fp Turks and Caicos

A bevy of beauties participated in a unique beauty show, but only one took home the crown and title of the first Miss Body Beautiful TCI.

Latoya Pinder won the crowd over with her confident demeanor, healthy physique and captivating stage presentation.

What separates this pageant from others is its aim to aspire women to appreciate their beauty on the inside as well as their exterior beauty. The event is a fitness and personal growth competition, geared towards empowering women to accept themselves as they are. The pageant was open to ladies 18 years of age and older, with no restriction on height, body shape, marital status or nationality.

“I am truly ecstatic that I won,” 25-year-old Latoya said. “I prepared myself, took on board the advice and coaching provided, and went out on that stage with the knowledge that I was the winner. And with my faith and belief that I can do all things in Christ who strengthens me — I felt self assured that the crown was mine.”

Latoya also won the “Facebook Like Me” award with 386 votes.

Prior to the competition, all contestants had the opportunity to get as fit as they could with complementary training courtesy of Rock It Hot Fitness Studio, as well as various self-improvement workshops hosted by Tremainne Swann-Harvey, Straudy Lightbourne and Courtney Robinson.

Event judges included Wenieka Ewing, who represented the Turks and Caicos Islands at the 2005 Miss Universe Pageant held in Bangkok Thailand; Kazz Forbes, who is a photographer and fashion designer for Saint George Fashion House; LIME’s Delleriece Hall; fitness guru John Wright; and Constance Lighbourne-Cousins, who was the first Miss Turks and Caicos (1979) and represented the country at the Miss Universe Pageant in Seoul, Korea, in 1980.

During the initial segment of the competition, contestants were judged on their confidence, personality, performance and overall stage presentation, where five ladies were selected to the next stage of the competition. The top five ladies — Shamarah Rigby, Janice Bernadin, Straudia Forbes, Sarantina Phlintrophe and Latoya Pinder — had to answer the surprise question of the night: “Why do you think your body is beautiful?”

Latoya Pinder was crowned Miss Body Beautiful TCI 2012,  Janice Bernadin was first runner up, and Straudia Forbes was second runner up.

The winners took home great prizes donated by sponsors, including BlackBerry phones with LIME service, prize money, weekend getaways and gift certificates.

Spectators were also entertained by musical performances from BlaKouT and DMV, poetry readings from Audley “Illegal Poet” Astwood and a dance routine from Dion Pratt Jr.

The show returns next year with an additional component, the “Mr. Best Body” competition.