Meet the beautiful Miss Bermuda hopefuls

FRIDAY, JUNE 3: With the Miss Bermuda Pageant just a week away, the Bermuda Sun asked the 15 contestants a variety of questions to help the public get to know them a little bit better. The Bermuda Sun’s Mikaela Ian Pearman reports.

• Age: 25

• Occupation/Education: Graduate Management Trainee, Bermuda Monetary Authority, Bachelor Degree in Management and Organizational Studies and Finance, University of Western Ontario.

“I entered The Miss Bermuda Pageant for two main reasons. It provides me with an opportunity to represent Bermuda on a global scale and it also provides me with an opportunity to engage in self- reflection and improvement. I have discovered some of my strengths and I am currently perfecting them, whilst I have also discovered some of my weaknesses which I am currently developing into strengths.”

• Name: Cratonia Smith, Miss Sandys

• Age: 23

• Occupation/Education: Associate attorney at Cox Hallett Wilkinson, University of Kent, Bachelor of Laws LLB, BPP Law School Manchester.

“I want to be Miss Bermuda because I know that I have the ability to inspire our entire community.

“My focus though, would be on our youth. Having achieved my goal of becoming the youngest female attorney to be called to the Bermuda Bar, I know that I would be able to encourage our young people to love the person they are, to realize and appreciate their talents and to set and accomplish their goals. I strongly believe that all of us have the potential to achieve success. Being Miss Bermuda would allow me the opportunity to share this message with all of our youth and I am confident that I would be able to make a real difference as a result.”

• Name: Davika Hill, Miss Warwick East

• Age: 22

• Occupation/Education: Student, Bermuda College

“I have wanted to be Miss Bermuda since I was a little girl and I’ve always told myself that I would go for it if given the chance. When I was younger I saw it as just a fun, glamorous activity to take part in. Now that I am older I see it as a path to show the world what the small island of Bermuda is all about. I also see it as a way to show the community that there are young adults who are doing positive things with their lives and I would like to be a positive example to those younger than me.”

• Age:  23

• Occupation/Education: Sales associate, Jeans Express, Associate’s Degree in Art and Science, Bermuda College

“I think it important that the winner of Miss Bermuda use her title and influence for the betterment of her country, to highlight issues and work towards change, in addition to uplifting and enjoying the surrounding community and encouraging those from overseas to do so as well. I am sure of my ability to achieve these things and more, and so would be absolutely honoured and delighted to be your Miss Bermuda 2011.”

• Name: Kalvilicia Joell, Miss Devonshire West

• Age: 23

• Occupation/Education: Customer care representative, Texas State Technical College.

“My solution to the violence that has come to the island would be for the community as a whole to help the Bermuda Police Service in solving the crimes that have occurred. More people need to speak out to help equip the police with making more arrests, and bring the crime rate to a minimum.”

• Name:  Davina Karde Marie Cannonier, Miss Devonshire East

• Age: 20

• Occupation/Education: Anslies Interior Décor, Associates Degree in Art, Bermuda College.

“One aspect of Bermuda that I currently do not favour is the social welfare issue pertaining to healthcare for senior citizens. Too many senior citizens in Bermuda are living in poverty or conditions close to it, and the rate of bankruptcy among those 65 years of age and older is increasing.

It is my understanding that this issue has come about due to the high cost of healthcare along with the weak economy due to economic downfall worldwide.”

• Name: Deonaé Dickinson, Miss Paget West

• Age: 23

• Occupation/Education: Student, Oakwood College

“The thing I like most about Bermuda would be the friendliness and courtesy of our people. The young get up for the old on the bus, we open doors for
people, we say thank you, we check on our neighbours. Some share soup and other homemade goodies amongst their neighbours. Even that simple good morning, good afternoon, good evening, good night is something that I truly miss when I’m abroad in school.”

