Charged pageant queen still gets scholarship, stipend
(CNS): Tiffany Conolly, who was crowned Miss Cayman Islands Universe last month despite facing criminal charges, has already received the $70,000 scholarship and is currently receiving a stipend from the tourism ministry, officials have said. Last week the pageant committee said she would retain the crown until after the outcome of her trial next month but would not make public appearances or give interviews. But the beauty queen has been making several appearances on social media as well as getting the government education funding and monthly allowance.
Officials have also confirmed that if Conolly’s impending October trial is delayed for any reason and pushed back until after the Miss Universe 2022 contest, she will still be able to compete. The international pageant is now set for January 2023 in New Orleans to avoid any potential global viewing clashes with the 2022 FIFA World Cup taking place in November and December this year.
Conolly is facing several charges in relation to an altercation at her former lover’s home in West Bay last year. She was charged in January and pleaded not guilty in Summary Court in March, after she had already entered the contest.
While CNS has learned that Conolly misled the committee in regard to the severity of the charges she is facing, the ministry had been supportive of her remaining in the competition, despite the controversy it caused after she won the title. If she is convicted next month, it is understood that she won’t be able to compete in the Miss Universe contest in New Orleans but she will retain the scholarship she has already received.
Meanwhile, on Saturday night Leanni Tibbetts was crowned Miss World Cayman Islands 2022 in the competing local pageant. Melissa Bridgemohan was announced as first runner-up, and Latoya Jackson was second runner-up. Shortly after winning that pageant Tibbetts was on duty as part of the Cayman Cadet Corp taking calls in the National Emergency Operations Centre, as Cayman braced itself for Hurricane Ian.
Tibbetts will go on to compete in the global Miss World contest but the date and location for the 2022 pageant has not yet been announced.
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Category: Local News
I believe in the saying that you are innocent before proven guilty but I cannot see why this girl was not vetted by the Miss Cayman Committee before she was allowed to enter. This is their RESPONSIBILITY and you cannot tell me that they did not know anything about Tiffany facing charges for assault.
Her trial MUST take place BEFORE the Miss Universe contest and not allowed to be delayed as we need to know the outcome BEFORE she represents our Islands on the worldwide stage.
The worldwide press will be all over the news reporting that she has criminal charges pending in the event that she is not cleared before she goes. This would be a National Disgrace….in fact it could be in any case!
Obviously she is being supported by people in power or she would not have received her $70,000 scholarship money already. Has she even accepted into a reputable school of further education yet or does she get to spend the “scholarship” money how she likes?
Some “leaders” of Cayman over the past decade+ have been the worst examples to our young people!
All young people see are instances of corruption, lack of decorum, failure to follow rules and lack of accountability. Entitlement culture!
What an example to follow!
This whole this is a GOD DAMN MESS and DISGRACE on the Ministry of Tourism and the miss universe cayman committee! Take a close look everyone….. compare the situation of the PACT government requesting speaker bush to resign from his position…. but this wild gal tiffany is allowed to run in a pageant, obtain the crown and prizes and get paid a stipend… all while having pending criminal charges for her disorderly behavior which has happened before on several occasions!!!
Though both positions differ somewhat in terms of the level of responsibility , they do have many things in common such as being a representative of the people, example for the young people to look up to, being accountable and honest. Yet, we allow and enable poor behavior…. but then we wonder why so many young people feel discouraged and depressed… bullying and fighting one another on social media or in schools, frequently engaging in anti-social behavior and have lost hope!!!!
COME ON CAYMAN WE MUST DO BETTER…..NOW!! WE SIT TOO QUIETLY ON THESE THINGS AND SHOULD BE OUT IN THE STREET PROTESTING FOR BETTER… BETTER EXAMPLES, PEOPLE IN POSITION, IMPROVED STANDARDS AND RECOGNIZING REAL PEOPLE WHO EARN WHERE THEY ARE AND WHAT THEY GET!!!
