Whenever a Bahamian goes abroad to rep the 242 and does it well, the entire country notices! So it was automatic when pageant queen Selvinique Wright put on for her city at the Miss Grand International pageant in Las Vegas last month, Bahamians from everywhere rallied around the leggy beauty with praises.
Selvinique showed up and showed out at the pageant placing in the Top 10 and walking away with the prize for best in swimsuit!
For years Bahamian pageant queens have strutted their stuff on runways all around the world, sometimes falling short of the crown and sash up for grabs. But with Selvinique delivering a Bahamian double whammy at her latest showing, proves that local pageantry is on the right track!
eLIFE242 reached out to the beauty queen who spilled the beans on her latest experience and much needed fixes to the local pageant scene.
“Oh My goodness, the feeling is still so surreal! If you’ve watched the video, the reaction to it all was so pure,” she says. I was filled with joy and gratitude and each time I was called I would thank the Lord because it was all because of him. I didn’t make top 5 but I can assure you I felt as though I had won it all. I smiled so much and so hard!”
Many Bahamians watched the pageant live on Facebook and immediately started rooting on our girl. Advancing to the Top 10 was a feat for Team Bahamas, whose queens sometimes miss the mark in the semifinals!
“This accomplishment has placed us in the section of countries to watch,” Selvinique adds. “We may be small in numbers compared to other counties but we came together and got our national costume into Top 10 and I proved to my country that IT CAN BE DONE! From being at Miss Grand International I understood that with pageants abroad YOU HAVE TO PUSH! You have to make yourself known, put yourself out there and NEVER FALL TO THE BACK! Bahamians tend to be passive and when you’ve got gorgeous women from all around the world that will hinder you!”
She says her latest experience has also opened her eyes to things that need to change on the local pageant scene, things she says are holding The Bahamas back from doing much better in pageantry.
“Pageantry in the Bahamas isn’t treated the way it is in other countries, especially Latin countries, and if we want to be a “Sash Power” country, we have got to first start by doing pageantry “fairly” here,” Selvinique says. “And you have to invest in your queen the right way! It’s okay to take a page out of Venezuela’s handbook!
“This was my first international pageant and I couldn’t have asked for a better first time experience. My journey at MGI began late due to the hurricane, but the saying “better late then never” fits oh so well. Although I missed a few of the tours, I fell right into the Miss Grand International family. The girls were amazing and the organization and its team were more than I could’ve ever hoped for. Heels everyday has done a number on my feet but it comes with the title lol. I’ve made bonds that I never would’ve thought possible and I’ve gotten the name of my country to roll off the tongue of fans all around the world. Needless to say the experience has been a wondrous one.”
Selvinique says her favorite thing to do is exceeding her own expectations.
“I have moments of trepidation and when I prove myself wrong that’s the greatest feeling ever! Yes proving the critics and doubters wrong feels amazing too, but when you get over the biggest hurdle in life which tends to be oneself, nothing can surpass that feeling.”
The pageant queen says she’s continuously working on her craft and career and adds that she’s got a few things in the works that will for sure make The Bahamas will be proud!