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SEPTEMBER 26TH IS MISS T&T 2009
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Date Posted: Tuesday, August 18, 08:30:01am
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Miss World gets new franchise holder
Michael Raghunanan
...new local franchise holder of Miss World
The search for Gabrielle Walcott’s successor to represent T&T at the Miss World pageant in South Africa in December has started. The new franchise holder of the competition is Michael Raghunanan, owner of Michael’s Vogue Designs, who took over from fashion designer and former franchise holder of both Miss Universe and Miss World, Peter Elias.
Raghunanan said he planned to stage a local contest to select Miss World T&T on September 26. With Miss Universe scheduled to take place in The Bahamas on August 23, a search of the Web site, www.missuniverse.com confirms that T&T would not be represented this year. Raghunanan said he was up to the challenge. He has already started work, putting together a committee to oversee the selection process and has sent letters requesting sponsorship from several corporate companies and state bodies such as the Tourism Development Company, the Ministry of Culture and the Ministry of Tourism. Raghunanan said Elias, the former national director of the competition, called him and offered congratulations and words of advice and encouragement.
“I felt humbled that this great man, who has worked so tirelessly to promote the beauty of our islands to the rest of the world, could take the time to offer his kind words and sentiments,” Raghunanan said. He said, too, he was moved to accept the challenge after hearing Minister of Community Development, Culture and Gender Affairs, Marlene McDonald’s address in Parliament that her ministry would offer 80 per cent of the cost of sending a delegate to Miss Universe and Miss World. Raghunanan said, “I sense that the minister is a woman of integrity and honour so I am expecting her full support.” Raghunanan echoed McDonald’s challenge and hoped that support from the business community would be forthcoming.
He said, “If I have to beg or borrow and write letters to hundreds of companies, I am prepared to do just that. This is an investment in nation-building and in the future of our youth.” He added, “It is also an unprecedented opportunity to promote the growth of the tourism sector in T&T, especially following the vicious attack on two vacationing nationals from the UK, in Tobago over the weekend.”
Elias responds
Elias said yesterday he wished Raghunanan well.
He said, “I really wish him the best. I know that he will give his best. People overlook that they are people’s daughters that we work with and as a result this is a precious commodity. I have complete faith that Michael will be responsible. I only hope he is able to get the required support to do an effective job
Potential delegates
Interested contestants for Miss World T&T:
• Must be 17 on or before January 1, 2009 and must not have attained the age of 24 on or before January 31, 2009.
• Should be height and weight proportionate.
• Should be single and must not have had any children or have been pregnant prior to entering the competition and should not become pregnant during the term of her reign (if selected).
• Must have a valid T&T passport which must not expire before December 2010.
• Must be a citizen either by birth or through naturalisation.
• Must be a natural female. By natural it is understood that only persons who were born female are eligible to enter.
• Must be physically fit and athletic.
n Should possess a talent—singing, dancing or playing an instrument.
• Must speak English as a first language (although bilingual persons are encouraged to compete).
• Should be able to travel to South Africa if selected as the representative for T&T.
Screening takes place at the end of August and the winner would be selected at the local contest on September 26.
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