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Miss Alderney 2011 – Bonnie Flewitt
Miss Alderney 2011 steps out from behind the scene
After 62 years of Miss Alderney contests, it was all change this year when a totally new format was introduced , reflecting a number of requests and comments from previous and current Miss Alderney candidates.
This year, secrecy was the name of the game: Anybody wishing to enter the contest was invited to go online and download and email their entry form. The Alderney Week Team promised not to reveal the number of contestants nor their identity, other than the ultimate winner. Likewise, the independent panel of judges, not related or connected to the Alderney Week Team, would be assured anonymity.
The only disclosure would be on the night – Saturday 23 April, at the Miss Alderney Celebration Disco, when the winner would be announced and crowned.
The new formula resulted in a higher turnout of entries than in previous years.
And the winner is 20-year old Bonnie Flewitt who was crowned by Miss Alderney 2010 Joanna Woodnutt. Bonnie, a decorator who is currently working on the new care home, was chosen from a number of excellent candidates by the independent panel of judges who said it was a very close call between several candidates.
“I have been wanting to enter the Miss Alderney contest for a number of years and was very surprised to win. I am absolutely thrilled and I’m really looking forward to representing the island during Alderney Week and at the Jersey Battle of Flowers”, said Bonnie. When not decorating homes or painting scenery for Alderney Week or the Alderney Theatre Group, Bonnie enjoys aerobics, walking her dad’s dog, fishing with her boyfriend and reading. She would ultimately like to work with animals, possibly in a zoo or a rescue home.
For the past years, Bonnie has been involved with Alderney Week behind the scenes – helping to build and paint props and contraptions. Now she will be centre stage and she is determined to enjoy her year of reign.
What does it take to become Miss Alderney ?
Ilona Soane-Sands – organiser of the Miss Alderney Competition
Contestants must be 17 years of age on the 1st day of Alderney Week be single, live on the island and be here throughout Alderney Week. Important is an outgoing personality, enthusiasm and commitment to be a good ambassadress for her island. Together with Little Miss and Master Alderney and their friends and family, they are invited to enter a float for the Cavalcade. For the past fifteen years or more, the Miss Alderney Float has always claimed the trophy for Best Overall. However if the commitment to build a float proves too much of a problem, Miss Alderney has been offered to be driven in a beautiful vintage Bentley convertible limousine that day.
As to the duties of Miss Alderney, she will be attending a number of Alderney Week events to present prizes to the winners: On the first Saturday of Alderney Week she will be introduced to the public and , with the Town crier, will announce the start of Alderney Week. The following morning she will attend the official Alderney Week Church Service and later that afternoon, she will crown Little Holiday Prince and Little Miss Holiday Princess.
On Cavalcade Day, after the Cavalcade has arrived on the Butes, Miss Alderney will act as host to visiting Carnival Queens from Guernsey, Jersey and Beaumont-Hague and, on the last night of Alderney Week, she will lead the Torchlight Procession. And if you take a look at the photographs of Alderney Week 2010 which are published on our FlickR website, you’ll find Miss Alderney making frequent appearances throughout Alderney Week and are clearly enjoying every moment.
The following week, Miss Alderney will represent her island at the Jersey Battle of Flowers and the fantastic Moonlight Parade.
That’s all it takes and the successful candidates are guaranteed a fabulous season of glamour and fun. Any previous Miss Alderney is most welcome to enter next year’s contest again. There have been many occasions when the same young lady has held the title in different years, as can be seen on the “Miss Alderney Walk of Fame” page on this website.
Great prizes – to find out more, click here
60 years of Island History through the Eyes of Miss Alderney 1948—2008 now a feature film
During Alderney Week 2008 , many of the former Miss Alderneys joined us at a special celebration cocktail party on Saturday 2 August to celebrate 60 years of beautiful girls. The event was recorded by the film company Centre Media whose executive producer Kent Walwin was able to extract some great memories and facts during his interviews with these lovely ladies. The film –now available in DVD format – tells the tale of Alderney Week and, in particular, the Miss Alderney competition, which started in 1948 after the islanders, who had been evacuated during World War II, were at last able to return to their beloved Alderney.
The DVD is available for £4 from Alderney Week PO Box 138, Alderney GY9 3HF.