An “example for the young people to look up to”? Seriously? What a huge disservice you do to the thousands of brilliant women on this island, from olympians to self made millionaires, from doctors to charity workers, from chefs to lawyers, from business owners to nannies. Beauty queen? Give me strength!
Hmmm – seems that she may have observed that at least one other person from West Bay (robe and funny wig) is profiting from not resigning when it is appropriate to do so.
Just saying, given that the West Bay wig man is continuing to stay in post and collect pay and nobody is doing anything about it, it is not surprising that this person is too.
Yeah, whatever happened to that resign by close Friday or else? It get blown away with the hurricane? Or is Wayne negotiating the votes for the vote of no confidence.
Nothing will happen about this latest scandal because no one will come forward to press charges. Will be brushed off as “fake news”. As for the Miss Cayman controversy, you already see that has been swept under the carpet.
Shows how much power Panton has! Foiled again LMAO
what a female role model for cayman young women.
“profiting from not resigning when it is appropriate to do so.”
And that folks is what its all about.
What a shining example the Speaker, Tiffany and a litany of others cast on our youth.
Why would she be personally paid the “scholarship” already? A scholarship would be paid to a qualifying educational institution, no?
The state should have no role in such outdated events. Even Absurdistan.
You love Absurdistans currency though..
Oh yeah I just love getting ripped off by our garbage banks “FX desk” buying KYD. Our stupid currency is the scourge of Cayman!
Doing better than pounds. .
So is practically everything else other than the ruble. Fact its pegged to the dollar has something to do with its performance against the pound, rather than the international demand for Cayman dollars. Which of course are completely valueless outside of Cayman.
Actually the Ruble is doing better than USD but that’s due to currency controls rather than real economic strength. The point the poster makes about GBP is completely irrelevant to the USDKYD ripoff spread however.
Q has entered the chat.
The cost of buying and selling KYD against USD has nothing to do with pounds. It’s economic illiteracy like this that lets them get away with it.
Congratulations on missing the point completely.
The downvotes should do a little research into how much money our rip off banks make just sitting there charging 0.82/0.84 all day long. I’ll give you a clue, it’s tens of millions, which comes out of all of our pockets.
It doesn’t have one.
Really. When she represents the country?
Really, they don’t. And it isn’t a country.
She represents us whether you like it or not. She is Ms Cayman Universe not Ms Universe
You do you sound ridiculous?
What are you babbling about? No one cares about your creepy contest.
Beat a woman and get convicted – get a high office position with more pay
Sell drugs – get elected and then offered a ministry
Assault a cop and ex and face charges – get a scholarship
Any more to add?
And Kenny greatest crime has yet to come
Oh there’s plenty 3:44, Might be easier to go through the penal code and select any that haven’t been breached.
I would love the comprehensive list
You missed the bit about also getting a job at DoT, but then not even having to run up for work because you are facing criminal charges.
Don’t forget breaking your own government’s COVID regulations when you’re the health minister.
Tourists are warned to properly dress when in public.
Gays are discriminated.
Lowest minimum wage and highest prices.
Corrupt, abusing, molesting politicians.
Church controlled population.
Sunday everything closed.
But we can display a few women in sexy outfits to be judged on their bodies.
The double standard of caymanian christianity.
Absolutely disgusting.
hypocrisy and ignorance…cornerstone of ‘cayman christianity’
Christianity wouldn’t exist without the hypocrisy and ignorance.
Oh stop it about “Christianity”. Do you know that Jesus died on a cross to save you from your sins?
What has that got to do with anyone else? It is between you and God.
Did you know that every time you see a rainbow god is having gay sex?
That made me smile at the image.
This is now my favourite comment on CNS ever.
I guess that’s why the whole of UK and yourself was oohing and aahing when there was a double rainbow spotted over Buckingham Palace when the Queen died! Be careful how you speak of God in such a blaspheming way…He is Almighty and can strike you down where you stand like the little minion you are!!!
