Miss Grand Bahamas is a Nassau-based female national beauty pageant, founded by Navado Dawkins in 2018.[1] The contest's winner represents the Bahamas internationally on the Miss Grand International stage,[1] which was held annually since 2013.[2] Before 2018, the country representatives at the aforementioned international contest were either appointed or determined through other national pageants, such as Miss Universe Bahamas in 2016.[3]
Since its first participation, the Bahamian representatives got placement at the Miss Grand International pageant once in 2016, when Selvinique Wright was placed among the top 10 finalists as well as won the Best in Swimsuit award.[3][4]
The pageant has no relation with a local pageant, Miss Grand Bahama, which was held annually in Bahama Island since 1970.[5]
History
Miss Grand Bahamas 2018 competition result by island groups
Providence
San Salvador
Grand Bahama
Andros
Eleuthera
Exuma
Inagua
Color keys:
Winner
1st runner-up
2nd runner-up
3rd runner-up
Unplaced
Did not compete
The Bahamas took part in the Miss Grand International pageant twice in 2016 and 2017, represented by appointed beauty queens Selvinique Wright and Rejean Bosh, respectively.[3][6]
The national preliminary contest in the Bahamas for Miss Grand International was first held in 2018 after Navado Dawkins, the Nassau-based designer, purchased the license. Its grand final was happening on July 1, 2018, at the Meliá Nassau Beach – All-Inclusive Resort, featuring contestants from seven island groups of the country, including Andros, Eleuthera, Exuma, Grand Bahama, Inagua, New Providence, and San Salvador,[1][7] of whom, a 19-year-old international model from New Providence, Dannise Bain, was named the winner and was expected to represent the country at Miss Grand International 2018 in Myanmar.[8] However, due to visa regulation problems, Bain was unable to participate in such an international platform.[9] Since then, no additional national pageant has been held or any country representatives have been appointed for the Miss Grand International.
The highest achievement of the Bahamas at Miss Grand International is the top 10 finalists in the 2016 edition, won by Selvinique Wright, who also obtained the Best in Swimsuit award in the said edition.[3] Previously, Selvinique competed as Miss Star Fish Bay in the Miss Universe Bahamas 2016 pageant,[3][10] where she finished in the top 5 finalists and was then selected by such an organization to compete in Las Vegas for the 2016 Miss Grand International title.[10]
Edition
The Miss Grand Bahamas was held as a separate pageant once in 2018.
^ abcdAlesha Cadet (June 15, 2018). "New pageant seeks to reveal 'beauty in peance'". The Tribune. Nassau. p. 10. Archived from the original on December 24, 2021. Retrieved December 25, 2021 – via Issuu. "On the international pageant stage, the Bahamas isn't too high in ranking, our goal as a franchise for Miss Grand International Organization is to nurse the pageant system in the Bahamas so that we can increase our ranking internationally and eventually bring a crown home," said fashion designer Navado Dawkins, the pageant's founder