The journey comes to an end

Garfene Grandison, Gleaner Writer

A few weeks after it was announced that the Miss Jamaica World would now be the responsibility of three former beauty queens, there were questions.

This had never been done before. Could the trio of Dr Terri-Karelle Reid, Miss Jamaica World 2005; Sara Lawrence, Miss Jamaica World 2006, and Regina Beavers, Miss Jamaica World 2001, pull together a successful pageant?

Though it seems to have been going smoothly, the real answers come on Saturday at The Jamaica Pegasus.

The event's launch, which was also held at the hotel featured 16 beautiful Miss Jamaica World hopefuls.

Those 16 also went to the Sovereign Centre where they were first unveiled to the public.

In the weeks preceding Coronation Night, the girls were put through a mandatory training regimen that included exercise, grooming, deportment and speech training by renowned grooming specialist Miss Beverley Corke.

As potential Jamaican ambassadors, the girls had to make courtesy calls on Government officials, sponsors and media houses.

Their itinerary facilitated visits to places of interest and fun, including a highly anticipated 'Miss Jamaica World Week' at The Grand Palladium Resort & Spa, the Richmond Hill Inn where they were educated about the inn's rich background, the Rose Hall Great House and a charity workday with the Students for Transformation, the Student Arm of the National Transformation Programme where they were invited to participate in a beautification project in Seaview Gardens.

The group also went to Fiction Lounge for one of the Miss Jamaica World fast-track competitions. The ladies performed in song, dance and drama to a panel of judges that consisted of Tommy James, Nadine Sutherland, Clive Thompson, Martha Graham Alvin Ailey, Alvin Campbell and Dr Terri-Karelle Reid.

Chantal Raymond, Miss Geddes Refrigeration, won and became the first of 10 finalists for Saturday.

There were to be two other fast-track events.

OTHER COMPETITION WINNERS

One, the Venus Embrace-sponsored Miss Jamaica World Beach Beauty competition and the other, the SoftSheen-Carson Miss Jamaica World Model competition.

Kerry Moxam is now Miss Beach Beauty and Salome Campbell won the modelling competition.

The three are the first to be counted among the top 10 of Saturday's coronation.

Unfortunately, there was one casualty of the competition, as Miss Jamaica Western, Jodi-Ann Moser, much to the dismay of many pageant watchers, had to call it quits for health reasons. With two weeks to go to coronation night, the 16 Miss Jamaica World contestants enjoyed a cocktail party put on in their honour and thrown by Supreme Ventures at the Acropolis Gaming and Entertainment Centre.

With just days left, the girls continue with speech, grooming and etiquette lessons as the Miss Jamaica World train is on its final voyage.

grandison.garfene@gleanerjm.com