🤸‍♀️ Olympic gymnast takes Miss Universe Cayman Islands crown

22-year-old Raegan Rutty, the first-ever Olympic gymnast from the Cayman Islands, has been crowned Miss Universe Cayman Islands 2024. The annual pageant, which took place on Saturday, saw six girls vying for the title and the opportunity to represent the country at the international Miss Universe beauty contest in Mexico City in November. The event marked a comeback for the pageant, which had faced controversy in 2022 when the winner was allowed to compete despite facing criminal charges.👑

In 2022, Tiffany LeAnn Conolly, 24, from West Bay, was crowned the winner. However, her role was suspended due to her facing criminal charges for assault. After her conviction, the crown was passed on to the first runner-up. The controversy led to the government giving up the franchise, and the local committee took over, beginning the process of rebuilding the pageant. The franchise also relaxed its rules, removing age limits and restrictions to allow mothers or married women to enter the contest. Despite the controversy, this year's pageant saw a record number of applications, with 14 potential contestants applying.🎉

Rutty, a popular choice for the title, won following a tight competition with the first runner-up, Arin Broderick. In addition to the main title, she also won the 'Miss Best in Swimwear' award, 'Miss Best Caymankind', and the 'People’s Choice' prize. Rutty, a 2020 Olympian, was not only the first-ever Cayman gymnast, but she was also the tallest gymnast in the world when she competed in Tokyo on the balance beam. As the winner, Rutty received a three-year $70,000 scholarship from the Ministry of Tourism and will also have a job placement with the Ministry of Border Control and Labor. She will now begin preparing for the international contest.🏆