Kelly Bance – Miss Bikini Calendar Cover Winner

by malibubarbie1207in Modeling & Pageants, Who's That Girl?on Posted on
Today we are sitting down with the Winner of the Miss Bikini Calendar Cover Model Contest and Miss Bikini Hawaii 2021 Kelly Bance
 
Name: Kelly Bance
 
Miss Bikini Aloha State 2022
Miss Bikini Paradise 2023
Miss Bikini Calendar Cover Model 2023
 

Current Location:

  • Oahu, Hawaii

As the Miss Bikini Calendar Model Winner, you are featured on the 2023 Miss Bikini Calendar. How did you feel when you found out you won? Tell us a bit about the experience.

It felt so amazing, I almost cried. I was actually at my son’s piano lesson when the countdown happened & votes were locked. I wanted to jump for joy, but I know that would have been barassing for my son, so my heart did it internally. I knew it would be a tough contest filled with gorgeous candidates, so I had my work cut out for me. It was a roller coaster & the longest 6 monthes of my life… but I have some amazing supporters, & I was able to manifest my goal to the cover. 
 

 

You were also a participant in Miss Bikini 2021 & 2022 at Miami Swim Week, what was your favorite experience during that event?

The 2022 even was amazing this year. It’s always a great experience shooting with so many different photographers from all over the nation. They all had their own styles, & it’s great to network with creatives & learn a thing or two. The people are my favorite experience. It’s just a whole vibe to experience. That’s why I had to come back for more after 2021.

 

Who or what inspired you to get started in modeling?

To be honest, I used to be the girl that when everyone wants to take a selfie or group picture, I would sneak away, hide in the back, or offer to take the picture instead. I’ve had people tell me as a child I should have tried modeling because I have a “unique look.” I took it negatively and it made me more self-conscious about my look. It wasn’t until Miss Bikini Hawaii 2021 I started to dive into modeling & learning how to express myself in front of the camera. It was time to do something that makes me feel beautiful & see it through someone else’s lens. 

 

Tell us about your modeling experience.

Before Miss Bikini, I had none. Started fresh. Everyday I’m learning something new. It started in 2020 with my first promo shoot for Miss Bikini Hawaii. Through the coaching of my pageant director, & help from my pageant sister Jadalynn Haia, I have been able to thrive with confidence these past two years. 
I have modeled in:
• Miss Bikini US Miami Swim Week Swim Set Fashion Show 2021 & 2022.
•Miami Swim Week Show by the Society for The De La Cruz Collection 2022.
•Extra work in Disney’s Doogie Kamealoha MD Season 2 & Hulu Comedy currently in production.
• Published in multiple national/international online/print magazines:
-StyleCruze Magazine Swimwear Vol. 15
-Summers Magazine issue 84
-Like A Lion September 2022
-StyleCruze Magazine Swimwear Vol. 76
– GMARO magazine 

What are the beauty products you can’t live without?

I have wild & crazy hair, so my hair products are important essentials. I use Monat vegan hair care & beauty products. They work wonders for my thick hair that used to been unmanageable. I use their Super Nourish Curl Shampoo & Conditioner, & Rejuveniqe oil (101 uses) to keep my skin & hair feeling great. I’m lost without them. Another essential is Priestess Rx Tantra Aura Spray. Ever since I tried it, it’s my go to product to keep me grounded and help me feel beautiful from the inside out. Which it’s almost time to restock. 

What is your personal style?

I’d have to say I’m a minimalist. I’ve actually never had so many gowns or pairs of heels in my life. I’m always in my work uniform, but I don’t think that counts. In Hawai’i there’s not too many big events or opportunities to get dolled up, so my go to fashion is laid-back, t-shirt, jeans, & converse. Fabletics leggings & a cute crop. I love supporting local brands. I have alot of Farmers Market Hawaii & Brokenharded clothing in my closet. 

What is your favorite thing to do in your free time?

 Sleep! jk! I’m a full time restaurant manager so I work alot of hours, some times six days a week. I love to cook and spend time with my teenager son, but you may also find me taking a nap and catching up on my rest in my free time. Just being honest. #teamnosleep

What is the most interesting place you have ever visited?

Australia. I had the chance to participate in a Business Delegation “International Scholar Laureate Program” after my College shut down & just so happen it was in Australia. My first international trip ever. It was a once in a lifetime trip, traveling to different cities, learning about business & marketing. Plus getting the behind the scenes at the Taronga Zoo. Taking a selfie with a kangaroo. They’re so advances when it comes to some things, yet their wifi connection barely exists & the time difference was crazy. It was the most interesting culture shocking trip I’ve been on. 

What do you hope to achieve in the future?

I have achieved so many goals these padt two years, im already at a loss for words. I hope to achieve personal growth & manifest greatness. Hehehe. As cliché as it sounds, it’s what comes to the heart. At this time in my life, there is still alot I want to accomplish. I just don’t know what the future holds for me, so all I can do is continue to grow in the ways I hope to, and keep positive about where I want to be in the future. I know financial stability & success is non-negotiable for me, whether t comes from being discovered as a model or working endless hours running a restaurant, as long as it happens, we’re going in the right direction. I do also want to achieve a larger role in a casting, or a cover of a publication too, that would be fun.

Give us 5 fun facts people may not know: (please be as detailed as possible/tell a story)

Fun Fact #1: I joined band in middle school & played the tenor saxophone for 5 years. I couldn’t learn how to play the recorder in elementary, but the saxophone was a different story. I enjoyed the experience & wish I stuck with it. 
 
 Fun Fact #2: I was a total tomboy in elementary school. We loved across from the school, & you could always find me running around barefoot and climbing something. One day I was with my cousin & I jumped off the top of a slide acting like the original Black Power Ranger & nearly bit my tongue off. I stuck my landing, oblivious to the pain, & my cousin looked shocked. I ended up needed a good amount of stitches to sew my tongue into place, but a I remember during the hospital visit was getting to have all the popsicles I wanted. 
 
Fun Fact #3: I joined the Miss Bikini Hawaii pageant in 2020 when the pandemic was going strong in Hawai’i. Everything was shut down, everything fun was being cancelled. I usually do a mud run/obstacle course called the Makahiki Challenge every year for my birthday. It was cancelled that year, & I needed a personal challenge during a time I needed it most. I signed up after seeing an ad on Instagram & taking a chance. Best decision I’ve ever made. Talk about obstacles. After Hawai’i reopened, I went on to run the 2021 Makahiki Challenge with my pageant sisters by my side this time. 
 
Fun Fact #4: I love to dance. As a child I took hula,jazz, tap, & ballet. Always could find me on the dance floor at high school dances or “all ager ragers.” After I had my son, I wanted to get back into it, so decided to join Tahitian dance, & it rekindled that flame I knew back in the day. You’re never too old to get up & dance like no one is watching. 
 
Fun Fact #5: I have a 13 year old son named Blaise. I had him when I was 21, did whatever I needed to provide for him. Now he’s one of my biggest supporters & always hypes me up when it comes to competition & photoshoots. Although in true 13 year old fashion, he has to approve or comment on my wardrobe selections before I step food out the door. “Mom? You’re not going out like that are you?” I forget I’m 34 not 24 sometimes. He’s there to remind me. 
 

Kelly Bance
Miss Bikini Calendar Cover Model

Instagram: @mamakelz @missbikinioasis2022