Interview with 2020 Miss Cayman Islands Universe, Mariah Tibbetts

loop cayman September 8, 2021 01:37 AM ET 

Mariah Tibbetts, 2020 Miss Cayman Islands Universe. (Photo Credit: Helen Jones)

ALoop Cayman reporter recently spoke with Mariah Tibbetts, the 2020 Miss Cayman Islands Universe, who is completing the last few days of her reign and is due to hand over the title of Miss Cayman Islands Universe to one of the contestants in this year’s event, the final of which will be held on September 11, 2021 at the Westin hotel.

Loop: How are you preparing for your final night?

Tibbetts: I am trying to keep myself busy. Being involved in the community, interacting with as many people as I can and obviously supporting the girls as much as I can. I’ve enjoyed being Miss Cayman. I am excited for these nine girls. I do think it is such a transformative role and time in your life. I want someone else to experience that as well.

Loop: Who was Mariah Tibbetts before Miss Cayman Islands Universe and who is Mariah Tibbetts now?

Mariah: I was shy before Miss Cayman Islands Universe. I was in my shell. I was not living up to my full potential when I really think about it. Even though I felt like I was being a good person and I was doing a lot for my community, I always kind of had something in me that I knew I could do more and I wanted to do more and Miss Cayman really gave me the platform to do that.

The Mariah now after Miss Cayman is pretty much the opposite of all that. Definitely, not shy anymore.

Loop: What was it about the Miss Cayman Islands Universe experience that built your confidence?

Mariah: It really just shows you parts about yourself that you didn't realize were there. I am putting my heart and soul into everything and it really made me feel good that people could see that and that helped build my confidence to know that the people that I'm representing- the people of the Cayman Islands- were proud of me.

Loop: What do you think makes you strong?

Mariah: I think the way I deal with things. Overcoming obstacles.

Loop: What is one emotional state that you've never been in and you experienced during this pageant?

Mariah: As Miss Cayman Islands Universe, you go away and you represent your country on the international stage against 70 to 80 other women. When I was there, I just experienced things like anxiety that I had never experienced before. Had I not been involved with the Alex Panton Foundation here, had I not learned more about mental health as a contestant in Miss Cayman, I wouldn't have had the coping mechanisms to deal with it over there.

Loop: What advice would you give to the next person to be crowned as Miss Cayman Islands Universe?

Mariah: So much I would want to say, obviously “good luck”. I think, embrace all of it as much as you can. There's gonna be good parts and amazing parts and parts you'll love and there's gonna be hard parts and parts that challenge you. Things that you may not want to do and not want to deal with but that's part of the journey; that's part of the growth. Try and gain as much from it as you can and not in a selfish manner but gain as much of it for yourself. I think this age, the age that you are when you enter Miss Cayman, is a transformative age.

Soak up every experience. Take every opportunity that you can and be true to yourself while you're at it. The most beautiful version of yourself that you can be is your most authentic self.

Loop: So what are your plans after Miss Cayman Islands Universe other than your birthday next week?

Mariah: I plan to continue the work that I've been doing as Miss Cayman. I volunteered with all these different organizations before I was Miss Cayman. I was in the community supporting charities, supporting causes that I care about before being Miss Cayman and now I just have a louder voice and a bigger platform to share that and I'm very grateful for that. I plan to continue doing that, continue being an active part of my community and of course working with my platform organization the Cayman Islands Cancer Society.

I think that this year was just a stepping stone and my road is a lot longer, a lot brighter and from what I can see I think it will be just even better.

I think it's only up from here.

Loop: Do you think you would join any boards of any of the foundations that you support?

Mariah: I would love to join board of a charity or a not-for- profit organization in Cayman. Maybe I'll start my own.

Loop: So, you've been in this position as a public figure. I’m sure a lot of people reached out to you for help, for advice. Do you create a boundary? Have you drawn a line in the sand where you will say no?

Mariah: I don't think that I have got to the situation yet where anyone has asked me for advice or for help or anything where I felt like I needed to say no. So, I haven’t crossed that line yet. But I will say that I am still learning how to make my boundaries very clear.

Information about the event:

On the final night, September 11, supporters will experience a Moonlight in Paradise theme, with cocktails available at the Westin hotel starting at 6pm and showtime scheduled for 7pm.

Tickets for the Miss Cayman Islands Universe were previously available at Funky Tangs and Sand Angels but it is understood that attendance at the event is limited to 500 people due to COVID restrictions and, as can be expected, the event is now SOLD OUT.

https://cayman.loopnews.com/content/interview-2020-miss-cayman-islands-universe-mariah-tibbetts