ANGUILLA--Miss Universe Great Britain (MUGB) Dee-Ann Kentish Rogers on Thursday, August 2, at the Reef by CuisinArt Hotel shared her experiences leading up to winning the pageant title and what is planned as she goes forward to represent Great Britain in the Miss Universe pageant to be held in Bangkok, Thailand on December 16.
Rogers said that one of her 2018 New Year’s resolutions was to challenge herself, and one of those challenges was to complete and submit the application paperwork to participate in the MUGB pageant, which she did on January 1. She received an invitation to interview with the chairperson of the MUGB organisation, and one week following her interview was informed that she had made it to the final. She said, “That is when preparations ramped up. From June onwards, I concentrated on modelling, dieting, interview preparation – I was going for it.”
Rogers was one of 37 competitors selected for the finals. All competitors participated in a four-day series of events which included a day which manifested empowerment and sisterhood; a full day of rehearsals and a fundraiser for the charity entitled A Sisterhood-For Women Everywhere which focusses on women’s issues globally. The final day was devoted to rehearsals at the venue, followed by the off-stage interview session which consisted of six judges asking a multitude of free ranging questions to each competitor.
Following the interviews, the pageant began with swimwear, followed by evening wear. The top five competitors were then announced, with Rogers being one of the five. She said, “When I was called into the top five group, it was a surreal moment for me. I always hoped to make it to the top five, and when I made it, I was really excited.”
When the five were called back to the stage, and the two runners-up were called, she said she honestly felt that any of the three remaining, of which she was one, could have been the winner. When she heard her name, she said, “I couldn’t believe it, because everyone worked hard and did their best in that particular moment – it could have been anyone of us.” She went on to say that since winning, it has been a whirlwind of media events with media around the world. She said, “It’s been amazing. It’s signalled to me that my win was not just big for the UK, but big for the world. The attention that I’ve received has been a win for both Anguilla and the UK.”
Rogers said that since returning home to Anguilla on Saturday, July 28, she has been amazed, honoured and dumbfounded by the support given to her, saying that it was a special moment for her. She said she looks forward to travelling to Thailand in November, three weeks prior to the December 16 pageant. She will also be travelling to India, South Africa and the United Kingdom for charitable events, as well as travelling with the Miss Universe franchise on a press tour in October – destinations not yet released. She ended by saying that she has been privileged and very happy to be named MUGB, and able to share it with the world and Anguilla – and hopefully in December the blessings will continue.
Manager of Corporate Affairs at the Anguilla Tourist Board (ATB) Shellya Rogers-Webster said, “The ATB is honoured to be associated with Miss Kentish Rogers. We knew that she had what it took to be crowned the MUGB winner, and we are so happy that she was so successful. Investment in Team Dee-Ann is an investment in Anguilla as the island’s visibility has expanded globally since her success at the MUGB pageant.” Webster said that the ATB will continue to support her as she goes forward to compete in the Miss Universe pageant.
