Miss Cayman Monyque Brooks departed Sunday on her way to Washington, D.C., to take part in the 66th annual Miss World pageant, scheduled for Dec. 20.
Before arriving in the U.S. capital, Ms. Brooks will shop and receive pageantry training in Miami with Anastagia Pierre Friel, at her coaching organization.
She will arrive in Washington on Thursday with Donna Bush, the Miss Cayman Committee deputy chair, for filming and rehearsals.
On Dec. 14, Derri Dacres-Lee, Miss Cayman Committee chairwoman, and committee member Meloney Syms will join Ms. Brooks and attend the Miss World competition at the Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center.
Ms. Brooks, 24, of West Bay was crowned Miss Cayman Islands 2016 on Jan. 30. She holds a bachelor’s degree in hospitality and tourism management and works at the Department of Tourism.
She is involved in the National Cultural Foundation’s events and is a part of the Cayman Islands Dance Company.
“I am very proud of Monyque and her accomplishments as Miss Cayman. The committee and I have ensured that Monyque is prepared for the world stage. We have no doubt that she will make the Cayman Islands proud,” said Ms. Dacres-Lee.
At the Miss World pageant, outgoing queen Mireia Lalaguna of Spain will crown her successor. This year, more than 100 countries will be vying for the title and to be the ambassador of “Beauty with a Purpose.” The contestants will be judged on the basis of various events, including Top Model, Talent, Multimedia, Sports, Beauty with a Purpose and Resort Wear, according to the Miss World Organization web page.
The Miss World pageant was created in the United Kingdom by Eric Morley in 1951. Since Mr. Morley’s death in 2000, his wife Julia has co-chaired the pageant. Venezuela is the most successful country at the Miss World pageant with six crowns, followed by India and the U.K. with five crowns each.
At an orientation reception at the Holiday Inn on Nov. 19, six Cayman women registered as starters for the 2017-18 pageant. They are Kameal Seymour, Chante Smith-Johnson, Kristin Amaya, Taylor Langfitt, Kristina Wright and Mahalia Seymour.
https://www.caymancompass.com/2016/11/21/miss-cayman-heads-to-miss-world-contest/