Beauty Queen showered with gifts

Marlyn Taylor cried tears of joy after she was crowned as the new Miss Kingston and St Andrew. She came out on top out of a group of 15 gorgeous ladies. She also won several sections, and so she received a cash prize, a trip to Trinidad Carnival, as well as an educational course.

PUBLISHED MONDAY, JUNE 30, 1969

Kingston and St Andrew winners

A 19-year-old cashier at Swiss Watch and Jewellery, Miss Marlyn Taylor, was overcome with emotion yesterday morning after she was crowned Miss Kingston and St Andrew in the presence of the largest crowd that has ever turned out to witness this phase of the Miss Jamaica contest, at the Flamingo Hotel.

Marlyn, 5 ft. 6 ins. 34-24-36 and weighing 118 lbs., daughter of Mr and Mrs E. H. Taylor of 20 Meadow Way, Kingston 8, was also the winner of the prizes for the best legs and the best figure. She was chosen from a field of 15 other contestants.

Miss Kingston and St Andrew 1969 along with runners-up Sheila Neil, who was second; Marjorie Cooke, who was third; and Dawn Bachstetz, who placed fourth, will be representatives in the Miss Jamaica semi-finals.

The new queen was sashed and crowned by Miss Kingston and St Andrew 1968, Audrey Dell.

The second-place winner, Sheila Lorna Neil is a 22-year-old student at Fitz Henley commercial school. Sheila's statistics are 36-23-37. She weighs 110 lbs. and is 5 ft. 3 inches tall.

Third-place winner Marjorie Cooke, an 18-year-old secretary at Forrest Agency and American Life, weighs 106 lbs., is 5 ft tall, and measures 36-24-36. Fourth was Heather Dawn Bachstetz, a freelance model. She is 20 years old, weighs 120 lbs., is 5 ft. 6 inches tal,l and measures 36-24-39.

A prize for the best personality was awarded to Hilda Moo-Young, a Company Director.

The Queen's prizes were £300, donated by Redimix Limited; a trip to Carnival in Trinidad for two, donated by Kingston and St. Andrew Beauty Contest Committee; a secretarial course at Duff's Business College valued £121, donated by the College; a watch from L. A Henriques: a hair dryer from Leslie Moodie; a colour portrait donated by Girl Kong and Rhotique; and one year's floral service by Pearl Flowers Ltd.

For the second-prize winner, her prizes were £125, donated by Redimix limited; a trip for two to Panama, donated by Air Caribbean Transport; a necklace from Wright's Jewellery Store; and a gift certificate for £30 from Lee's Fifth Avenue.

The third-prize winner received £50 from BH Paints; a dinner set from Marzouca Limited; a bedside radio donated by Percy Lee Appliances, and  dinner for two donated by Golden Dragon Restaurant.

The fourth-prize winner got £30 donated by Manufacturer's Life Insurance; a Schick hair dryer by Bowies Limited; and £15  from the Shorthand Writers Association.

Miss Taylor, who received the prizes for the best legs, received £20, donated by Lannamans Confectionery, and the prize for the best figure, £25, donated by West Indies Containers. The prize for the best personality carries a cash prize of £25, donated by Modern Partitions; and the best smile, an award of 10 guineas, donated by Corinaldi Inc. Brokerage; and £5 from Ron Mullings Service Station.

For the first time in the Miss Kingston and St Andrew competition  two new adjustments were made. The first was the addition of the "new and young blood" to the judging panel. Two students, Miss Valerie McDonald, head girl of St Andrew High School, and Mr Harold Brady,  president of the Excelsior Sixth Form Association, were members of the judging panel.

The other judges were Mrs Yvonne Jones, Mrs Ainsley Henriques, Dr Ronnie Melbourne, Mr Adrian Robinson, Mrs Betty Maragh, Mr Larry Wong, and Mrs Sherill Case.

The other adjustment was the addition of a new section to the contest - that of a prize to the girl adjudged "the best sport", and that prize was won by Margaret Douglas, who was announced by error as the contestant for winning the award for the best figure.

She was presented with £30, donated by Mr Bat Chen of Asphalt Paving; Mr Altamont Edwards, chairman of the Miss Jamaica Committee; and Mr David Lyons, a member of the selection and promotion committee.

Entertainment was provided by Byron Lee and the Dragonaires, with Tony Gregory as a guest artist.

The next appearance of the beauties will be the presentation of the 28 semi-finalists in the Miss Jamaica competition and the selection of the 16 finalists at the National Arena on Sunday, July 6.

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