Meet Miss St. George’s: Siairah Minors

In the sixth of a series of profiles of contestants, Bernews today spotlights Siairah Minors, who is representing St. George’s in the Miss Bermuda Pageant, which will be held on July 6, 2014.

Miss Minors is currently a student at Middlesex University in England, working towards a degree which covers law, sociology, criminology, and policing. While she is in Bermuda for the holidays over the summer, she is working at The Money Shop, where she processes day-to-day transactions and assists with customer service issues. When her degree is completed, she hopes to return to the island and join the Bermuda Police Service.

When asked why she decided to enter the Miss Bermuda pageant, Miss Minors said, “I’ve always wanted to take part in the Miss Bermuda Pageant, but I knew I wasn’t quite ready yet. After being inspired by the contestants last year, I decided I was going to do it.

“I knew it would be hard and challenging, but when I saw how all the young ladies carried themselves with poise and confidence, I was inspired to do the same. I also saw this as a great learning experience, with the added bonus of doing things that I love to do, such as making new friends and having a good time getting dressed up and fancy.”

When asked what has been the most enjoyable part of the process so far, Miss Minors said, “The most enjoyable part of the process so far has been making new friends and getting to know not just new people, but myself a little bit better. Being in the Miss Bermuda Pageant, you have to be somewhat vulnerable and step outside of your comfort zone to be able to grow not just as a contestant, but as an individual, too.

“This helps you recognize strengths you may not have noticed before. For me, this process has really helped me improve on my public speaking and, although challenging, I have enjoyed seeing myself progress.”

When asked if she was nervous or excited to get on stage for the pageant, Miss Minors said, “As the night quickly approaches, I become more and more nervous, but I’m excited more than anything. We have had great training and have all put the time in, so I am excited for myself and everyone to show what we have learned.”

When asked who has helped her the most to achieve this success along the way, Miss Minors said, “My mother has always been very supportive of my dreams and goals. She has taught me the importance of being independent and standing up for myself. Although I was not always the perfect child, she never gave up on me, which helped me never to give up on my goals and dreams.”

“My mother worked very hard to provide for my sister and I, so I witnessed her drive and determination to give us the best she could offer. As a result, this has inspired me to be as successful as I can be and to understand that you have to work hard in order to succeed.”

When asked, should she win, what she planned to do with the exposure that being Miss Bermuda would give her, Miss Minors said, “If I am fortunate enough to be successful in being named Miss Bermuda, I plan to focus on preparing and representing my country at Miss World. I would want to let the people of Bermuda know how much I care about my island and would give only my absolute best at the competition.

“After coming back from the experience, I would hope to share what I have learned and help to inspire other young ladies and give back to the community as a whole. Particularly, I would like to reach out to the youth of Bermuda, because they are the future of the island.”

When asked, win or lose, what’s next for her after the pageant, Miss Minors said, “Win or lose, I plan to take everything I have learned throughout this experience with me in my everyday life. The pageant has taught me lifelong skills which only experience can provide. At the start of the pageant, I was always a very nervous and shy individual when it came to speaking in the public. However, after taking part in the different events and having to speak with many different people, I have learned to overcome that fear.”

“Regardless of the outcome, I plan to continue my studies overseas. I will complete my degree so I can return back home to Bermuda and make a difference. By working in the police force, I will always be working for Bermuda and I hope to inspire others to give back to our island.”

When asked if there was anything else she’d like to add, Miss Minors said, “I would just like to encourage all the young ladies out there to participate in next year’s pageant. It took me a really long time to build the confidence to participate in the pageant, and I am so glad I did.

“I have learned a lot about myself and have improved on my strengths and weaknesses. It really is a challenging but great opportunity. There will be times when it is hard, but everyone is encouraging and you will be surprised at what you can achieve.”

The 2014 Miss Bermuda Pageant is scheduled to take place on July 6 at the Fairmont Southampton, where reigning queen Katherine Arnfield will crown her successor. Tickets for the event are available at Pulp & Circumstance at Washington Mall, Fabulous Fashions at Heron Bay Plaza, and online at bdatix.bm.

Photographer: Donovin Seymour
Hair: Impressions
Makeup: O’faces

#BermudianModels #MissBermudaPageant #StGeorges

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