Then it all crashes down
And you break your crown
And you point your finger
But there’s no one around
Just want one thing
Just to play the queen
But the castle’s crumbled
And you’re left with just a name
Where’s your crown, Queen Nothing?
What standard? This place has standards?
I have said this before and I am going to say it again. This girl is going to take home the title for Cayman. It will be history as Cayman has never won the crown
Many young ladies around tve wlrld are face with the same problem.Ms. Tiffany I have said before you will be asked the question be prepared to shine because only you know why.
Congrats and go get that crown my dear!!!!
You really dont get it, do you ?
You’ve got to lay off the meds.
You got any of those happy pills left to sell?
She must have beat you senseless as well 2:54.
She is smarter than the Committee.
Why does Government have to sponsor a Beauty Pageant again.??
When there is another private one (Miss World) that’s great!
Put that cash to help old people and kids.
No big deal, just add her to the list of people getting paid to do nothing.
This needs to be taken to the higher media outlets. The worldwide outlets so they are aware of what Cayman is producing and sending off. Only then will Cayman government take a step back and realize they do not want to have a bad reputation to the other higher ups in the world… and perhaps actually do something about this.
lol. Which “higher media outlet” do you imagine cares how CIG wastes our money?
They already know; she’s been interviewed however we are going to send her anyways and allow her competition to point it out to the world instead and then blame foreigners.
Caymans reputation is still the same as it ever was and always will be for all the right reasons.
Are those “winner” funds dispersed under condition they be fully refunded by contract upon a guilty verdict and/or other disqualifying “loss of crown” event? Is there a contestant contract and/or a code of conduct? Having already mislead the neglectful Pageant organizers, it’s surprising they haven’t sought recourse and passed the crown. The funds dispersed should become a receivable for the Pageant and immediately rerouted to the first runner-up. One would expect these to be boiler plate rules and conditions in any dispersed pageant, bursary, or competitive merit-based award – especially if these are public’s funds.
So if she is convicted, does the runner up then get another scholarship, or does Tiffany have to return the first one 😉
If she has not been removed as Ms Cayman (Universe) then on what grounds what she not get the rewards that go with the win? Note that they did not hold the award of the title in abeyance until her court case is decided. (Even then they just said she can’t represent as the title holder at least until the court case is decided. Implication there will be a decision afterwards, but not clear what the decision might be or what the options could be under the contest rules.)
Educational scholarships shouldn’t be dispersed to individuals, they should be ring fenced for tuition and remitted to the learning center, for the benefit of that individual, and there should be other conditions attached.
Someone FOI the ministers communications on this issue please
You have as much chance of getting his communications on this as you do on providing Jamaica with air lift at our expense.
Has she decided yet what colleges/universities (i.e. U.S., U.K., Canada, etc.) she hopes to attend?
There’s also Online Education Programs where Ms. Connolly may never have to leave Home/(Cayman Islands); so, she can “stay put” and remain focused on her tertiary studies without international rift or fanfare.
Gets a criminal conviction she won’t be able to go to a US college or transit through the US anyway.
You would have thought a place at University would have to have been secured prior to the payment of any so called scholarship. It is obviously more like a cash payment than a scholarship but then, does it surprise anyone that any aspect of these tragic pageants is more base than presented. The real shame is that there are undoubtedly Caymanian kids who could really use the money wasted on this garbage to further their education.
Different strokes for different folks.
Why wasn’t her previous conviction sufficient to bar her from the process anyway? Oh yeah, because although she was found guilty, her conviction ‘wasn’t recorded’ so that she would be free to continue to reap all the benefits without having to suffer any penalty for her actions.
Bit like someone else we know recently, and look how that turned out.
Weren’t there 2 “no conviction recorded” convictions?
Can anyone provide a link to Kenny’s statement?
Kenny? Who are you you no good witless wurless piece of garnafpgec garbage @13:21. He Jah Minister of the Cayman Islands government and as such should be respected whether you like him or his actions or not. Youvsqualid oiece a Shiite mind ya manners round here ya hear or I’ll come by. Bye fe now!
