Former Police Cadet and social sciences student Joanne Darrell has been crowned Miss Bermuda.

Miss Darrell, 21, who represented Smith's Parish, fought off competition from seven other Island beauties to pick up the coveted title at City Hall on Saturday night.

The eight competitors had to go through a rigorous set of tests in front of a panel of judges, including interviews, a choreographed dance routine and a swimsuit parade.

"I was a bit nervous but at the same time confident,'' a bubbly Miss Darrell said after her victory. "I'd put a lot of work in the last four months. I was well prepared.

"My family encouraged me but basically it was something I decided to do by myself. I saw it as a new challenge, a chance to do something different.

"I had a wonderful time at the competition. It was very stressful but at the same time it was very enjoyable.'' Miss Darrell, a former Warwick Academy and Bermuda College student, is now studying social sciences at the University of Guelph in Ontario.

"My degree is pretty broad so hopefully I should be able to tackle any job,'' she said. "I haven't really made up my mind what I want to do long term. I just hope that, this year I can be a role model for our youth, particularly people like students at CedarBridge, and show them what they can achieve. It will also give me a chance to meet lots of different people.'' Miss Darrell spent four months getting fit, watching her diet and keeping up on current affairs in preparation for the event.

"I read The Royal Gazette every day,'' she said. "The competition has a lot more emphasis on the intellectual, it's not as sexist as it used to be. We weren't in bathing suits for that long and we also had a chance to meet the judges on Friday night for a few hours so they could get to know us.'' St. George's Naimah Denbrook was runner-up in the competition and was also named Miss Photogenic.

Miss Pembroke Kelly Southern came third and scooped up the Miss Congeniality title.

Miss Darrell will now represent Bermuda in the Miss Universe competition next year.