Miss Cayman 2008 Gets Mixed Reaction

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Miss Cayman 2008 Gets Mixed Reaction
Published on Wednesday, August 27, 2008	Email To Friend Print Version
Miss Cayman Islands 2008 Nicosia Lawson after her win at the Lions Centre. Photo by Debra Edwards By Debra Edwards debra@caymannetnews.com On Saturday, 23 August, George Town resident Nicosia Lawson was crowned Miss Cayman Islands 2008, only to receive a mixed crowd reaction, of applause and boos, at the Lions Centre. The 25 year-old Lawson as well as the other contestants - such as undeniable crowd favourite and first runner up Danielle Ebanks - were stunning from start to finish. Miss Lawson, however, proved herself most worthy when she answered a question on childhood obesity with the eloquence and candor suggestive of a queen. The dissent surrounding Miss Lawson’s win spilled over into Monday, 25 August, with callers bombarding local morning radio shows to voice their disapproval of the new winner; not because she is not beautiful, not because she doesn’t have the intellect to represent the country, but rather because she was not born in the Cayman Islands, and is just a status holder. “The girl who won is not Caymanian by birth, but she has her papers. I don’t think it is fair because the true Caymanians who were up there couldn’t win because a girl from St Lucia won, who I heard came here when she was 12 or 13,” said an angry Caymanian by birth who requested anonymity. Miss Lawson was actually born in St Vincent and the Grenadines, and came to Cayman when she was eight years old. “Miss Cayman should be a born Caymanian not a ‘paper Caymanian’,” the woman continued. “I thought the Lions (Miss Teen Cayman organisers) were better than this.There was a Jamaican girl who competed in Miss Teen Cayman Brac but she didn’t win the title. “If I was there (at the Lions Club) I probably would have raised a stink, too,” she said. Claiming no prejudice towards expatriates on ‘her island’ she added, “I don’t have any problems with expats, but when they win a title like Miss Cayman it really boils my blood.” Miss Cayman Islands Chairperson Jacqueline Terry lamented the controversy. “It is sad that they have chosen to focus on this because the Miss Cayman Islands Committee has made it our duty to prepare not only the winner of the pageant, but also all the entrants, to be exceptional representations of our country, and be good role models for the future generation,” she said. “We elected four professional and competent local judges and one foreign judge, who we charged with the responsibility of picking the next Miss Cayman Islands because we believed they would be fair, and there is nothing to suggest that they weren’t.” Concerned by the state of events since Miss Lawson’s win, Mrs Terry said, “We are in line with the international rules. Nicosia met the criteria to participate in the pageant, and is a citizen of this country. We did our due diligence and liaised with immigration to ensure that all contestants have the proper documentation to enter the competition and she has that, so really I don’t understand what the problem is.” Dawn McLean-Sawney, Ministry of Tourism Representative for the Miss Cayman Islands Committee, reiterated Mrs Terry’s statement. “The eligibility rules for entering the Miss Cayman Islands pageant are in full alignment with those set for international contests such as Miss World and Miss Universe,” she said. “That being said, Miss Nicosia Lawson is a naturalised Caymanian with Caymanian Status and a Caymanian passport. She has lived the majority of her life here in Cayman and in the past has represented her chosen country overseas.  Nicosia is not the first recipient to have possessed Caymanian status; numerous queens dating back many years have also done so.” Mrs McLean-Sawney then added, “Unfortunately all eight young Caymanian ladies couldn’t be crowned on Saturday night at the Lions Centre.  There can be only one winner. The committee therefore offers its heartiest congratulations to Nicosia; she proved herself to be not only physically beautiful, but possessive of charm, poise and intelligence. “She has an exciting year to look forward to and has the full confidence and support of the Miss Cayman Islands Committee, the Ministry of Tourism, family, friends and the community behind her. Nicosia – We know you will continue to do us proud just as you and all of the contestants did this past Saturday evening.” Ms Lawson had this to say about the skepticism that has greeted her win. “Cayman is all I know, and is the country that I love and identify with.” Harbouring no ill feelings to her critics, she added: “These things help to build character.”

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Comments:

Roy McKenzie:
If after these exhaustive preparation of a Queen to be Miss Cayman and to represent Cayman in Miss World a birth issue arises, it should be made clear before such contest the criteria. If only a Caymanian by birth, say so before so as to avoid embarrassment and insult to these brilliant girls when they do excel in competitions and win. It is ironic that some our athletes not Caymanians by birth, do represent Cayman abroad without controversy.

