By Walter Greene

When Daronique Young place second in last year's `Miss World Bahamas'
pageant, she had no idea that a year later she will be called to represent her
home country at the `Miss World ' pageant. Since the `Miss World'
pageant organizers changed the date of their pageant, many countries were left
with the option of sending their second place winners, because there
would not be enough time to crown and train a new Queen with the new
dates so soon to the pageant season. "I was laying in bed watching the Academy
Awards when I got the phone call, it was almost as if time froze for
me," recalled Daronique, when she was told she will represent the
Bahamas at the upcoming `Miss World' pageant to be held in Oros, Inner
Mongolia China on August 17, 2012. "I kept asking `Are you serious?'
and kept on saying 'this is so surreal.' It was as if my dream came true, because I was
originally planning to re-enter the `Miss Bahamas' pageant this year."

Daronique leaves next week to join the 120 other beauties from around
the world to compete in this prestigious pageant. She said that she was
slightly disappointed not winning last year, but was more happy for the
winner Sasha Joyce, whom she claims worked very hard to win the crown.
"She really made leaps and bounds in such a short period of time. She
really deserved it. Also, I was really happy that I completed the
pageant and received the placement that I did. Last year was a really
tough one for my family and I was actually on the verge of forfeiting
the competition," revealed Daronique.

Daronique 22, is currently on a scholarship at the College of the Bahamas where she's studying for her Bachelors degree in Tourism Management. She won the scholarship after winning and completing her
reign as `Miss Teen Bahamas World.' Prior to that, Daronique graduated from high school with subject awards and honors. She is a member of Toastmasters International and is also a representative at the Bahamas Hotel Association Junior Hoteliers Program. "I travel to various high schools in Nassau and deliver speeches about Tourism in the Bahamas."

A passion for her family and country will hopefully work in her favor as Daronique prepares to clash with some of the world's most beautiful and talented young women. What is she looking forward to mostly in
China? "Aside from meeting the other contestants and representing my country well, definitely learning about the Chinese culture is at the top of my "to do" list. Being a Disney movie fanatic, the movie Murlan
perked my interest in China from when I was a very young girl. Also, I intend to study for my Masters degree in China as well, so the chance to experience the culture really has me anxious."

The 'Miss World Bahamas' representative said she will make the judges remember her by simply being herself; "I am simply going to be me and no one else and hopefully the judges will appreciate and remember me. Its when you try to be someone that you're not, that you begin to question who you
really are." On the subject of Beauty pageants as vehicles to exploit women, and is nothing but a meat market to display women as sexual objects, Daronique said: "I would say to the people who really believe
that to do some research, and see that women like; Oprah Winfrey, Halle Berry and Dianne Sawyer who all used Pageants as a platform to not only improve their lives, but the lives of the less fortunate through
charity and awareness. No longer are beauty ambassadors women with just pretty faces and fit bodies, but they are women with ambition, character, confidence and a drive to make a difference in the world."