Guardian
