By Walter Greene

Fourteen Bahamian Beauty Queens will battle it out this weekend for two
coveted crowns and titles: `Miss World Bahamas' and `Miss Bahamas
Universe.' Both crowns will be fought for in a clash of beauty, brains,
intelligence, talent and personality at Atlantis Resort on Paradise
Island, Bahamas. The final competition, a spectacular gala evening
showcase, where the final judging takes place comes at the end of a
month long set of `Fast Track' or preliminary competitions where a
`Sports Woman' `Top Model' and `Best In Swimsuit' were chosen in separate contests. The winners of each segment
will automatically advance to the top 10 at the grand finale on
Sunday night July 29.

FRONT RUNNERS
Michelle Malcolm, director of the Miss Bahamas Organization who has the
franchise for both the `Miss Universe' and `Miss World' pageants is
keen on having the best two Bahamas delegates represent the Island
chain at the prestigious global pageants. Miss Universe will be held in
December and Miss World In August. Based on the two preliminary
competitions already held four front-runners have already been
established. 23 year-old De'andra Bannister `Miss Olives Mediterranean'
won the Sports Woman Challenge and the Best In Swimsuit Challenge and Celeste Marshall 19, won the `Top Model ' Challenge, they automatically are in the top 10 semi-finalists.
Close on their heels are their runners-up in both preliminaries Autumn
Joy Dames `Miss PLC Management & Consultants' 21, and Irina Key `Miss
Bahamas Construction International Ltd' 19.

OFF AND RUNNING
The other ten beauties who will be competing for the crowns are; Adria
Flowers 19; Analisa Thompson `Miss Idyllic' 23; Deandra Harris `Miss
Coco Plum Bahamas Resort' 21, Ebony Johnson 23; Jasmine Forbes `Miss
Island Luck' 20; Kahtura Fernander 21; Nevandria Rolle `Miss Abaco' 18;
Rakia Rolle `Miss Enviroscope 2000' 20; Renika Knowles `Miss Star Car
Rentals' 26; Rochelle Alexandre `Miss Advanced Auto Parts & Supplies'
25.

UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL
The final decision will be made by a panel of high-profiled,
International judges, flown in to the Bahamas for the event. Leading
the roster of prestigious judges is the reigning `Miss Universe' Leila
Lopes from Angola. The judges will have their first night judging the
talent and evening gown competitions, on Saturday they will spend time
with all of the contestants for the all important `one-on-one'
interview session, where each contestant will be put to the test of
answering questions from each judge in an up-close and personal
situation. Each contestant will also present their community work, as
part of the `Beauty With A Purpose' segment, specified by the `Miss
World' Organization. There will be several `sectional' prizes awarded:
like the `Miss Congeniality' award (voted by the contestants
themselves) `Most Improved' `Best Hair' `Lady of Elegance' `Miss
Photogenic' `Best Talent' `Best In Evening Wear'
`Best Complection' `Miss Popularity' (based on a public on-line vote)
and `Beauty Of Spirit' award.

CROWNING
The two Queens will be crowned by out-going Queens `Miss Bahamas
Universe' Anastagia Pierre and `Miss World Bahamas' Sasha Joyce. Both
first runners-up will be crowned `Princesses' and is expected to
represent the Bahamas at tertiary pageants like `Miss Intercontental'
held in the Dominican Republic and `Miss Supranational' held in Poland.