Miss Bahamas Universe or Miss Universe Bahamas is a national beauty pageant that selects The Bahamas representative to the Miss Universe pageant.
History Miss Universe Bahamas was established in 2008 by Tom Youth and Andy Odenbach in the Bahamas. The Miss Universe representatives from the Bahamas were previously selected by the Miss Bahamas pageant.
Organizers The Miss Bahamas Committee ran the pageant for 40 years. In 2002, the franchise for the Miss Universe pageant was awarded to Theophilus Fritz and Gaynell Rolle who ran it until 2009. In 2010, the Miss Bahamas Organization (MBO) headed by journalist Michelle Malcolm was awarded the franchise for Miss Universe. At the time, MBO, which was formed in 2006, and had produced the Miss World Bahamas pageant since the year 2007.
After receiving the Miss Universe franchise, MBO combined the Miss World and Miss Universe systems into one local pageant, crowning one winner who would compete in both pageants. This was the first time in The Bahamas that the license for both Miss Universe and Miss World were held by the same organization. Braneka Bassett competed in Miss Universe in 2010 and went unplaced. She then competed in Miss World that same year and advanced to the semifinals. The following year, MBO crowned two winners - Anastagia Pierre for Miss Universe and Sasha Joyce for Miss World. Runners up went to Miss Supranational and Miss Intercontinental. In 2012, due to a change in date of Miss World, Daronique Young, first runner up to Sasha Joyce in 2011, represented The Bahamas at Miss World where she was unplaced. Celeste Marshall who was crowned Miss Universe Bahamas in 2012, competed at Miss Universe in 2012. De'Andra Bannister who was crowned Miss Bahamas, competed at Miss World 2013 and was unplaced.
In 2013 MBO underwent a major restructuring, and separated the two national pageants into separate events; Miss Universe Bahamas and Miss World Bahamas. In 2014 MBO sent Tomacina "Tomii" Culmer to Miss Universe, and was the last competition wher MBO held the Miss Universe franchise for The Bahamas.
In 2015, 2016 and 2017 the franchise as Miss Universe Bahamas was operated by Albany Resort and Ivy Lane Ltd. Michelle Collie and Loretta Thomas were national directors. In 2015, Toria Nichole Penn represented The Bahamas at Miss Universe, with Cherell Williamson in 2016, and Yasmine Cooke in 2017. This was the last time Albany Resort and Ivy Lane Ltd. would hold the franchise.
In 2018 the franchise was operated by Westpoint Media Global Ltd, who changed the name back to Miss Bahamas Universe. At the time, they had produced the Miss Teen Bahamas Scholar pageant since 2016, and Miss Teen Bahamas International from 2012 to 2015.
On September 16, 2018 Danielle Simone Grant was selected as Miss Bahamas Universe and represented The Bahamas in Bangkok, Thailand at Miss Universe on December 16, 2018.
National directors
Eva Macoherso Williams (1963―1968) Hazel Thompson (1969-1989) Thelma McQueeney (1990―1996) Theasa Haven Adderly (1997―2001) Theopiluz Fritz and Gaynelle Role (2002―2009) Michelle Malcolm (2010―2015) Tom Youth, Andy Odenbach, and Michelle Collie (2016―2017) Anthony Smith (2018―present)
Titleholders
