BACK in September, 17-year-old Alyssa Rose was crowned Miss Teen Bermuda, taking home more than $5,000 in cash and prizes as well as the titles of Miss Photogenic, Miss Congeniality and Best Personal Style.

For the past few months, she has been touring the island attending charity events and promoting causes of litter removal and the prevention of road fatalities.

All of her hard work, however, will culminate this weekend when she travels to St. Kitts to participate in the 29th annual Haynes Smith Miss Caribbean Talented Teen Pageant.

The event will feature five segments, including a Production Number, Ambassadorial Appearance, Talent, Evening Wear and an Interview. There are also a few new initiatives that have been added to this year's competition, including an EC$2,000 (around $730) award for the winner of the Talent segment.

According to Antonio Maynard, chairman of the pageant's committee, the event over the years has gained the reputation of being one of the most prestigious and entertaining pageants in the Caribbean.

"This year promises to be no exception to the tremendous excellence in presentation, pageantry and excitement that is always evident," he said.

Miss Rose, the second contestant to enter the pageant from Bermuda (Alexa Lightbourne being the first), has been attending dance classes, interview practices and dress fittings for months. Two of Miss Rose's gowns, a main component to the show, have been designed and made by local designer Lyn Charles.

Ms Charles, who studied at the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York City and worked as an assistant designer with haute couture label Badgley Mischka, designed and constructed two dresses for the event with the help of her mother Cathy Charles, a retired jeweler and experienced seamstress.

In the Ambassadorial segment of the pageant, Miss Rose must act as a representative of her native country and give a speech about a current issue affecting her homeland. She must also dress in a gown that "depicts or describes any aspect of your country/island's culture, heritage or current lifestyle."

Ms Charles' interpretative design for this segment is based upon a Bermuda onion featuring four layers of light peach coloured silk-faced satin, crystal organza, netting and tulle. The top consists of three layers of shades of green in silk-faced satin to produce a rich colour and texture.

While the concept of the onion dress was conceived earlier, Ms Charles and her mother sat down side-by-side with two sewing machines in her apartment last Saturday night and constructed the dress from start to finish.

"It was an organic process," said Ms Charles, who is also a graphic artist with the Department of Tourism. "It was just the two of us playing around with the fabrics to see what we could come up with."

Ms Charles also designed Miss Rose's evening gown (pictured) as well that sparkles blue inspired by the brilliant hue of Bermuda's waters. Made of silk-faced satin with a flowing chiffon top, the dress evokes the ebb and flow of Bermuda's shoreline.

"The top of the dress was inspired by the rolling waves and the waters of Bermuda was it is calm and rough," said the designer.

The dress' mermaid silhouette is also reflective of Bermuda's waters and is tailored to Miss Rose's petite figure.

"Alyssa is small and petite so I wanted to accentuate her curves while also keeping it youthful," said Ms Charles."It strikes a balance between sophisticated and sexy but also youthful and age appropriate."

These dresses are Ms Charles' first public debut of her designs in Bermuda – and she decided to donate her work to a worthy cause like Miss Teen Bermuda. She's hoping that along with Miss Rose's presence and talent, her designs will help her take the Miss Caribbean Talented Teen Pageant title.

"Alyssa's an all-around good girl, I think she's going to do well in the competition," she said.

The pageant begins on Monday, December 29 in Carnival City, Basseterre, St. Kitts.

For more information on the pageant visit www.caribbeantalentedteens.com.