Sharmaine Anderson:
It is so sad to know that our own Caymanians feel this way. I feel disgusted at this letter that was published in the papers. This Di Bodden person must remember that many of our ancestors do not originate from the Cayman Islands. Ms Lawson has grown up in Cayman, the only place she knows as home. So I do not see where the problem is. It is obvious that the author of the letter has nothing better to do than to degrade people. If she/he felt so strongly then why was this individual not a contestant? I guess it�s also a problem for this person that Cydonie Mothersill represents Cayman and many other non-"Caymanians" also represent Cayman.
My mother was not born in the Cayman Islands, so who are you to tell me that she cannot represent this island proudly as she has given back to the community on numerous occasions. Her time, effort sweat and love have gone into helping many communities here in Cayman. She has known Cayman as her home from the time she was 11 years old. She has no intention of going back to where she was born. So if the Government sees it fit that she received "Caymanian Status" it is not up to small-minded people like this Di Bodden to determine whether or not people like my mother or Ms Lawson represent the Cayman Islands.
I wonder where she got this negative perspective from; it sure isn�t "Caymanian". The Cayman people that I know are loving, hardworking, supportive of each other [black, white, original Caymanian, paper Caymanian], and family- [community included] oriented. To me this Di Bodden and any other bad minded "Caymanian" does not deserve to be called Caymanian.
It is evident in Ms Lawson�s community involvement that her love [not her money] for the Cayman Islands is what sets her apart. I would understand the author�s point if Ms Lawson had recently received or migrated to Cayman, but this is not so. I do believe that Di Bodden needs to go back to his/her history to see which cultures make up a Caymanian. He/she may discover that people also migrated here. [Oops, I forgot, he/she grew up in the UK so he/she doesn�t really know what it is to be called Caymanian].
It is stated in the rules that all contestants must be Caymanian or Caymanian Status holders. So what is the fuss about? Ms Lawson broke no rules; she went out there and did a tremendous job. I hope to see Di Bodden in next year�s Ms Cayman or Mr Cayman pageant.
Native or not, Ms. Lawson does not have the connection that she does with Cayman. Why would she want to represent a country she knows minimal about?
Birthright... How naive can one person be? What birthright? I guess every woman should receive the $75,000, scholarship, car, laptop, etc. That title is earned not given away.

Rebecca Smalldon:
Oh for goodness sake. This type of negative attitude shows the prejudice of some Caymanians, which without a doubt will never stop. Surely the fact that the Cayman Islands grants a person Caymanian status gives that person the right to call themselves a Caymanian. How many people are granted status each year, who help bring money into the country? Some Caymanians should be ashamed of themselves. I had the pleasure of going to school with Nicosia from a very young age, Cayman should be proud to have this intelligent and vibrant young woman as a representative.
Well done to you, Nicosia, you totally deserve it and in my eyes you are 100% Caymanian, and bully for those ignorant people who say otherwise.

Di Bodden:
Just because someone is granted Cayman status does NOT give them the right to call themselves Caymanian. Regardless of what the Government stipulates, I have to say that being called Caymanian is a privilege that should only be privy to a �select� few of TRUE local people - not those that have only lived here. I don't care how many people bring money into the country - just because you have the luxury to invest in these islands should not be the driving force behind being called a Caymanian, Rebecca Smalldon! How can you say that? If I were to travel to the US and become a permanent Resident, that's all I would be: a Resident, NOT an American! I have also had my British citizenship since I was 8 and have lived there until I was 26 [when my education was completed] but you will NEVER hear me call myself BRITISH! Obviously this Nicosia Lawson has no sense of loyalty to her true native country of the St Vincent and the Grenadines! Why doesn't she go back there and win Ms St Vincent and leave the title of Ms CAYMAN to a CAYMANIAN? That's right - it's Ms Cayman Islands NOT Ms Wherever-You're-From-But-Have-Cayman-Status! All of the benefits - like the $75,000 scholarship, the car, laptop etc - should go to a Caymanian! It is, after all, their birthright!

Yvonne Lyfton:
This is a never ending lose-lose situation. You demand that persons that are Caymanian by birth be entitled to all things Caymanian. Then why is it that only a �select� few Caymanian-borns are afforded this much sought after nativity?
You're not Caymanian unless you're both there but you're still not Caymanian if you are!
Is it not you Caymanians that tote around British passports? Why are you still dependent on the British Commonwealth since you're all that a bag of conch chips? Know it or not, most indigenous Caymanians do not have what it takes to be Miss Anything. You could just kick everyone off the island in fine style but, gasp and horror, that would mean you'd actually have to do something yourself!
Isn't Selita Ebanks whooping it up in the US? I can bet not one American is murmuring about it and telling her she's not worthy enough to be there.

Melissa Marr:
Di Bodden,
Your comments are embarrassing, offensive and extremely ignorant. If someone EARNS Cayman status they are in fact Caymanians. I have to consider the reason you are so adamant against people living here is because you yourself didn�t. Spending 18 YEARS outside of your "home" country during your most formidable and important years of transition from a child into an adult is highly significant in creating the bonds of who you are today. I would dare say that Nicosia is more Caymanian than you because she lived, breathed, tasted, smelled and absorbed herself in all things Caymanian over the same amount of years that you didn�t. Becoming a resident will not is not the only requirement for you to become an American and similar with that in the Cayman Islands. It is called being a Permanent Resident [I understand why you are not familiar with this rule]. Obtaining your Status and Green Card is a higher level and will thus EARN you the right of being called citizens of both respective countries. The benefits and prizes were EARNED by the correct winner not by default i.e. birthright but by right. I wonder if you even attended the pageant.... I did and Nicosia was the CLEAR winner!

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