Four months leading up to the Miss Universe Pageant and Miss BVI Josefina Nunez and committee members are very confident that the local queen is ready to take up the challenge to rightfully represent the BVI.

"If the pageant is to be called next week, definitely Kathy (Josefina Nunez) would take it by the horn," Chairperson of the Miss BVI Committee, Mrs. Alicia Green told BVI Platinum News.

In an interview on Wednesday, both Green and Nunez expressed satisfaction with the level of preparedness of the beauty for the pageant which will be held in August. The date and venue is yet to be announced.

While marketing the BVI, Nunez and the committee is cognizant that she has to be well prepared for a pageant of such caliber.

Nunez said that she has been receiving training in Puerto Rico, in the areas of poise, photography, stage walking, communication skills and etiquette among other areas.

"I am training at the gym here (Tortola) and some personal training with Lisa. So, I am also training on my body, like keeping my body toned and getting ready for the big day," she said.

Photo Credit: BVI Platinum News

Photo Credit: BVI Platinum News

Green, who described Nunez as a person with natural talent and passion for what she does, said that the committee is well aware that pageants are not just about showcasing pretty girls and must be used as a tool to market the Territory.

"We are definitely engaging her with other key individuals for more communication skills experience because that is a really important part of Miss Universe. Miss Universe is pretty much about personality, physical fitness and the way you carry yourself and relate to other people."

She said, "believe it or not, when these girls show up and they see that British Virgin Islands tag across your chest, people come up to you and start asking you a whole bunch of questions. You need to know about the facts and culture of your country so you are able to share, and all these things we are trying to work on with Kathy. So when she goes across there, she is able to carry that message to help boost tourism."

Green said that the committee has certainly thrown its support behind Miss Nunez over the last several months. "From the committee´s perspective, the support is definitely there. We of course had to put together a financial budget that would cater to her entire wardrobe while she is at the Miss Universe. Part of her training in Puerto Rico - we definitely supported that."

Miss Nunez on the other hand said that she continues to preach and educate persons on her platform `depression´.

Miss Caribbean World Experience

Speaking on her experience at the Miss Caribbean World Pageant which was held on Tortola last month, Nunez said that despite what happened during her talent performance, she did a great job.

"What I learnt was that no matter what happens, I just have to continue the flow and go ahead because of what we saw on the talent and so forth. I think I did a great job and I did the best I could. I know I had a difficulty with the music and so forth and the whole misunderstanding, but we did not have a weak area," she asserted.

Green said that when she saw Nunez´s reaction due to the technical difficult, she knew that they had fallen back, since it was specified that there are points for flow.

"I think like any other human being, you would feel away when something like that happens to you and it´s sometimes hard to overcome that in five or ten minutes, which she (Nunez) had to come out for the other segments."

When asked if she felt that Nunez was sabotaged in anyway, Green said, "I cannot attest to that."

Nunez copped the Best Evening Wear and Best Costume awards at the pageant.

Meanwhile, Nunez said that her experience as Miss BVI has been magnificent and urged persons to support her in future endeavours as she continues her reign.

"I just want to say that I would really love their (public) support and love towards me and I will go out there and do my best and I will make them proud. The reign so far has been a good experience and I would encourage anyone to actually run for the show. I have no regrets."

Miss BVI, Josefina Nunez following the interview on Wednesday

Photo Credit: BVI Platinum News

Miss BVI, Josefina Nunez following the interview on Wednesday

Photo Credit: BVI Platinum News

Green said that it must be made clear that it´s not just about the big show. "A lot of these girls go through a series of training that encourages personal development. So the part I like to promote is what you get out of it from being a contestant, because the experience helps you to grow as a person to deal with situations as they come up."

Nunez also thanked Mark Vanterpool, Skelton's Group of Company, BVI Tourist Board, Infinite Solutions, Mellow Mood Cafe, and the IFC for their sponsorship and support at the Miss Caribbean World Pageant.

The Miss Universe Pageant is usually held in May, but this year it will be held in August. This means that the person who will be crowned Miss BVI 2010/2011 on August 1 will not be representing the BVI at the pageant since that person will not have the readiness to take part in the international pageant.

"Unfortunately it will overlap with our current Miss BVI pageant which is slated for August 1, so the time frame for that to prepare will be too short. So Kathy would go and the next year that person would go. You have to really prepare for this in advance," Green said.

This year the committee is aiming to have some six girls taking part in the local pageant and according to Green, they have already began to receive entries.

For more information on the Miss BVI pageant, visit www.missbvi.com