Our ambassador for beauty in China

WEDNESDAY, JULY 25: Rochelle Minors was raised to never let challenges and adversity hold her back from achieving her dreams, according to her parents.

That attitude is helping her to make great strides in the preliminary events of the Miss World Pageant in Ordos, Mongolia.

The 22-year-old beauty queen left Bermuda last Wednesday and didn’t arrive in Ordos until last Saturday.

Already, she is a finalist in the fashion show segment of the show and cleared the first round of the talent competition.

Her parents, Marshall and Rosalyn Minors are due to fly to Ordos a week before the pageant to support their winner.

They got their immunisation shots yesterday and plan to fly to the Far East on August 10 with their other daughter Cheri.

Mr Minors speaks to his daughter daily via BlackBerry messenger.

Both parents spoke with the Bermuda Sun yesterday.

Mr Minors said: “She actually BB’d me yesterday from Shanghai where they were rehearsing for the opening ceremony which took place yesterday.

“She’s had a fabulous time.

“She absolutely loves it.”

He continued: “Rochelle loves Ordos and the hotel.

“She’s rooming with Miss Bahamas and she met Miss Malta at the airport.

Embracing it

“She’s enjoying it and even though she has very little down time, she’s really embracing it.”

Asked if his daughter experienced a culture shock being in Ordos, he said: “Firstly, for Rochelle, she’s been to China.

“She did the Semester At Sea for four months while in university.

“She was in China for a week so she has been exposed to the culture.”

He continued: “It’s not coming as a shock.

“She loves different cultures.

“One of the most outstanding things about my daughter is her courage.

“Rochelle went sky diving in Hawaii and told us afterwards.

“She doesn’t let anything stop her from what she wants to experience.”

Asked if Miss Minors has had any challenges with her preparations for the pageant, Mr Minors said:

“Rochelle has some experience in these sorts of things.

“She’s a model in Bermuda and she modelled in London so she’s been around these kind of events where it can get crazy.

“As stressful as it may be, she wouldn’t let it impact her.

“She takes the challenges in her stride.”

Miss Bermuda’s mother Mrs Minors added: “One thing I can say about Rochelle is that we always encouraged her to follow her dreams. We have supported her with that.

“She has no hesitation about going out and doing what she’s passionate about.”

Mr Minors said another factor helping his daughter is her Christian faith.

“She’s a Christian girl and has strong beliefs.

“She believes in prayer and she’s surround by family and friends who are always praying for her.”

• The Miss World Pageant will be held on August 18.