Alyssa Rose said her biggest dream had come true after being named Miss Bermuda 2015 at a glittering pageant last night at The Fairmont Southampton.

The 22-year-old, who represented Smith’s, told The Royal Gazette: “Imagine your biggest dream coming true: that’s exactly what just happened. I’ve been looking forward my entire life for this. It’s shocking, it’s unexpected, but I am ready to be a part of making Bermuda better.”

The victory means she will represent the Island in the upcoming 65th annual Miss World competition, scheduled for December 19 at the Beauty Crown Grand Theatre in Sanya, China.

The keen dancer hopes to apply her academic background in marketing and design toward promoting Bermuda and becoming an ambassador for the Island — “not only as the gorgeous destination it is, but also marketing our people”, she told judges.

Her new role “should embody entegrity, responsibility and passion”, Mr Rose said, quoting Theodore Roosevelt: “People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.”

Ms Rose competed against five other beauties for the crown: Tamara Bradshaw, of Warwick; Brittany Madeiros, of Southampton; Kathryn O’Connor, of Devonshire; Ligaya Sanchez-Wilson, of Pembroke, and Kayla Williams, of Paget.

She inherited the crown from Lillian Lightbourn, Miss Bermuda 2014, who extolled the pageant was “a beautiful experience that changed who I was” — praising organiser Milika Trott-Seymour for reviving Miss Bermuda.

Preparations will start right away, Ms Rose said, on top of finishing her dissertation for her Master’s degree, with graduation from university coming up in January.

Ms Sanchez-Wilson won the Peoples’ Choice Award, while Ms O’Connor took Miss Congeniality, and Ms Williams was crowned Miss Hospitality. Ms Rose, of Smith’s, also took the category for Miss Photogenic.