Miss Bahamas Universe 2023 is Melissa Ingraham
Miss Long Island, Melissa Ingraham bested nine other competitors to win Miss Bahamas Universe 2023 (Miss Universe Bahamas 2023) on Sunday, July 2 at the Atlantis Showroom in Paradise Island.
The 26-year-old climate advocate with a bachelor's degree in environmental science and a master's in climate change will now represent The Bahamas at the 72nd Miss Universe (Miss Universe 2023) in El Salvador later this year.
Taja Hudson of Cat Island was named first runner-up while Robyn Rahming of Exuma finished as second runner-up and was awarded the title Miss International World Bahamas 2023.
Beyonce Forbes of Grand Bahama and Danielle Dean of Acklins were announced as the second and third runners-up, respectively.
The new Miss Bahamas Universe succeeds Angel Cartwright, a private banker and conservationist who represented the country at Miss Universe 2022 in New Orleans last January.
Since its debut at Miss Universe in 1963, The Bahamas has yet to win the coveted title. Its highest placement was in 2021 courtesy of Chantel O'Brian who placed in the Top 10 and bagged the Spirit of Carnival Award.
That same year, the country changed its sash name for the first time from "Bahamas" to The Bahamas.
Meet the new Miss Bahamas Universe:
Photos: Miss Bahamas Universe