Miss U.S. Paradise Whitney Carter leaves for Miss World 2010 in Sanya

Carolyn Whitney Carter flew out from St. Croix around 10:30 a.m. as the first Virgin Islander to compete in the Miss World competition — a beauty pageant that draws from more countries that Miss Universe, according to Cyndee Ible Frontal, who heads Miss U.S. Paradise.

Miss U.S. Paradise is the organization with the rights to name who will represent the U.S. Virgin Islands in the Miss World pageant, because Miss USVI was already taken, Frontal said.

The 20-year-old Carter is a student at Emory University and a St. Croix resident. She has taken the year off from school to compete.

The pageant will be held in Sanya, China, on Oct. 10.

The Miss World pageant has five categories, and the top spot: Miss World. The other categories Carter will compete in are for Miss World Beauty with Purpose, Miss World Beach Beauty, Miss World Fashion Top Model, Miss World Fitness and Miss World Talent.