Miss Germany Wins The Miss Bahamas International Beauty Contest For The Second Time 1966

Sir Stafford Sands, had an immense economic vision for the Bahamas. It is why he is credited with being the creator of the modern tourism product the country now enjoys. Stafford’s vision, was based solely on drawing what represented the ideal tourist, the European, into the islands. And not just any run of the mill European would do, Stafford Sands sought to attract the international European, who would buy property, invest in the Bahamas and help shape its future, like so many Europeans had throughout its history.

While Stafford reluctantly accepted American tourists and American spring breakers simply out of geographical proximity, Sands’s real vision for the Bahamas rested across the Atlantic Ocean, in England and Europe.

It was an ambitious endeavour that required a real measure of creativity. Hence, a Bahamian international beauty contest was conceived, to draw interest from across all pockets of Europe, towards the Bahamas.

MISS GERMANY LIZ FRINK OF DÜSSELDORF WINS THE MISS BAHAMAS INTERNATIONAL BEAUTY CONTEST

Imagine young women from all over the world, well Europe in particular, competing in national competitions, in their respective countries, to then come to Nassau to compete in a Bahamian sponsored and Bahamian titled international beauty contest. It was an ingenious idea, which spurred interest in the Bahamas that regular ‘sun, sand and sea’ tourism advertising just couldn’t buy.

So while the country had its domestic beauty competition, it had a grander one, in which the nationally chosen Bahamian would compete.

In 1966, Miss Bahamas, in the national competition, was chosen in May. Bahamian Sandra Jarrett was chosen among several other contestants.

Sandra Jarrett then competed in the Miss Bahamas International Beauty Contest held in Nassau in November 1966.