by CAROL-ANN TUDOR

THIS YEAR'S Big & Beautiful competition may be the last.

Tonia Cumberbatch, the organiser/producer of the show for the last six years, said continuous negativity associated with the show was a major factor that had been plaguing the contestants and herself since its inception.

Cumberbatch, who has so far secured six contestants, said the competition was still looking for another two contenders, and all were still without sponsorship from corporate Barbados.

"It is time that corporate Barbados embraced the pageant . . . This show has been one of the most popular shows in Barbados and it is still not attracting sponsorship as it should.

"Last year, we had all our contestants by this time, but it has been harder this year. We are not promoting obesity. We are teaching full-figured women how to love and be proud of themselves," she lamented.

The organiser/producer said the weight limit imposed by the Caribbean Bold And Beautiful pageant overseas, was the one that required the women to be 250 pounds and over.

"That is not the criteria for the Barbadian show. Here you have to be at least 200 pounds and five feet inches to enter.

"When we go overseas, you realise that being full-figured is more accepted than it is in Barbados. We need to stop the negativity over here . . . there will always be full-figured women," she stated.

The promoter said even last year she had noticed the drop in the number of patrons, whereas the previous years had seen fully sold-out shows.

"Why don't they attack the fast food restaurants instead? Are they not the ones contributing to obesity? Even thinner people get diagnosed as suffering from bad cholesterol . . .," she added.

The show scheduled for October 19, also requires contestants to join a gym and attend at least twice a week. Cumberbatch said this year, they were also inviting members of the health community to come in and give talks to educate the contestants on the diseases associated with weight gain.