Ms. Swimwear Winner Ms. Alsandra Hanley

Despite a late start and at times lackluster sideshow acts, the swimwear show came out reasonably well. I know, I know. THEY CHEAT! That’s the statement I have heard the most about the competition this week, however I strongly disagree. Or rather, I think people are focusing their attention on the wrong issue. It may just be my opinion, but the only misplacement I saw in the final lineup was the position of 2nd Runner Up. I felt that Ms. Isaac, despite having a stunning smile and fabulous creative wear (which, let me add, really stood out to me as the best one, but was carried off disappointingly), did not perform to the caliber of deserving the position she received. I felt that there were other much more deserving contestants left standing without a well-earned prize. But that is my only issue with the result; it isn’t what everyone has been talking, arguing, or shouting about this week. That hot topic was that the crown itself was placed on the wrong head. I wholeheartedly disagree with that statement. I feel that Alsanarda being given the title was the correct decision, and I am not being biased. I had though, predicted from weeks ago when I first heard the names of the eight to compete, that Al possessed the characteristics, charm and talent to win the show. What I will admit to is totally underestimating Ms. Felicia Scott.

Though I know Ms. Scott and have had her model for me more than once, somehow in my head I had written her off as being one who would inevitably fade into the background. She made me eat those words almost from her first step on the stage on Sunday night. Even through the dismally choreographed ice breaker dance routine, there was just something more in her presence on stage. This was re-enforced in her one-piece appearance, and again in the two-piece. Boasting a fun, sexy strut and a vibrant bubbly personality, Felicia, unlike most of the other ladies, instantly connected with the crowd and I don’t doubt, the judges also. She had a flirty confidence which was truly unmatched by anyone else that night. Her downfall, I am sure, was her creative wear appearance, which was quite run-of-the-mill. So, all it would take to beat her to the crown was for one of the other contestants to be steady on her heels in all the categories and to get a high score in creative wear.

This, as I have been trying to explain to various people this week, was exactly what happened. The feat was achieved by Ms. Hanley, who was able to consistently perform at a standard which placed her second, or third even, in each category except that last. It was here in the last, and most highly scored segment, where she gained her advantage. Her phenomenal strut and dazzling features enabled her to maintain scores that were nipping at the heels of Ms. Silcott in the one- and two-piece. So it came down to the creative wear, where the ladies had to display an outfit which depicted their sponsor. Al graced the stage in her ensemble, and then after reappearing out of a prop shipping box, dazzled the crowd with an extremely popular tune, baton twirling, and a little dancing. Her performance hands down pushed her to the top of the scoring, thus winning the crown. Despite Felicia’s winning all but one of the final awards, her low score in creative rendered her unable to hold onto the winning spot.

Consistently doing one’s best will always beat a hot and cold performance when it comes to pageants. I know this to be a fact because it was only through consistently getting almost the best score that enabled me to win my crown so many years ago. This is a lesson which proves true throughout life. So, to all those still arguing about the result, know that the right girl won. I can’t see any reason to suspect cheating when I recap the show in my head. Let us all just accept the judges’ decision, congratulate the winner and move on. I, for one, have already shifted my thinking on to this Sunday’s Ms. Culture contest. Look out for my eveningwear design on one of the six beautiful contestants!