2011 Miss Big & Beautiful Pageant
[Written by Cathy Stovell] Twenty-one-year old Asha Galloway beamed between a few tears when she was announced Miss Big and Beautiful 2011. Representing Warwick parish, Ms Galloway also won the title of Miss Super Model Plus. The event held at the amphitheatre of the Southampton Princess had a large crowd of supporters, and sponsors of the 11 contestants, as well as those who simply wanted to enjoy the pageant.
Miss Galloway, an art teacher at the Sandys Community Centre, was the youngest and at 4 feet 10 and half inches, looked to be also the shortest contestant.
In fact she admitted that she was surprised to win because she is short. “I was nervous on the catwalk because I am so much shorter than the other women,” she said. “I practiced as much as I could on it and that helped my confidence.”
She said she joined the pageant to reset her idea of beauty. “I wanted to learn how to present myself as a woman to the public,” she said. “What I did not expect was the inner growth that I experienced.”
She said the experience has caused her to look at some aspects of her life in a new light. “I appreciate my beauty and I value who I am as a woman even though I have a few extra curves,” she said.
A day after the win she said she is still overwhelmed. “I wasn’t expecting it because I knew what my head was thinking,” she said. “It just goes to show that f you bring your best, your nervousness will not show.”
Using her pageant experience to gain confidence and pursue her dreams and interests, Miss Galloway said she is currently teaching herself art.
“I was in the programme at Bermuda College but I was not focusing on my work so my guidance counselor suggested I get a job,” she said. She enjoys her current post, where she teaches young children art at the Sandys Community Centre, but she said she does want to return to formal studies.
“I most certainly want to get an art degree,” she said. “ I have a lot to learn and I want the chance to be more than good – to be outstanding.”
Ms Galloway currently works mostly with graphite. “I am enjoying using any type of pencil including charcoal,” she said. “I’m also staring with some acrylic painting.”
Miss Galloway was not the only winner on Sunday night:
- First runner up – Miss Sandy’s South, Tahira Grant.
- Second runner up – Miss Hamilton parish, Jeannine Smith.
- Third runner up – Miss Smith’s Headilene Stevenson
- Fourth runner up – Miss Sandys North, Shekiah Bean.
- Miss Congeniality – Miss Southampton, Roshanda Trott
- Best Personal style – Miss Devonshire, Eugenia Robinson
- Miss Sweet Charity (awarded for community service) – Miss Devonshire, Eugenia Robinson.
- Miss Photogenic – Miss Smiths, Headilene Stevenson
- Miss Super Model Plus – Miss Warwick, Asha Galloway
- Miss Talent – Miss Southampton, Roshanda Trott
Photos courtesy of Judy Outerbridge, click to enlarge:
Read More About
Category: All, Style & Beauty