Jah? I know he has a high opinion of himself, but that’s going a little far.
Cayman Brac has been my home for over 30 years. I love my island and my people. When I look around at the friends who have become like family to me I see mostly people who are beautiful in every way. It is disheartening to me to see that a person chosen to represent our islands is potentially a felon and that one of the top governmental men is an abuser of women (Twice!). This is a poor way to represent our islands and I, for one, do not respect these choices as they do not speak for the quality of individuals who live here. Can’t we do better than this???
12:06 pm, don’t forget we have a convicted cocane dealer as our minister to represent us overseas, what a cess pool mess we have got into.
Not while we got KB.
He is the Cayman Islands weak link.
Seems we hold all individuals that have a role in this country through an election process to a lower standard.
Not just elected official. Crooked civil servants often get long-term paid vacations for bad behavior.
Disgusting! When she wastes the scholarship and returns from her studies with nothing, OR when she causes drama at the first international competition she attends, the powers will see how wrong they are now. Or will they?
Then we’re paying her to be unemployed – per her own actions??!!
“OK all folks who have been fired from your jobs because of your own failures, please line-up on the right. The Minister of Tourism will be right out with your pay packets!”
The Committee has spoken. Ms. Conolly [] will retain her crown & enjoy ALL benefits associated with her Title, as ‘Miss Cayman Islands Universe’.
Therefore, the case is closed at Peagent Committee Level, but not yet at C.I. Judicial Court Level.
Look if Bush can get away with his crap and keep all his jobs and big pay, then why can’t this girl? This is the Cayman Islands and they do not care about anything!
I say that everyone boycott Miss Cayman Universe next year.
I would say this even if this wasn’t about this particular woman.
Why?
Is she the first or only Miss Cayman to be embroiled in a pending court matter or charged with an offense (e.g. felony) before or while holding the Title, “Miss Cayman Islands”?
The Pageant Committee Members (whoever they may be) really botched their duties, based on the scope of revelations in the news media, to date. Shameful.
I have boycotted it for the last 45 years.
I just don’t understand why all these creepy old men are so keen on these nauseating pageants.
The answer is in the question
Umm – because they are creepy? You may as well ask why paedophiles hang around schoolyards.
10:58, Check outside the gates of our local High Schools at 245 daily and you see it in action.
Maybe because they’re ‘creepy old men’ 👨🏼🌾🤷🏻♀️
It’s called sarcasm people.
My momma always said, “Creepy is as creepy does.”
Hopefully the funds are used as intended, That is education not legal fees.
Legal Fees?
Scholarship recipients are required to submit proforma invoices (ahead of the new semester) & verified purchases/payment receipts at the end of each Semester.
The Scholarship Committee will be looking for a well-balanced spending habits.
The scholarship committee lol. Yeah right. Same as the degree of care and attention that went into deciding to let her run, deciding to award the scholarship despite the outstanding trial, deciding to pay her to “work” at DoT even though she can’t actually turn up for work. Sure the “Scholarship Committee” will be extra vigilant. Bet you think Jay and Mac were in Honduras negotiating the supply of fruit as well.
Mac won himself Minister Jay Ebanks, another Puppet in politics, who deceptively ran on an Independent Candidate ticket.
Best way is for Govt to make direct payment to her “college”.
MY UNDERSTANDING: It is more diffucult to adjust for tuition overpayments, adjust for student reimbursements,
or to claw-back wire payments sent in error; so, the burden is on students to walk with two “fat” checks (1) to settle tuition costs & another (2) to settle & maintain accurate records of living expenses – i.e. accounting for the total semester/quarterly scholarship allowance at the end of school term. Summer Tuition & Other Expenses, including Lock-Step Summer Programs, are discretionary, and funds for this purpose are NOT guaranteed (that is, in-full or in-part). Summer Sessions are not constituted as ‘Regular’ Semesters. Only Fall & Spring Semesters are considered ‘Regular’ Semesters.
