By KARAN MINNIS,Guardian Lifestyles Reporter,karan@nasguard.com

Pageantry has always been a part of D'Vanya Thompson's life. Her mother Cindy Thompson, deceased, was the founder of the Miss Teen Bahamas beauty pageant. Now the 18-year-old is herself a beauty queen.

Thompson was given the Miss Commonwealth Bahamas 2008-2009 crown during a private screening/interview last week at the British Colonial Hilton Hotel over six other young ladies.

"I am honored to have been named queen," said Thompson. "It's just a wonderful feeling."

Trevann Thompson was selected first runner-up, Shanice Burrows was second runner-up, Johnique Rolle was third runner-up, and Shabernice Brown and Tamara Knowles, were the fifth and sixth runners-up respectively. Thompson, a student at Columbia International College, says she will devote time during her reign to raising the awareness of special needs children and adults in the country — a subject matter which hits close to home for her.

"My younger brother is autistic and he learned at a very young age that people in The Bahamas with disabilities have very limited resources and subsequently, many are not given the opportunity to reach their full potential," she said. "It has been documented that children and adults with special needs who are given the necessary tools for development and self-improvement have far exceeded social, academic and artistic expectations. And I believe that many children and adults with disabilities have an abundance of wisdom and talent to share, if only they are given the chance and the help.

"Additionally, I would like to visit various organizations in The Bahamas such as Resource and Education for Autistic Children (R.E.A.C.H), disability centers, special needs schools and other organizations that help with disabled persons, to enhance and support my platform throughout my reign," she says. "I have selected this topic because I am passionate about this cause and because I think Bahamians with special needs need a voice and I can be that voice," said the newly-crowned queen.

This is the second year that the Miss Commonwealth title holder has been chosen via private screening as opposed to a competition on stage. Andrea Knott, vice president of the Miss Commonwealth Bahamas Triple Crown Program, says this is due to a lack of sponsorship.

"Christopher Curtis, our president, is our primary source of sponsorship and as you know one sponsor cannot do it all. We had sent out over 300 requests and received only three responses, therefore we decided to have a private screening once again. However, we are truly excited about our new queen and we feel she will definitely serve us well."

Thompson, a graduate of Pennsylvania Cyber Charter High School (home schooling), is presently employed at The Meridian School at Unicorn Village as a pre-kindergarten teacher's assistant.

She says her hobbies are singing, dancing, and modeling, and that the thing that motivates her most is being aware of how her mother and father, Robert Thompson, also deceased, positively impacted their lives. "Their courage and strength motivates me not only to stay strong, but [also] to be appreciative of what I have, and try to look at the more positive and promising things in life," she says.

During the private screening/crowning event/out-going queen Michaela Munnings, Miss Commonwealth Bahamas conducted the official crowning.

QUEEN: D'Vanya Thompson, 18, daughter of Cindy Thompson, deceased, the founder of the Miss Teen Bahamas beauty pageant, was recently selected Miss Commonwealth Bahamas. File photoe