Growing up, 18-year-old Miss Bermuda contestant Lady Carmela Robinson was always turned off of the idea of beauty pageants.

She thought the women wore too much make-up and presented a false image of themselves to young girls. However, her whole view of pageants changed when she started researching what exactly the Miss Bermuda contest was about.

“In the Miss Bermuda competition each candidate is a unique individual and is treated accordingly,” she said. “We are not just a number — we are actually starting to become a family.”

Since signing up to vie for the title of Miss Bermuda 2014, Miss Robinson has taken part in an exciting array of photo shoots, workshops, daily exercise routines, and sessions to practice her walk.

All-in-all she said the experience has been “astounding”.

“You meet so many different people that can be a great influence in your life. The process has been a thrilling and a once-in-a-lifetime one,” she explained.

Miss Robinson, who is fluent in English and Tagalog (a language spoken in the Philippines), can also read, speak and write in Korean at an intermediate level.

She plans to graduate from Berkeley Institute next summer. After that she hopes to attend Temple University, where she wants to study Insurance and Risk Management.

If she was crowned Miss Bermuda next month she would focus all her sights on putting Bermuda on the map.

“It’s been 35 years since a Bermudian has been crowned Miss World and I strongly believe that it is time to bring the glorious crown back to our pink sandy shores,” she said.

She would also use the title to empower young women around the world, particularly those in undeveloped countries, and to establish a non-profit organisation that reaches out to victims of abuse.

Miss Robinson first realised she had a heart for empowering young people and helping the needy, while on a cultural and immersion programme in the Philippines at age 15.

“I witnessed extreme poverty where children didn’t have shoes on their feet,” she said. “The entire village had only one source of water. In that moment, I had an epiphany that I could radiate my positivity here.

“I applied the leadership skills I gained in Bermuda and established a feeding and teaching programme to help children with reading, writing and math.”

Together with her school’s student council, Miss Robinson was able to give a small donation of food every time she visited the Philippines.

She was also able to fundraise and provide scholarships for ten young men and women to complete their high school education.

She said she would be honoured to be represent the Island and have the opportunity to reach out to other young people and impact their lives.

“I want to be able to inspire people and spread love throughout our country,” Miss Robinson explained. “I have learned that regardless of colour, race, religion, sex, ethnicity and whatever differences we may have, in the good Lord’s eyes we are all considered as one big family.”

So far the biggest challenge she’s encountered through the pageant has been trying to balance her Miss Bermuda duties, along with school and a part-time job.

“I am still a student in high school and having so many things on my plate can be very overwhelming,” she said. “However, time management is key and so far I have been able to manage it wisely.”

One thing that helps her to stand out from the other contestants in this year’s pageant is her lively personality. Whether they are rehearsing or taking part in a photo shoot, she is always making sure the other girls are laughing.

The Miss Bermuda pageant takes place on July 6.

Useful website: www.missbermuda.bm.