Miss Caymans on tour as competition draws near

(CNS): With only two weeks to go before the big night, the Miss Cayman Islands contestants have been getting out and about recently. The girls were visiting various tourist attractions and posing for photos onGrand Cayman with Sir Turtle this week and this weekend they head to the Sister Islands. Venessa Ebanks, Mysti Bush, Trudy Ann Duncan, Shari Walton and Cristin Alexander will spend the weekend touring Cayman Brac and Little Cayman as well as saying hello to residents and supporters.

Contestant # 1: Venessa Ebanks

A self described tomboy as a child, Venessa grew to be a major sport enthusiast who actively participated in many extra-curricular events and sports competitions in high school. Today, this West Bay resident has evolved into a well-rounded young woman who is confident that the Miss Cayman Islands pageant will help her lose her shyness and equip her to face any obstacles in life without hesitation.

Miss Ebanks hopes to become a successful photographer, film director or actress who will be a great ambassador for Cayman, similar to Selita Ebanks who has brought positive attention to the country and gained many accolades for her achievements in the fashion and entertainment industries. No stranger to community involvement, Venessa learned about goodwill and survival as part of Pathfinders when she was younger and was also a committed member of her church‟s mass choir. She has selected Lighthouse School as her platform and wholly enjoys music in all forms.

Contestant # 2: Mysti Bush

Mysti resides in the district of Bodden Town and considers herself to be a mirror of her mother, a strong- minded, determined woman. What Mysti likes most about her country is the Caymanian culture and local cuisine. Among her favourites are run down and fried fish and fritters. To date, her greatest accomplishment is completing her Bachelors Degree in Finance at the University of Webber International. Here goals and aspirations include the attainment of a Masters Degree in Human Resources and to one day open her own Spa, specialising in massage therapy.

She states that the Miss Cayman Pageant would enable her to focus on more of her attention on concerns facing the Islands, such as the development of our youth and their education. She would like to bring more attention to Cayman‟s youth by offering more guidance and support, as she strongly feels they need more nurturing and someone to look up to. This is one of the reasons she mentors "Littles‟ in the Big Brother Big Sister Programme.

Contestant # 3: Trudyann Duncan

Trudyann Duncan hails from the district of North Side where she‟s lived since she moved to Grand Cayman from Kingston, Jamaica. She aspires to be the best she can be at whatever she sets out to accomplish and entered this year‟s pageant for a chance to make a difference in other people‟s lives while working with her chosen charity. She also looks forward to enhancing her own growth and development via the training she has already begun to receive with respect to public speaking skills, etiquette and general deportment. Should she win the crown, she says it would be her privilege to represent Cayman abroad and at home.

Trudyann has obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science with a concentration in Networking and is currently CompTIA industry certified in A+ and Network+. She hopes to complete a MSc in IT in the near future which will enable her to one day achieve her career goal of becoming a CIO and role model. Trudyann also enjoys reading, photography, working on computers and teaching a small IT class in her spare time

Contestant # 4: Shari Walton

Shari Venessa Walton is a graduate (Honours) of John Gray High School (2007) after receiving higher level passes in nine(9) examinations, and went on to attain an Associates of Business Administration at the University College of the Cayman Islands in July 2009. She is currently a second year student at the Cayman Islands Law School, pursuing an LL.B Honours Degree and plans to transfer to the University of Liverpool or London University to complete her studies when the time is right.

Shari‟s hobbies and interests include dance, writing poetry, historical literature, reading romance novels, working out in the gym (including an interest in amateur boxing for fitness purposes); running on the beach, going to the movies, and simply relaxing with family and friends. She describes herself as a humble, independent and friendly person who is passionate about love, life, family and loyalty. One of those passions is her dedication and loyalty to her chosen platform “The Estella Scott-Roberts Foundation” (ESRF) focusing on helping women and children in our society who are experiencing or influenced by violence and/or sexual abuse. Shari believes passionately in stepping out from the crowd and highlighting these issues as a means to helping others.

Contestant # 5: Cristin Alexander

23 year old Cristin Alexander is a recent graduate of the University of Western Ontario where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology with the added distinction of making the Dean‟s list in her final year. Originally from the tranquil district of Bodden Town, this 6-foot beauty now resides in the central George Town area but still maintains fond memories of growing up with a large and extended family in her “hospitable and residential” community.

Cristin has a passion for instilling a greater sense of national pride and identity in young Caymanians and hopes to use her involvement in the Miss Cayman competition as a launch pad to achieve this goal. As a strong and independent woman, she aspires to be a good role model who by example, will empower our youth to reach their fullest potential. Miss Alexander is happy and adventurous by nature but also values regular quiet time to explore her thoughts. She embraces all experiences and opportunities in life and strives to learn and grow from them.