Take in the crowning of the newest MISS UNIVERSE® live and in person in The Islands Of The Bahamas.

Beginning August 5, the breathtaking beauty of these 700 islands will be wonderfully enhanced by beauty queens from more than 80 countries as they converge in Nassau for the 58th Annual MISS UNIVERSE® Competition. The contest set for August 23rd 2009, will air live on NBC and Telemundo.

Dayana Mendoza, the reigning Miss Universe and Miss Venezuela

Want to see them in person? Plan your trip now to The Islands of The Bahamas. Visit early and you can join the international beauties on their whirlwind Island Hopping Adventure in their quest to experience the “best” of The Bahamas. See special Miss Universe packages. For the aspiring beauty queens, the Miss University Model Search & Boot Camp Retreat is your opportunity to learn the tricks of the trade.


My Miss Universe Contest Coming Soon

There must be a Miss Universe in your life, enter her in the My Miss Universe contest will honor the everyday women in our lives. Starting July 31st, you can nominate the center of your universe in a written submission with photo or video submission. She’ll be entered to win a dream getaway fit for a queen to two islands in The Islands Of The Bahamas. There will also be two runners-up who will win wonderful island getaway packages. So start planning now. To receive contest updates, click HERE.



Official MISS UNIVERSE® Island Hopping Events:


Wednesday, August 5, 2009

Nassau

Visit to the Ardastra Gardens

Tour of Fort Charlotte

Tour of Clifton Heritage Site and Sacred Space

Visit Arawak Cay (Fish Fry)



Thursday, August 6, 2009

Visit the National Art Gallery of the Bahamas

Courtesy Call on the Governor General

Tea Party at Government House



Friday, August 7, 2009

Nassau

Downtown Casual Shopping & Photo-ops

Display of Authentically Bahamian Arts and Craft in Rawson Square



Saturday, August 8, 2009

Exuma

Tour of Moriah Harbour Cay and Elizabeth Harbour

Stocking Island

Bimini

Bimini Bay Resort

Visit to Fountain of Youth and Shark Lab

Island Hopping Packages



Sunday, August 9, 2009

Grand Bahama

Tour of Garden of the Groves and photo-ops

Port Lucaya Marketplace

Swimsuit Presentation (5:00pm) - click here for tickets & information

Great Lawn, Our Lucaya Resort, Grand Bahama Island

Grand Bahama Island Packages



Monday, August 10, 2009

Motorcade (1:00pm)

Throughout the main streets of Nassau

National Costume Presentation (7:00pm) - click here for tickets & information

Rainforest Theatre, Wyndham Nassau Resort

Junkanoo Rush-out (9:30 – 11:00pm)

Cable Beach Causeway



Tuesday, August 11, 2009

Harbour Island

Tour of island by golf cart

Beach and leisure activities at Coral Sands

Abaco

Treasure Cay

Green Turtle Cay

Island Hopping Packages



Wednesday, August 12, 2009

Bahamian Designer Fashion Show (7:00pm) - click here for tickets & information

Independence Ballroom, Sheraton Nassau Beach Hotel



Thursday, August 13, 2009

State Gift Auction Dinner (7:30pm) - click here for tickets & information

Independence Ballroom, Sheraton Nassau Beach Hotel



Sunday, August 16, 2009

Presentation Show - click here for tickets & information

Imperial Ballroom, Atlantis



Sunday, August 23, 2009

Viewing Party - click here for tickets & information

Royal Court, Royal Tower, Atlantis



Final Show/Telecast - click here for tickets & information

Imperial Ballroom, Atlantis



Coronation Ball - click here for tickets & information

Official Bahamas Miss Universe 2009 Link

Here is the current Miss Universe Dayana Mendoza taking part in NY Fashion Week!

THE 2009 Miss Universe Pageant will be held in The Bahamas on August 30.

The 58th annual pageant is being presented in collaboration with the government of the Bahamas and The Atlantis Resort.

The hosting of the event in The Bahamas is described as a dream come true and could not have come at a better time when Tourism to the country has declined, as with many other Caribbean islands.

The reigning Miss Universe 2008 is Dayana Mendoza of Venezuela and she will crown her successor at the end of the prestigious event.

A total of 80 countries and territories are expected to compete and the pageant will be broadcast live on NBC and Telemundo.

There is still no winner from The Bahamas but other Caribbean countries have had success, including Trinidad and Tobago, Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic.

The pageant has been won the most times by the United States of America, for a total of seven wins.

The women who compete in the Miss Universe Pageant are said to be savvy, goal-oriented and aware.

The delegates who participate in the pageant are said to be those who display characteristics in their everyday lives, both as individuals, who compete with hope of advancing their careers, personal and humanitarian goals, and as womenwho seek to improve the lives of others.

April Jackson

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Pulse Investments Ltd is now accepting applications for the 2009 Miss Jamaica Universe competition. Interested persons may apply online at www.missjamaicauniverse2009.com or at Pulse's offices at 38A Trafalgar Road, Kingston 10.

A statement from the organisers reads: "Young Jamaican women between 18 and 26 years of age are invited to apply if they have beauty of face and body, a keen awareness of the world around them and the grace and confidence to represent Jamaica at the Miss Universe Pageant. Contestants should never have been married, or had children."

Last year's coronation show, which was won by April Jackson, attracted more than 5,000 patrons at a sold-out event, which saw R&B superstar Keyshia Cole performing in Jamaica for the first time, making it one of the most successful beauty pageants ever staged in the Caribbean.

Jackson won more than $1 million in cash as well as a brand-new BMW motor car. This year's prize package is likely to be similar to last year's.

