I’m doing this for Bermuda — beauty queen
A high-waisted skirt might just be the item that gets Alyssa Rose noticed by Miss World judges.
It’s the 23-year-old’s favourite among all the clothing she’s packed for the series of events that begin in China tomorrow.
A glam squad of friends and fashion experts at AS Coopers helped her prepare.
The colours of the metallic high-waisted skirt she fell in love with remind her of the sunset and its style represents her outgoing personality, she said.
“Normally, I have a relatively laid-back look in terms of beauty,” she said.
“I love the cat eye flick, and I usually leave my hair straight or add a bit of body with a curling wand.
“But when it comes to pageant prep it all changes quite drastically in terms of the time I take to do make-up and hair. I have had lessons at Bobbi Brown at AS Coopers and learnt how to do a smoky eye and have been practising up-dos and different hair styles and feel pretty confident about my look.”
One thing she’s not as certain about is what’s to come over the next month.
She left today for Sanya, billed as China’s Hawaii because of its long stretches of beach and tropical climate.
A series of tours and activities have been planned by pageant organisers before the grand finale on December 19.
“I’m a little bit nervous, anxious and very excited, but for the most part I’m feeling proud to be representing our beautiful Island home,” Miss Rose said.
“It’s been a roller coaster of emotions. In such a big competition like this it’s so important to remember that you’re only human. You can only handle and achieve so much, but it truly pushes you to reach limits you never knew existed.”
Her wardrobe consists of carefully selected dresses, casual clothes and workout gear. Exercise also played a big part in her preparations as did the experience gained from her previous pageants; Miss Rose won the title of Miss Bermuda in July, and took home the top prize in the teen version of the competition in 2008. “I constantly ask myself questions to ensure I’m ready for absolutely anything to be thrown my way,” she said. “When I step off of that plane the competition begins and it’s my full-time responsibility to be Bermuda’s spokesperson. I’m ready for it!”
She expects that the hardest part of the competition will be “the unknown”.
“Every year the host country changes, therefore the competition has to change to be relevant and pay respects to the country.
“As a result, it makes it difficult to know what exactly you’ll need and you have to be ready for hiccups as well. I travel alone so it’s really important to ensure I only take what’s necessary.”
Every Miss World contestant must make a contribution to a cause close to their hearts as part of a humanitarian project called Beauty with a Purpose. Miss Rose linked up with Dame Marjorie Bean Hope Academy and its associated charity, Friends of Hope Academy.
She hadn’t been exposed to many children with special needs in the past and said she has learnt a lot from working with the local school.
“It can be very costly to facilitate learning for children with special needs and in such a tough economic climate, it’s difficult for the associated charity to receive financial assistance or donations due to the lack of awareness here on the Island,” she said. “I wanted to help change that and have been volunteering by helping out at lunch hours to give the teachers a break to get ready for their next classes.
“The children are incredible and they teach me something new every time.
“They are uplifting and exciting; there is never a dull moment.
“Going forward, my plan is to use my background in marketing to help better promote the school and charity in the hopes of generating interest among the community and hopefully gaining more volunteers.”
In the meantime, she’s looking for some support of her own.
Back her in the Miss World competition in three ways: download the free Miss World app and cast your vote for Miss Rose to win the People’s Choice Award; follow her on Facebook: Miss World — Bermuda or Twitter: @mwbermuda; watch the live final on television on December 19, or the Miss World website.
“I’m doing this for Bermuda; to showcase our people and talents on an international scale and I hope everyone will help me on this once-in-a-lifetime experience,” she said.
“Your participation in this competition means the world to me and when things get challenging, it will remind me that no matter how far away I am, Bermuda is right there with me.”
See a video of Miss Bermuda: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xPXAF6gGl1Y
Must-haves from Alyssa Rose:
1. Bobbi Brown make-up. Miss Rose has a wide range of the brand’s products. She thinks they’re “perfect for the stage” and also “great for sensitive skin”.
2. False lashes. “Whether they are the individual lashes that last a few weeks or glue-on ones, they finish your overall look and make your eyes pop,” she said.
3. Keratherapy hair shampoo and conditioner. The 23-year-old said: “At Miss World I will have to do my hair every single day to be camera-ready and to ensure the hair is getting hydrated to avoid damage from the heat of styling tools. Keratherapy helps to restore the moisture and gives the hair a boost.”
4. Crest whitening strips. “I’ll be having photos taken of me continuously on a daily basis, and it’s imperative that your smile is bright. Crest whitening strips are amazing, they go on for half-an-hour and you can see an immediate difference.
5. OPI is Miss Rose’s favourite brand of nail polish. For pageants, she’ll select something neutral, or nude; essential when you need a colour that blends with each outfit. “The colour called ‘Don’t Bossa Nova Me Around’ is my nude pick from their collection and suits any occasion,” she said.
