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by pltm
(PLTM) - The spotlight on stage has many different meanings for persons, from building confidence to overcoming fear. For Helina Hewlett, it's all about finding her purpose in the world.
The 26 year-old hopeful is contestant #4 in this year’s 2017 Miss British Virgin Islands pageant.
Conscious of her age, the beauty told BVI Platinum News that the clock is ticking, and she is not exactly where she should be in life.
She expressed that she entered the pageant, as it would lead her down a path where her purpose would develop and shine.
What’s that purpose? Helina is an aspiring entrepreneur and philanthropist. She dreams of one day opening a linguistic school in the BVI, where persons would be able to learn different languages.
“I’m getting older…I think that every five years in your life, there should be something significant that you’ve done. I am using this pageant to build on my purpose in life.”
She continued, “My purpose is to give back to my community, as well as excelling in my personal life. I am currently exploring my purpose, studying six languages---Spanish, Mandarin, German, Japanese, French and Korean.”
This, she indicated, will assist the BVI tremendously, as it would directly impact the local tourism sector.
“We get tourists from all over the world and it would make sense if we had people who could communicate with these persons. In every ten taxi drivers, there should be at least two who can speak a different language.”
As this is not the case, Hewlett is of the view that tourists who are not from an English background, often visit the Territory, take beautiful pictures, but never learn of the local culture.
“They can’t understand us and we can’t understand them. If we can build on linguistics and have more bilingual persons, then it would help us tremendously.”
The beauty hopes to excel as a member of the local community as well, as it relates to her efforts to give back and assist. This, she hopes to achieve under her platform, ‘Mental Health Awareness for the Prevention of Cancer’.
She further intends to partner with the Virgin Islands Cancer Society to host an annual retreat.
“It will start from Cancer Awareness Month every year, and will help to build tourism and also to build awareness. We are going to have a retreat where we invite different cancer groups from around the world to come to the BVI.”
She noted that the logistics of the event are not fully worked out as yet, but the conversation has started.
I Know What They Want
Helina is confident about her participation in this year’s show, as this is her fourth pageant overall, and would be her second attempt for the Miss BVI crown.
When she entered in 2015, the beauty managed to capture Miss Poise, Best Evening Wear, Miss Congeniality and Most Popular.
Having gained this experience, she stated that she is aware of what exactly the BVI crowd and judges look for.
“When I entered in 2015, it was a lot of fun. It was good to see what the BVI public really wanted and what they require in a queen.’
She said, “In the BVI, they are very strategic and serious about pageantry, especially because it’s a small Territory. They want somebody who is not going to represent the Territory in a small manner. They want someone who is going to make the Territory look amazing.”
Miss BVI becomes the face of the Territory and its people, she said.
“Miss BVI is selling the Territory, showing bigger countries that we can compete with them and we can be just as good or even better. It’s more than just being pretty, more than being beautiful; its more than just having the best walk. It’s about what can we give back to the community, how can we excel the BVI, how can we be a part of BVI progression.”
She encouraged persons to come out to have an amazing experience at the show, rather than to criticize and shame the contestants.
