For decades, the Miss Universe pageant enforced strict eligibility criteria that locked countless women out of the opportunity to compete on the global stage, shutting the door on lifelong dreams for those who did not fit narrow, outdated molds. For Bernella Velinor, a native of the coastal Saint Lucian community of Dennery, that dream appeared to have slipped away forever — until sweeping rule reforms opened it back up.
Velinor will now take her place as Saint Lucia’s official representative at the 75th Miss Universe competition, scheduled for November 24 in Puerto Rico, and she has approached this once-in-a-lifetime chance with unwavering determination to challenge long-held stereotypes.
Speaking in an interview with St Lucia Times, Velinor recalled how the global COVID-19 pandemic derailed her plans at the moment she felt ready to compete. When pandemic restrictions lifted, she discovered she was no longer eligible under the pageant’s old rules, having crossed the previous upper age limit of 28. Before 2023, contestants were required to be between 18 and 28 years old, unmarried, and without children — barriers that excluded large groups of adult women from participating. In a historic shift toward inclusivity, pageant organizers first relaxed these restrictions in 2023, opening competition to married, divorced, pregnant women and mothers. Then, in 2024, organizers scrapped the upper age limit entirely, making any adult woman aged 18 or older eligible to compete.
Velinor celebrated the elimination of these restrictive criteria, noting that the changes align with a global shift toward women’s empowerment that challenges outdated social norms. “Age does not limit one’s ability, and I am happy that these restrictions were lifted, as it speaks to empowering women and the shift the world is witnessing as to the capabilities of individuals which now defies some of the norms we were accustomed to. So hey, I am ready to defy the odds,” she said.
Velinor earned her spot at the global competition on June 27, after outperforming 11 other contestants across multiple stages of Saint Lucia’s national selection process. This win marks the realization of a decades-long ambition: she has competed in local and regional pageants for years, taking home the title of Miss Easterval in Union Island, St Vincent and the Grenadines back in 2017. A seasoned hospitality professional, Velinor currently works as a concierge supervisor at Secrets Resorts, and identifies deeply with her Caribbean island roots. She says she is incredibly proud of her Saint Lucian heritage and eager to showcase her home country to a global audience.
Beyond the glamour of the competition, Velinor says the Miss Universe platform allows her to combine all her greatest passions: modeling, fashion, professional networking, and advocacy work for vulnerable communities. Her core advocacy initiative centers on raising public awareness of domestic violence and sexual abuse, issues that she emphasizes impact people of all genders. “Grooming young men to live in harmony with women is what we want,” she explained.
As she makes final preparations to travel to Puerto Rico in early November, Velinor remains firmly focused on her mission, aware that she will be carrying the hopes and identity of her entire island nation, not just her own personal ambition.
Joycie Mederick, a representative of Cinnamon Productions — the local franchise holder that organizes Saint Lucia’s Miss Universe selection process — noted that 2024 marks the company’s 10th year overseeing the national competition. “I think it is fair to say that we have been one of the more consistent franchise holders for the Miss Universe pageant in the region, and every year we make it our duty despite the challenges and limited resources to give these ladies what can be a life changing opportunity,” Mederick told St Lucia Times.
Mederick explained that the national selection process kicks off every January, when the organization puts out a public call for candidates interested in representing Saint Lucia at the global competition. “It is from there that we begin to groom and coach the young women who apply or show interest and we culminate with the final selection which was in June this year,” she said. For Cinnamon Productions, the pageant is more than a beauty competition: it is a chance to share Saint Lucia’s unique cultural and social identity with the world. The organization has recently expanded its leadership team, and with greater community and private sector support, it believes a Saint Lucian contestant can earn a top spot on the Miss Universe global stage.