Up Front
Debra Randall -
Cayman's first MissSuper Model
Debra and her mom, Evie, after the contest
Sixteen-year-old John Gray High final yearstudent, Debra Randal, walked away with the coveted 'Miss Supermodel2001' crown from a field of eight on the night of Saturday, 20thJanuary, at the Harquail Theater.
Brother David, who is currently pursuing a first degree in businessadministration at Broward Community College, in Miami, came homethat weekend especially for the occasion so as to lend moral supportto his baby sister.
On hand to cheer her on also were mom, Evie, 'big sister', Cheryl,who is an accountant with Cable & Wireless, and adopted twinsisters, nine-year-old Veronica and Vanessa. Father Barry, wholives in Miami, was unable to make it for his daughter's big night.
Like the contest itself, it was Debra's first experience on stage,thanks to close friend and rival for the title, Crystal, who itwas that encouraged her to enter the pageant.
Still unable to believe her good fortune, Debra is quoted as saying:"It still hasn't clicked to me as yet, that I became thefirst supermodel to represent Cayman, but I guess it will sometimelater. Maybe when it comes time to give up my crown!"
Noting that participating in the contest and subsequently goingon to win the crown involved a lot of hard work, not only forher but the other contestants as well, Debra said, it was "practise;practise; practise!" But they also had a lot of fun.
Now that she has one crown under her belt, Debra has her sightsset on 'Miss Teen Cayman' and 'Miss Cayman' further down the road.Said her mom, Debra inherited her winning streak from her sideof the family.
She recalled that in one year alone, that there were as many asthree 'Queens' in the family. That was back in 1975, the yearher sister Annie won the title as 'Miss Cayman Brac'.
For the moment, however, Debra plans buckling down to her studiessince she is currently preparing to write her CXCs, six subjectsin all, following which she plans joining her brother in Augustat Broward to pursue studies in psychotherapy.
Meantime, she has a word of advice for other aspiring young MissSupermodels: "Go for it, but remember, winning isn't everything.You might be known as Miss Supermodel, but that is only for ayear. For the rest of your life, you will be known as who youare and not what you were.