Helina A. Hewlett (left), Miss World BVI 2017 assisting with the cleanup of the Eslyn Henley Richiez Learning Centre on Monday, February 26, 2018 along with her fellow queens. Photo: VINO

The royalties interacting with students of the Eslyn Henley Richiez Learning Centre on February 26, 2018. Photo: VINO

Miss World BVI 2017, Helina A. Hewlett said her 'Beauty with a Purpose' platform focus changed following the hurricanes of September 2017. Photo: Facebook

This is according to Ms Helina A. Hewlett, Miss World BVI 2017, in an exclusive interview with our newsroom.

She expressed that she was planning a retreat with the BVI Cancer Society, while adding that once things get back on track she will continue with her original platform.

"I was planning a retreat with the Cancer Society and then after the hurricane the focus changed because we even had individuals in the cancer society that was not living anywhere. So when things get back on track then I can incorporate myself into the Cancer Society," explained Ms Hewlett.

Miss World BVI 2017 disclosed that the Eslyn Henley Richiez Learning Centre is a Miss World BVI project that she is fully supporting.

Helina indicated that she has some personal projects that she wants to work on, while adding that she will be launching a few things very soon.

"Experience in China was very overwhelming"

While many persons believe that pageants are based on beauty, Hewlett, speaking from personal experience, said pageantry is more of a "sisterhood" and about who has the "purest heart", admitting that it was overwhelming.

"My experience in China was very overwhelming I must say. What I met at China was not what I expected at all because from what I was told and what happened when I actually got there were two completely different environments. When I got there it was more of a sisterhood and a sorority. It wasn’t about who was the prettiest girl or who had the best body. It was about who had the purest heart and who was the strongest to lead the pack. That’s Manushi is to us, she is the leader of the pack because we are all queens in our own right and we are all leaders of different territories," emphasised Hewlett.

She further stated that the pageant was about finding herself and her purpose, adding that she has become good friends with the other queens and speak to them every day. "I’m a part of a sorority now."

Miss World BVI 2017 admitted to our newsroom that her most memorable moment in China was the sports challenge which she won but was not expecting to place as she is not so much of an athlete.

"Be true to yourself"

Ms Hewlett advises individuals who wish to take part in pageants to be true to themselves.

"Continue to be true to yourself and if you are going to join pageantry don’t rely too much on committee. Know why you are going and have a purpose and focus on your self-development more than anything else. Look at what the pageant can do for you," said the reigning Miss World BVI

She also told our newsroom that, at Miss World, the judging occurred throughout the 30 days that the contestants were in China.

"You had judges watching you every day in rehearsals, when you go to an event and when you speak to people. That was the judging, to see who you are on a daily basis. At that point you realize what the show was really about."

In addition, she pointed out that the Miss World BVI Committee is now placing more emphasis on the development of the contestants rather than too much time on the show.

What's next for Ms Helina A. Hewlett?

She disclosed to our newsroom that she will be starting a fundraising group which will be geared to assist projects that need financial assistance.

Her first fundraising project will support the Miss World BVI Committee with the rebuilding of the Eslyn Henley Richiez Learning Centre.

She explained, "I’m going to do my part to raise funds for the school as well and there are loads of other projects on Tortola right now that need assistance. I’m trying to create a fundraising group that will be able to assist with those things. It will be geared to any kind of community project."

She continued, "We want to get to a point where the community can stand on its own and then the fundraising group can help other people in other countries. It’s a movement that I really want to start and change the minds of how we look at things, including pageants."

Miss World 2017, Manushi Chhillar, other royalties and the Miss World Organisation are in the territory since Sunday, February 25, 2018 to March 1, 2018 to assist Hewlett with her 'Beauty with a Purpose' platform to rebuild the VI's only differently abled school, Eslyn Henley Richiez Learning Centre, that was destroyed by hurricane Irma on September 6, 2017.