In over nine years, Shannon Harris was the first representative of Barbados in the Miss Universe beauty pageant. Rihanna's fellow Barbadian shares the same name with a New Zealand beauty vlogger, who was recently nominated for Shorty Awards.
"It is such a huge honor to be nominated for a Shorty Awards, especially because I feel that my YouTube channel is so different to the other nominees, who are amazing people with super-interesting lives," the New Zealand beauty vlogger told New Zealand Herald. "My channel seems quite down-to-earth and small by comparison, but I wouldn't have it any other way."
On the other hand, Miss Universe 2016 apparently helped Barbados to catch the attention of other countries. On Feb. 3, Friday, Miss Universe Barbados director of media relations Gaynelle Marshall talked about this during a press conference at the Bougainvillea Hotel in Maxwell, Christ Church.
The government of Barbados should use this international exposure to boost tourist sector, Nation News quoted Marshall as saying. According to her, Google search for Barbados had increased by almost 300 percent when Barbados was represented at Miss Universe 2016.
As for the current Miss Universe Barbados title holder, her charity work has started even before joining Miss Universe 2016 in the Philippines. Having worked with several charities in Barbados, she apparently would still pursue her advocacies even without becoming Miss Universe 2015 Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach's successor.
Wurtzbach crowned Miss France Iris Mittenaere as her successor on Jan. 30, Monday, at the Mall of Asia Arena, Pasay, Metro Manila, Philippines. Miss Haiti Raquel Pelissier was first runner-up while Miss Colombia Andrea Tovar was second runner-up.
On Jan. 18, Wurtzbach participated in a dinner program in Baguio City, Philippines, which was hosted by Miss Universe 2011 third runner-up Shamcey Supsup. Distinguished people of the city welcomed them along with Miss Universe Organization president Paula Shugart, Miss Universe 2016 host committee chairman Chavit Singson, and some Miss Universe 2016 candidates including Mittenaere, Pelissier, Tovar and Miss Barbados.
Have a glimpse of the Miss Universe 2016 event in Baguio here: