The winner of last year’s Miss Bermuda Pageant is urging young Bermudian women to hurry and sign up for the next pageant - as the deadline is fast approaching.The competition is open to Bermudian girls aged 17 to 24. Last year 23-year-old Jana Outerbridge was chosen as the Miss Bermuda Pageant winner. She went all the way to the 61st Miss World Pageant held in London last November and placed 76 out of 113 girls, an amazing achievement for a girl from an island the size of Bermuda.“If you are looking to have a once in a lifetime experience I encourage you to participate,” said Miss Outerbridge. “If this is something you are even considering it is worth trying. You never know what the outcome will be. The valuable relationships you build along the way will last longer than the crown. I am certain that the friendships and networks I have made will last a lifetime.”Miss Bermuda Pageant director Milika Trott-Seymour said last year 15 girls competed and pageant organisers are expecting more this year, because of Miss Outerbridge’s high profile participation. The community rallied around Miss Outerbridge with AS Coopers providing her wardrobe. Although she didn’t win the London pageant, she returned to the Island, bolstered by the opportunity to participate, and grow.“It was a great experience, but our schedule was very, very busy,” Miss Outerbridge said after the event.Ms Seymour went with Miss Outerbridge to the competition, and was also awed by the experience of being involved with such a high profile, and high security event overseas.“Seeing it live and seeing Bermuda participating once again was an amazing experience especially with all the people from Bermuda who were there in the crowd,” Ms Seymour said in an earlier interview. “I think Jana got the most cheers of anybody there.”Registration will run until January 15 and anyone that is interested should download an application from the official pageant website www.missbermuda.bm or telephone Ms Seymour at 704-1469 with any questions.