• Name: Sharmaine Landy, Miss Hamilton Parish West

• Age: 25

• Occupation/Education: Retail training specialist at Butterfield Bank, Bachelor’s of Science in Business Management and Marketing, Oakwood College

“While I do not profess to hold the key to putting an end to the violence rocking our community, I speak from the heart when I say that I believe the only way to address hate, malice, and violence at the core is through unconditional love — the love of God. When we as a community find our way back to the fundamental practice of loving thy neighbour and allowing the village to raise a child, we will then be in a better position to tackle the violence that has drastically upset our tiny island.”

• Name: Cheyenne Darrell, Miss St George’s West

• Age: 25

• Occupation/Education: Cash and Deposits Administrator at Butterfield Bank

“God couldn’t be everywhere and so he created mothers” another favourite quote of mine. My Mother, Claudia Simmons, who has had a significant infleuence in my life is my greatest inspiration. She has stood with courage to meet the responsibilities that fell upon her and has sacrificed so much for me. She has taught me everything I need to know about life and how to be successful in it .It is because of my mother that I know how to be strong and face anything that may be of discomfort to me. My mother has been my role model guiding my steps and setting a good example. There are not enough words possible to explain how thankful and grateful I am to have a mother such as mine.”

• Name: Jana Lynn Outerbridge, Miss St George’s East

• Age: 22

• Occupation/Education: Cabinet office intern, Child and Adolescent Services, Bachelor of Science in Psychology, Tennessee State University.

“One of the short-term solutions [for the violence] would be to continue to keenly encourage the public to speak up about crimes they are aware of. The more people feel comfortable about talking the easier it will be for them to come forward.  There should also be enhanced protection for those who do choose to speak up for what is right. The blind eye that friends and family are turning to criminal activity must stop regardless of how large or small we deem the crime to be.”

• Name: Jasmine Simmons, Miss Hamilton Parish North

• Age: 21

• Occupation/Education: Part-time waitress/ bartender and Hospitality Management student

“I do not have a solution for violence, however I do feel by teaching the youth there are other ways to deal with disagreement besides violence, will help to change the community one generation at a time.”

• Name: Kylah Burch, Miss Southampton

• Age: 18

• Occupation/Education: Student, Bermuda College, part-time employee at the Phoenix Stores.

“When it comes to inspiration, I must say my mother inspires me the most. She’s a single mother of three and despite what she went through before us and with us, she still managed to pull through and provide a good life for her children and herself. I don’t feel I say it enough, but I am truly honoured and blessed to have a strong, beautiful, Godly woman as my Mother. She’s the type of woman I aim to be, determined, genuine, giving, and over all a leader.”

• Name: Dawnita Smith, Miss Paget East

• Age: 18

• Occupation/Education: Student, Bermuda College.

“Firstly, what I like the most about Bermuda is that we are blessed with such a stunning island.  Emitting its innate beauty, from our clear blue water and pink beach sand to the mass tropical greenery, the landscape allures all.  However, I believe that we could enhance the quality by having a more unified community.

“Although many individuals strive to unite Bermuda as one, we as a people have to congregate and dedicate the effort to achieve that goal. To say the least, no matter what occurs I would like to state that I am proud to be a Bermudian.”

• Name: Selita Crockwell, Miss Warwick North

• Age: 21

• Occupation/Education: Full-time Student at the University of Bath

“My Great Grandmother is one person who inspires me. She was the type of woman to help out anyone whenever she could. 

She was an active member of the Salvation Army and received the moniker ‘Angel of Mercy’ by the Bermuda Sun for her selfless help of others. 

“It is her character which, along with the support of other family members, pushes me to strive for excellence.”

• Name: Rachel Sawden, Miss Hamilton Parish South

• Age: 25

• Occupation/Education: Entrepreneur, Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, minor in English Cultural Studies, McGill University.

“I’ve wanted to be Miss Bermuda since I was about 11-years-old when I was made aware of the pageant while listening to the radio. When my parents explained the Miss Bermuda and Miss World pageants to me and from that moment I knew that I wanted to be Miss Bermuda, and Miss World when I grew up.  I want to put Bermuda on the map like Gina Swainson did in 1979, be a role model for young girls getting more involved with community service here, travel the world while giving back, networking and being given the opportunity for many doors to open internationally.”