Freeport, Bahamas – The Miss Grand Bahama Beauty Pageant came to a close on May 20th, 2012 after a busy weekend of activities. Saturday, May 19th the contestants were involved in a car parade from the YMCA leading to the Port Lucaya Marina for the National Costume Completion. After little rest, the contestants had to be fresh and ready for the big finale night on Sunday, May 20th.
The pre-show at the Hilton Outten Convention Center started with a slide show of Miss Grand Bahama 2011 Keriann Stuart’s busy year and the 2012 Miss Grand Bahama contestant’s activities leading up to the main event. On for the event were Miss Earth Bahamas Kerel Pinder, Miss Teen Bahamas Yamease Swain, Miss Talented Grand Bahama Doranell Brown, and presenter Denae Feaster.
After opening with the Bahamas’ national anthem the Miss Grand Bahama contestants performed a dance number to “Push to the Limited”. The young ladies wore beautiful summer dresses sponsored by Transition Clothing Clothing Store and each introduced themselves to the audience. Hostesses for the night were April Gow and Gwen Rolle who then introduced the panel of judges, Rakhee Laberge, Vanessa Ferguson, Barrington Sinclair, Rengin Johnson, Ewa Tylecka Mellor and the head judge for the evening was Angelita Sturrup. Contestants paraded in their national costumes each created by a designer of their choice.
Individual awards were then announced. Taking the Miss Friendship Award was Monet Johnson sponsored by Sawyers Fresh Market. The Popularity Award went to Abilene Jones sponsored by LneLiba. The Top Model Award went to Kristie Farah sponsored by Bella Rose. The Spokes Model Award went to Cristin Barrow sponsored by Alvernia Foods Cat Island. Taking the Fitness Award was Gabrielle Wong sponsored by Turning Bar. The Talent Award was won by Carlene Johnson sponsored Ocean Reef. The Photogenic Award went to Gabrielle Wong sponsored by Turning Bar. Best National Costume went to Kristie Farah sponsored Bella Rose. The Facebook People’s Choice Award also went to Kristie Farah sponsored by Bella Rose.
After the awards presentations the top five contestants were announced and took the stage (in no particular order): Gabrielle Wong, Andria Miller, Cristin Barrow, Carlene Johnson and Kristie Farah. Each of the remaining top five had to then explain their platform to the audience and then appear in swimsuits and evening gowns to give the judges time to determine their top three.
The top three (in no particular order) were Andria Miller sponsored by Pier 1 Restaurant, Cristin Barrow sponsored by Alvernia Foods Cat Island, and Kristie Farah sponsored by Bella Rose. Miss Grand Bahama 2011, Ms Keriann Stuart, said her “Time to Say Goodbye” farewell speech and thanked her sponsors and family members, and wished the contestants and new queen good luck and told all the girls to follow their dreams.
The top three contestants had to next go through a question period to allow last minute assessments by the judges to determine their final decisions. With much excitement and cheering from the audience the final titles were announced with Miss Kristie Farah being chosen as the 2012 Miss Grand Bahama title winner! She is sponsored by Bella Rosa. The 1st runner up is Andria Miller sponsored by Pier 1 Restaurant, and 2nd runner up is Cristin Barrow sponsored by Alvernia Foods Cat Island.
The new queen is 18 years of age and her parents are Randolph and Stacy Williams. At age six Kristie won the Cinderella Bahamas Pageant and represented her country in Las Vegas at the Cinderella Scholarship Pageant. Kristie graduated as an honors student from Grand Bahama Catholic High School and is currently a sophomore of Winthrop University in the process of transferring to The College of the Bahamas to complete her undergraduate studies. Her platform is Breast Cancer Awareness and she is currently pursuing nursing in order to give back to her community, with an ultimate goal of becoming a periodontist (gum surgeon).
Miss Grand Bahama Beauty Pageant Organization wishes to say thanks to their sponsors: Turning Bar, Lneliba, Ocean Reef, Sawyers Fresh Market, Pier 1 Restaurant, Alvernia Foods Cat Island, Bella Rose, Kelly’s True Value, Robbin Whachell and TheBahamasWeekly.com, Terreve College, Island Seas Resort, Treasure Bay Casino, Pelican Bay Hotel, The Grand Bahama Yacht Club, the Port Lucaya Marina, Club Neptune’s, Dr. Percentie, YMCA, Bahamian Brewery, Patrice, Escanti Shoe Outlet, Empress, Mrs Jacqueline Gray, Kindra Williams, Nikie Severe – Miss Grand Bahama 2010, Keriann Stuart – Miss Grand Bahama 2011, Kerel Pinder – Miss Bahamas Earth, Dr. Gwendolyn Rolle, Transition, A Ware, Bandolera, Whites ETC, Animale, Cleo’s Boutique, and Glorious Fashion.
The Miss Grand Bahama Beauty Pageant committee is comprised of Stacey Rogers, James Bridgewater, Shantel Hall, April Gow and Gwen Rolle. The president is Glenn Davis.
by Robbin Whachell
