By ALESHA CADET

Tribune Features Reporter

acadet@tribunemedia.net

THE NEW Miss Bahamas Lexi Wilson knows how to sport high heels and a formal dress, but at heart she is an outdoor kind of girl. In 2007 and 2008 she travelled under the Bahamian flag to run cross-country on separate national teams. She even calls herself a “sports fanatic”, who loves to travel, work with children and run marathons.

It is no surprise that her Miss Bahamas Universe platform was “Get Fit Bahamas”, a fitness programme to promote diabetes awareness. She crossed a new notch off her “to do list” last Sunday when she beat out seven other contestants walked away with the queen’s crown.

Her long term goal is to further her education at the tertiary level and become a successful dentist in her community, specialising in prosthodontics. She is well on her way having graduated this year from Langston University, Oklahoma with a Bachelor’s Degree in Biology. Lexi Wilson, said she will never stop pushing herself to go harder and be better.

“Once you have hit a road block in your life, it definitely makes you want to do more. Also, my mother is one person that keeps me going. She encourages me everyday, sometimes a little bit too much, but she’s my support system. She is the person that everyone in the family calls upon for advice or instruction. Her wisdom and knowledge has set many people on the road of success,” said Lexi.

“When someone tells you that you cannot do something, you should go at it harder so that you can accomplish your dreams 150 per cent. What gives me the drive to keep pushing is past failures. I think they motivate me to want to do more with my life,” she said.

Lexi’s preparations for Miss Universe in Russia on November 9 is already underway, but she says getting her platform started is a high priority.

“I really want to get my platform out there because most queens tend to take on the role of having the crown and the sash but not implementing their platform, so I want to get that out there first. The programme is basically modelled after Michelle Obama’s “Get Fit America”, which focuses on exercising, healthy eating and nutrition,” said Lexi.

She encouraged young women like herself to follow their dreams and never let anyone deter them from what they want to accomplish in life.

She said her best asset is her open-mindedness and willingness to learn new things, which allows her to adapt no matter the situation.

In preparation for November, Lexi is working with a team of coaches.

“I have an official contestant coach and I also have a stylist, Ashley Lauren Kerr. I have a pageant coach in Maine, Grace Fontecha, who is a world renowned coach. She has delivered four Miss Universe winners and I am under her tutelage,” said Lexi.

Michelle Malcolm, Miss Bahamas Organisation (MBO) President, said the MBO team hopes Lexi will be the one to break the curse and bring home the Miss Universe title for the Bahamas.

Lexi said she grateful to have her team show such faith in her.

“I think that once you have an organisation backing you and believing in you it definitely increases your drive to want to bring home the crown,” said Lexi.