Sterling gets ready for Miss Global - Jamaican contestant says there is much pressure

Shereen Sterling, 23-year-old student of the University of the West Indies, topped a field of 26 contestants to be crowned Miss Global Jamaica at the Grand Palladium resort in Point, Hanover.

Sterling, who also won the talent segment, received a number of prizes also, and will participate in the Miss Global International pageant on Sunday.

The beauty queen is looking forward to meeting the other contestants and finding out about the various cultures. "I've seen the pictures of the ladies and they are all beautiful so I'm just looking forward to meeting them and being exposed to the mixture of cultures," she said.

The 23-year-old medical student said she decided to enter the competition because the opportunity presented itself. Friends, family members and well-wishers encouraged her to embrace the opportunity and so she went forward.

To Sterling, winning a competition like Miss Jamaica Global provides a platform for her to work with a number of charities, including the Caribbean Christian Centre for the Deaf.

According to the reigning Miss Global Jamaica, the most nerve-wracking part of the upcoming competition was living up to the expectations of the people.

"People are expecting me to bring home the crown, or in this case keep the crown here, so it is pretty nerve-wracking," she confessed.

Strict regime

Since winning the competition several months ago, Sterling has been sticking to a strict regime in a bid to maximise on her preparation.

"I'm eating properly, watching my diet, drinking lots of water as well as practising for my talent piece, being that it is a pageant that is about beauty, brains and talent," she said.

What's next if she should win the pageant?

"I am a medical student so I will continue my studies because med-school is not easy to take breaks from, but I will definitely continue to help other charities."

Speaking of charities, since copping the Miss Global Jamaica crown, Sterling has been working with the Good Shepherd Foundation on AIDS awareness campaigns and workshops.

She also hopes that with the crown she will be part of other charity organisations that bring awareness to certain areas of Jamaican culture.

Shereen's attempt to win the Miss Global International crown will begin tomorrow with a 9 p.m. talent show at the Grand Palladium Lady Hamilton Resort and Spa in Point, Hanover.

The competition continues on Sunday with the grand coronation show at the same venue. That show also begins at 9 p.m.