Grandeur of pageantry lostBY VANESSA C ROLLE,Guardian Staff ReporterDashanique Poitier, 16, was crowned the nation's first Miss Teen World Bahamas on Sunday night - owing her success to the confidence she had that God would answer her prayers.

"Oh my God, it feels awesome," exclaimed Dashanique in an interview with The Guardian after the competition. " It was an awesome experience and I am glad it turned out this way." Sponsored by the Fox Hill Steering Committee, she is the current title holder of Miss Fox Hill. "I was completely confident about myself. I prepared physically, mentally and emotionally. I exercised regularly and I prayed to God a lot throughout this pageant; and I just kept myself poised and calm. When I go to the internationals, I am going to represent my country with dignity, pride and honour."

Ms. Poitier leaves on April 5 to participate in the Miss Teen World Pageant in Trinidad and Tobago.

Likewise, it was the fulfillment of a dream for 19-year-old Denia Nixon, an employee of Mr. T's Sporting Lounge, who was crowned Miss Bahamas Universe 2005 that very night, beating out eight other contestants to win the coveted title.

The new Miss Bahamas Universe said that at some point during the competition, she started to doubt that she would win. "I experienced a lot of problems with my dress but I overcame it all. I felt excellent when everybody began cheering my name. I felt very excited and I am glad for this opportunity to represent The Bahamas. I will ensure that I am a great ambassador." As for her participation in the Miss Universe Pageant on May 30 in Thialand she said, " I promise that I will do my absolute best."

Psychologist Nadia Cash, who entered the pageant as Miss Mademoiselle was first runner up in the pageant, earning her the title of Miss Earth Bahamas; She will be participating in the Miss Earth Pageant later this year. Miss Illusion's Hair Loft and Clothing, Otishka Ferguson, was crowned Miss Ethnic Teen Bahamas after placing first in the teen competition. She will be representing the Bahamas at the Miss Ethnic World Competition.

Second runner up in the Miss Bahamas Universe Pageant was Lashonne Outten, Miss British Fidelity Insurance; 3rd was Dimetria Stubbs, Miss Galleria Cinemas; and 4th place went to Philincia Cleare, Miss Garfi Designs.

In the Miss Teen World Pageant, Kisha Higgs, Miss Hair Explosion placed 2nd; Alexandra Deal, Miss Contemporary Builders placed 3rd and Julianne Smith, Miss Diva's Inc. placed fourth. Special awards were given throughout the night, most of them were won by Otishka Ferguson who carried home the awards for Best Costume, Miss Photogenic, Miss Physical Fitness and the Float Queen Award; Kisha Higgs won the Miss Popularity Award; Andreanique Johnson, received the Lady Elegant Award and the new queen, Dashanique Poitier, received the award for best evening gown.

In the Miss Bahamas Universe segment, Nadia Cash won the Miss Photogenic Award; Janice Johnson won the award for best evening gown; Lashonne Outten won the Miss Popularity Award; Starnecia Dean, Miss Simple Elegance Couture won the Miss Body Beautiful Award, Dimetria Stubbs won Miss Congeniality, the Lady Elegant Award, and the Float Queen Award; the new queen, Denia Nixon won the award for Best Costume.

The night began with the roaring of whistles and horns as the ladies performed their opening number to Beyonce's "Crazy In Love" wearing black ruffled dresses and spiked heels. This was followed by a dance number featuring outgoing Miss Bahamas Universe, Raquel Horton and popular dancer Olin Coakley who set the stage on fire with a number truly "Bootylicious".

Entertainment for the evening was provided by the golden voices of Baha Men singer Ryan Andrews; Mario Demeritte, and Cerdia Duvalier.

At the beginning of the competition, they all seemed to be winners as each contestant was dressed alike. However, as the night wore on, they began to part ways.

But irregardless of the ambience that was rich with excitement, the glory and grandeur of the Miss Bahamas Universe Pageant has fallen drastically. What was once a black tie affair, has turned into a night of "jeans and things" - with patrons showing off boots, capris, plaid shirts, and an array of casual outfits. Even some of the evening gowns worn by contestants were just not cutting it! Some were either too outrageous, while others seemed to be purchased from an ordinary department store's sales rack. Thank God for the ladies in the audience who turned out in little black dresses.

The best dressed competitors were Miss Illusion's Hair Loft and Clothing, Otishka Ferguson; Miss Galleria Cinemas, Dimetria Stubbs; Miss Sabrina's Fashions, Janice Johnson; Miss Diva's Inc., Julianne Smith; Nadia Cash, Miss Mademoiselle and Miss Fox Hill, Dashanique Poitier.

Everyone else was either in a scene from the old movie, Gone With the Wind, the salon bar in Gunsmoke, or going to a quaint outdoor wedding - not even a prom!

However, the judging system seemed to be pretty fair this year as there was no one on the sidelines causing a raucous and hollering, " They cheat! They cheat!" as in previous years. The crowd apparently accepted the judges' decision most honourably.

As for the winners, it all boiled down to answering their final question confidently, accurately and intelligently.

Ms. Poitier's winning answer to her final question with regard to what advice she would give to teenage girls, particularly those in high school who wished to be crowned Miss Teen World Bahamas, was: "I am very pleased to respond to this very topical issue. The message I would send to teenage young ladies in high school is to always wait until marriage to have sexual intercourse, to stay healthy. Be confident and let no one bring you down. However, if we come together as a community - political leaders, church leaders, teachers, parents, students and, of course, civil servants of The Bahamas, we can all help our youth in high school."

Ms. Nixon's winning answer to the question, 'What is the new slogan of the Ministry of Tourism and what does it mean to you?' was, "The Ministry of Tourism has so many slogans. 'The Islands of The Bahamas, they just keep getting better.' 'Hip to Hop to the Islands of The Bahamas' and the most recent one is, 'The 700 hundred Islands of The Bahamas, just off the coast of the familiar.' And this means to me that Florida is the most familiar and it's just 40 miles off the coast of Bimini."

After Nixon won the competition, her mother, Rhonda Nixon couldn't stop grinning from ear to ear. " I am wonderfully blessed and I am proud to be Denia's mommy this night. From the age of three, it was a part of my dream. But I am glad that at the age of 16, she took an interest in it and I didn't discourage her; and through it all, she came through and I just supported her with everything that I had." She also plans to attend the Miss Universe with her daughter in May. "Not even a storm can keep me from going."

Members of the Fox Hill Steering Committee could not help but to shower the new Miss Teen World Bahamas with hugs and best wishes after the pageant. Committee Chairman, Daniel Ferguson said that, " I am elated. This just goes to show what Fox Hill can produce and we will produce another one next year because we will thrive on trying to be perfect and whatever comes out of Fox Hill doesn't come unprepared."

The Pageant's Committee Chairperson, Gaynell Rolle, said that she was pleased with the judges' selection of the new queens. "I have every confidence in my judges and whomever they have selected out of our 21 gems. I am quite satisfied with it. Raquel (Horton) has been a role model queen. She is a beautiful young lady and has developed into an awesome, awesome flower."