With bated breath contestants, producers, fans, spectators, sponsors and BTC executives sat in a packed and festive ballroom-turned-TV-studio at the British Colonial Hilton for the moment when the newest BTC Star would be selected. This was the beginning of the end of BTC’s Starmaker Season 3, an 8-week long reality show sponsored by BTC.
The live finale aired on ZNS-TV was hosted by Fanchon Dawkins, Starmaker Season 2 senior winner and Dwain Wallace. The show highlighted scenes and contestants from the season and was complete with lively entertainment by Bodine Johnson who sung two of her more recent songs. Liam Davis, Malaak Tinker and Brandon Huyler were in the running for the junior Starmaker spot while Zeldon Simmons, Marquita Whymms and Schavonne Strachan were the final senior contestants.
Eighteen-year-old Brandon Huyler was crowned the junior Starmaker winner. When questioned on how he felt immediately after being named, he beamed, “It feels good.”
The cool and collected young man regained composure and shared the thoughts running through his head as he stood on stage awaiting the announcement. “I was incredibly nervous but kept telling myself to be positive,” recalled Huyler. “I was shocked to hear my name called. The competition was tough and I was confident in placing second rather than first because Liam Davis was usually the challenge winner week after week.”
The stylish and vivacious Marquita Whymms, Grand Bahama contestant collapsed to the ground when named the senior winner of the show and was equally excited as her junior counterpart.
Teary-eyed, she remarked, “These are tears of joy and I am super excited. The competition can be best described a roller coaster ride. Each week I would get feedback from the judges, I listened, took their advice and implemented.”
Show creator and Vice President of Brand & Communications at BTC, Marlon Johnson made the announcements while BTC CEO & President Geoff Houston and Angela Friar, RIM’s Carrier Relationship Manager presented the newest Starmakers with cheques for $10,000.
“There is incredible talent in The Bahamas and the BTC Starmaker competition provides the platform for participants to develop marketable skills while gaining exposure and an incredible wealth of knowledge from industry professionals,” said Johnson. “Selecting winners was no easy task as year-after-year the competition becomes stiffer and the entrants hungrier than ever to prove themselves. The $10,000 contract and chance to be a model and spokesperson only sweetens the offer.”
Sponsors of Season 3 BTC Starmaker were BAF Financial, Sky Bahamas, The Nassau Guardian & Star 106FM, Vitamalt, J.S. Johnson Insurance and BlackBerry (RIM).
Alexavia Dorsett
Diane Phillips & Associates
