Garden of the Groves - Freeport, Grand Bahama Island, Bahamas

Miss Universe contingent visits the Garden of the Groves in Grand Bahama
Written by The Bahamas Weekly   

Michelle Hanson, Rudy Sawyer, Miss Universe 2008 Dayana Mendoza and Erika Gates stand at the entrance area of Garden of the Groves. Photo: Lyndah Wells

Freeport, Grand Bahama Island - The 84 beauty queens of the Miss Universe Pageant arrived at the Grand Bahama International Airport bright and early August 9th to a moving and powerful performance by the Grand Bahama Youth Choir directed by Kevin Tomlinson singing, "Welcome to Grand Bahama" .

From the airport the entourage, including much international press, made their way by police escort to breakfast and a welcome by Vernice Walkine, Director General, Ministry of Tourism at Club House of the Grand Bahama Yacht Club. A photo opportunity followed breakfast.

After their stop at the Yacht Club the contestant paid a brief visit to the Garden of the Groves nature reserve for a photo opportunity, whereupon the contestants returned for rehearsals for the swimsuit portion of the pageant set for Sunday afternoon at the Radisson at Our Lucaya. Miss Universe 2008, Dayana Mendoza stayed on to be toured around the Gardens.

 

Miss Universe 2008 Dayana Mendoza on a tour of the Garden of the Groves, Grand Bahama Island. Photo: Lyndah Wells

Miss Universe 2008, Dayana Mendoza stands with the 2009 contestants out front of the Garden of the Groves in Grand Bahama Island on August 9th. Photo: Lyndah Wells

The contestants of the Miss Universe 2009 Pageant stand in front of the gates of Garden of the Groves in Grand Bahama Island on August 9th, 2009. Photo: Lyndah Wells

 

 Article & photos courtesy The Bahamas Weekly