Jamaica has had significant succe-sses at Miss Universe since 1989. Four queens have made the finals of the event. The first was the quintessential beauty queen, Sandra Foster, followed by Kimberley Mais in 1991. Later, Nicole Haughton stole the spotlight in the Trinidad finals, and, more recently, Christine Straw made the finals in Ecuador. Between those years, several others have raised Jamaica's profile among the close to one billion viewers of the event around the world each year. They include Sanya Hughes, Rachel Stuart, Trudy Ferguson, Justine Willoughby and Bridgette Rhoden.

Zahra Redwood

Photo source

In 2007, Zahra Redwood, the first Rastafarian beauty queen to appear in a major international pageant, (Miss World 2007) captured the imagination of the world and attention of the world press with her beauty, articulacy, charm and intelligence. Almost all the major press covering the event, from NBC to CNN, highlighted Redwood and the way her individualism and appeal were changing the face and concept of international beauty.

SOURCE

Though Zahra Redwood was not in the Miss Universe contest, I hope the fact that someone that stands out from the norm such as herself has inspired more girls to take part in such a pageant.

log on to www.missjamaicauniverse.com to enter!!!!

Ya....
Couldnt' help myself.....lol

Ok Guys so I have been getting some mixed reviews about last night's Miss Universe Pageant. For me it was aight. So let's start with the location. During the show there were some gorgeous shots of Vietnam. It is a really beautiful country. I know that show is a definite plus for their tourism product. Here is a shot of (Ha Long Bay- a World Heritage Site) one of the many sites the delegates visited.

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One Caribbean Representative made it to the top 5 ( Marianne Cruz Gonzalez)......Go Dominican Rebulic!!!!!!! I still wish Trini had at least made it that far.

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Robin Thicke is tooo sexy, so anywhere I hear his voice is a plus for me!!! His song "Magic" from the album Something Else was used as background music in the evening wear conpetition. photo source

So here is the crowning moment which was another highlight of the show. Miss Venezuela wins!!!!! Congrats to 22 year old Dayana Mendoza who takes over from Miss Japan Riyo Mori. The first runner up was Columbia (Talina Vargas)(who I wanted to win) followed by Dominican Republic (Marianne Cruz Gonzalez), then Russia (Verna Krasova) and finally Mexico (Elisa Najera).


Miss Universe 2008 Crowning Moment www.LaBarbacoa.com
Uploaded by LaBarbacoa

The hosts for the show were Jerry Springer and Mel B. For me they were ok choices. Some felt that it was in poor taste what with all the characters on his show etc. Personally when I think of Jerry Springer I think of the endearing old man on Dancing with the Stars. And even on his show he was the voice of reason and sanity so for me he was aight.

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Mel B rocks!!!! If Supermodels (Elle Mcpherson and Naomi Campbell) can co-host the pagent then a former Spice Girls should be no exception!!!

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LOWLIGHTS????
I'm sorry but I so was not feeling Lady Gaga who performed "Just Dance" during the swimwear competition. I was not feeling her latex leather or her stiff dance moves ......and speaking of dance were her backup dancers creepy or what????? That performance was painful to watch (at least live anyway) Here it is below and when the pain starts creeping in, feel free to hit pause.





Ok this one, is a lowlight but a highlight in a sense due to all the coverage it's getting. Ms USA fell during the evening wear competition. My friend said she represents the US economy (LOL). I like the way she recovered herself though. During the swimwear event she stepped on her scarf and I thought then she was gonna fall. I think she maybe was telling herself "don't fall", don't fall", don't fall" and you know what happens when we say shit like that.


Miss universe falls again 2008 www.LaBarbacoa.com
Uploaded by LaBarbacoa

Miss Thailand (Gavintra Photijak) won the best costume category based on votes received online. I personally preferred Mexico's.

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Guuurrrrlll.....I called it....Some of these Miss Universe contestants kill their answers by not using a translator that is there for their use... Thanks Dominican Rebublic, the only caribbean contestant to make it to the top 15, for using her translator (although he kinda fudd up in the middle)....she was full of confidence and even someone watching who did not know Spanish could see she was sure of what she was saying...but when Miss Venezuela spoke I wasj ust like what%&@!??? I could just hit her over the head with Miss DR's bat....

So Imma have to come back with the highlights and lowlights lata...so far I think Columbia will win....we'll see

Here are the Caribbean representatives for the 2008 Miss Universe Pageant which will be held on Sunday July 13th in Nha Trang, Khanh Hoa, Vietnam. Click on each contestant's name to see their video, read their interview and watch more pics!

Miss Antigua & Barbuda Athina James

Miss Aruba Tracey Nicolaas

Miss Bahamas Sacha Scott

Miss Cayman Islands Rebecca Parchment

Miss Curacao Jenyfeer Natividad Marcelina

Miss Dominican Republic Marianne Cruz Gonzalez

Miss Jamaica April Jackson

Miss Puerto Rico Ingrid Rivera

Miss Trinidad and Tobago Anya Ayoung-Chee

Miss Turks and Caicos Angelica Lightbourne

After watching their videos, my top pics are Trinidad & Tobago(to me she is very relaxed and genuine in front of the camera and thinks well on her feet),  then Cayman Islands (the earrings hitting the chain was kind of annoying but she definitely has personality). Antigua could pass too, she comes off a bit childish but still endearing.

And while you're at it check out the other contestants too??? Why do some of these girls try so hard to speak English when its not their native or even second tongue. Not to laugh anyone, bless her for trying but check out Miss Vietnam's video. Please let her use a translator on Sunday.

The Miss Universe Pageant airs at 9PM ET on NBC.