***I THINK THE MAIN OBJECTS ARE TIMING & ACCOUNTABILITY, BUT ALSO SETTLEMENT & RECOVERY***
**main objectives
I said it once, and I’ll say it again, “Different strokes for different folks.”
but she has shiny white teeth
and two legs
This stinks more every time something else comes to light about it.
Yes, but think of how many votes are gained by turning a blind eye.
The Caymanian political disease.
When & Where is her (Miss Cayman Universe) next International appearance(s), 2022/3?
If there was ANY doubt that Cayman is stuck in a time warp then this is it. Archaic, anachronistic, sexist garbage. Get rid now. And ladies, you are doing a massive disservice to your peers. If you really want to be taken seriously then surely what’s in your head is more important than a ridiculous crown on it?
There seems to be a trend here for rewarding violence with money
Makes sense – That is also what is done for politicians with past criminal convictions
such a shame and disgrace! Someone facing criminal charges should not have been allowed to enter in the first place.
While Derri-Lee Dacres is the only Committee Member being called-out for this ‘Sh!t Show’, who are the remaining voting Committee Members who, with concensus or maybe unanimously, to retain Ms. Conolly…?
Yes– Names, please?!?
From their website:
Kimberly Pearson-Murray, Nicole Scott, Latrese Haylock, Ariana Seales, Lynn Whittaker, Derri Dacres, Cassandra Powell, Lovenia Ebanks, Judy Ebanks, Donna Bush, Wendy Mellaneo, Kevin Dawkins, Heather Bodden and Dawn McLean-Sawney
Heather Bodden you say? No conflict there then.
Mac and Kenneth set those precedents.
And Mac is still Speaker.
#leggewasright
CNS, can you make some inquiries to be sure that what you said is correct? “Miss Cayman Islands Universe last month despite facing criminal charges has already received the $70,000 scholarship“.
If it’s a university scholarship, then my understanding is like any other educational scholarship, it still remains contingent on being accepted into university and getting passing grades each year in order to maintain the scholarship.
If $70K was handed over to her, that’s definitely NOT a scholarship. Perhaps the Education Department and Tourism Department can provide information on what happened with previous scholarship recipients. At the very least, a FOI request should be able to provide some answers.
also, how much is this stipend??
8:56, Remember when Mac was cutting scholarship cheques to Universities that do not exist?
Only in Cayman is it that obvious that rule 1 is always look after your favorites with public funds
Miss Cayman Islands Universe, a complete and utter shambles and a laughing stock. It was hard to take these beauty pageants seriously before this, hopefully this will be the beginning of the end of CIG using our tax dollars to pay for this garbage.
maybe they she call it a drama queen competition.
and always ends up in failure on the international stage.
The chairman and her members must resign now!
Poor judgement from all parties involved especially the Committee in charge but typical of how things operate in these islands
The miss cayman committee should be ashamed of themselves and allowing the contestant to enter the pageant. They must now all be made to resign their posts. Their poor judgement will bring further embarrass to the pageant and the country this winner represents.
Something is going on there.
It will soon come to light.
yes like what does she have over some senior politician(s)?!
8.23am You are right, this support from the Pageant Committee can only be attributed to influence in the true Caymanian tradition.However following precedent the identity of the influencer will almost certainly remain hidden.
Often times it’s family & friends in high places or associated with influential people that keep them in jobs &/or out of jail. Everything is personal.
Just Another Day in Absurdistan
And the poor girl with the hot legs and lips that came in second has to wait this out. What a s&$t show!
Best legs, biggest eyelashes, prettiest toes, hottest kneecaps, cutest shoulders, sharpest cheekbones. It’s all so exciting…..
The pretty ones always get screwed by those who answer the final question best in these contests.
😂😂😂😂😅
Certainly the most corrupt for grammar (subject/verb agreement) 12:44.