Year Island Group Miss Bahamas Placement Special Award(s) Notes 2026 Exuma Shawndra Henfield TBA 2025 Grand Bahama Maliqué Maranda Unplaced Previously Miss Supranational Bahamas 2023 and Miss Teenager Universe Bahamas 20172024AndrosSelvinique Wright Unplaced Previously Miss Grand Bahamas 20162023Long IslandMelissa Ingraham Unplaced Ingraham, the titleholder, wore Bahamas sash again after 2 years, dropping the word "The".2022Long IslandAngel CartwrightUnplaced 2021 New Providence Chantel O'Brian Top 10 Spirit of Carnival Award At Miss Universe, Brian wore The Bahamas sash and this is for the first time after many years Bahamas changed its sash name from Bahamas to The Bahamas. 2020 Long Island Shauntae-Ashleigh Miller Unplaced There was no pageant in 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Miller, a runner-up of 2019 was appointed as Miss Bahamas Universe 2020 by the MBU Organization. 2019 Grand Bahama Tarea Sturrup Unplaced 2018 New Providence Danielle Grant Unplaced Anthony Smith (Westpoint Media Global Inc.) directorship. Miss Universe Bahamas 2017 New Providence Yasmine Cooke Unplaced 2016 New Providence Cherell Williamson Unplaced Tom Youth, Andy Odenbach and Michelle Collie (Ivy Lane Ltd.) directorship Miss Bahamas (MB Organization) 2015 New Providence Toria Nichole Penn Unplaced 2014 New Providence Tomacina Culmer Unplaced 2013 New Providence Lexi Wilson Unplaced 2012 New Providence Celeste Marshall Unplaced 2011 New Providence Anastagia Pierre Unplaced 2010 Grand Bahama Braneka Bassett Unplaced Michelle Malcolm directorship.Miss Bahamas Universe (MBUO) 2009 Grand Bahama Kiara Sherman Unplaced 2008 New Providence Sacha Scott Unplaced 2007 New Providence Trinere Lynes Unplaced 2006 New Providence Samantha Carter Unplaced 2005 New Providence Denia Ikena Nixon Unplaced 2004 New Providence Raquel Simone Horton Unplaced 2003 Eleuthera Nadia Johnson Unplaced 2002 New Providence Nadia Rodgers-Albury Unplaced Theopiluz Fritz and Gaynelle Role directorship. Miss Bahamas (MB Committee) 2001 New Providence Nakera Simms Unplaced Miss Congeniality 2000 New Providence Mikala Tracey Moss Unplaced 1999 New Providence Glennis Knowles Unplaced 1998 New Providence Juliette Deanza Sargent Unplaced 1997 New Providence Nestaea Sandra Sealy Unplaced Theasa Havel Adderley directorship. 1996 New Providence Michelle Rae Collie Unplaced 1995 New Providence Shammine Tenika Lindsay Unplaced 1994 New Providence Meka Knowles Unplaced 1993 New Providence Marietta Ricina Sands Unplaced 1992 New Providence Fontella Dean Chipman Unplaced 1991 New Providence Farrah Saunders Unplaced 1990 New Providence Lisa Nichelle Sawyer Unplaced Thelma McQueeney directorship. 1989 New Providence Natasha Inga Ramirez Unplaced 1988 New Providence Natasha Christine Pinder Unplaced 1987 New Providence Betty Ann Hanna Unplaced 1986 New Providence Marie Brown Unplaced 1985 New Providence Cleopatra Maria Adderly Unplaced 1984 New Providence Pamela Lois Parker colspan=2 The Miss Bahamas Committee boycotted the pageant due to South Africa competing. 1983 New Providence Christina Maria Thompson Unplaced 1982 New Providence Ava Marilyn Burke Unplaced Miss Photogenic 1981 New Providence Linda Teresa Smith Unplaced Miss Congeniality 1980 New Providence Darlene Cecilia Davis Unplaced 1979 New Providence Lolita Louise Ambrister Unplaced 1978 New Providence Dulcie Louise Mullings Unplaced 1977 New Providence Paulette Rosetta Borghardt Unplaced 1976 New Providence Sharon Elaine Smith Unplaced 1975 New Providence Sonia Chipman Unplaced 1974 New Providence Agatha Elizabeth Watson Unplaced 1973 colspan=6 1972 New Providence Deborah Jane Taylor Unplaced 1971 New Providence Muriel Terah Rahming Unplaced 1970 New Providence Antoinette Patrice De Gregory Unplaced 1969 New Providence Joan Bowe Unplaced Hazel Thompson directorship. 1968 New Providence Brenda Fountain Unplaced 1967 New Providence Elizabeth Knowles Unplaced 1966 New Providence Sandra Zoe Jarrett Unplaced 1965 New Providence Janet Thompson Unplaced 1964 New Providence Catherine Cartwright Unplaced 1963 New Providence Sandra Louise Young Unplaced Eva Macoherso Williams directorship.
See also
Miss Bahamas Mister Bahamas Miss Grand Bahamas
References
External links www.missuniverse-bahamas.com