The Tribune

THE launch of Miss Bahamas 2013 was celebrated yesterday with a reception at The Nassau Florist/ JW Events on Dowdeswell Street, at which seven of the eight contestants were offically sashed by their sponsored and introduced to the public.

The organisers say this year’s contestants are believed to be the best in many years and the pageant itself has gone through many changes and improvements over the last year. This year’s pageant coincides with the 50th anniversary of the establishment of the Ministry of tourism and a number of festitivies are being planned to commemorate what is being termed, “The Golden Era.

Miss Bahamas 2013 will go on to the Miss Universe contest in Moscow, Russia.

Youth Minister Danny Johnson, noted that the country is going through a cultural rennaissance and that the contestants represent the face of a modern day Bahamas. He noted that the government intends to have the winner and first three runners up serve as national spokespersons in the coming years.

Additionally, MBO organisers announced that they intend to separate their two franchises- Miss Bahamas Universe and Miss Bahamas World and will have two separate pagents to crown the two queens. The national director of the Miss Universe Bahamas is Loretta Thomas.