Invyte Production ousted - Miss Jamaica Universe Franchise under new leadership

Garfene Grandison, Gleaner Writer

The Miss Universe Pageant is now under new leadership. The franchise, which was once owned by Invyte Productions, has changed hands and should see a new team taking over as soon as January when the final documentations are signed.

The Gleaner got word that the new franchise holder is Grand Palladium's general manager, Dimitris Kosvogiannis, and his partner, Marlon Honegan.

In a letter to Kosvogiannis, Annette Cammer, director, international licensing, the Miss Universe pageant, expressed how pleased she was to welcome the new franchise holders aboard and wished them luck in their first staging, which should take place before June 1, 2012.

Conditions for candidacy

She also took the opportunity to remind them of the conditions for candidacy for the new Miss Jamaica, which include being at least 18 and under 27 years of age as of February 1, 2012. The females must also be citizens of Jamaica and reside as a permanent resident and have primary residence for a period of at least six months prior to the date of the start of the pageant.

Kosvogiannis outbid a few other interested persons to obtain the local franchise, which carries one of the most exorbitant franchise fees in the world. Obtaining a franchise of this magnitude is something about which he is very excited.

Invyte Productions, which took ownership of the franchise after it was sold by Pulse two years ago, has been having a hard time executing a seamless beauty pageant.

As 2012 fast approaches, all eyes will be on the Miss Universe pageant to see how it compares to Invyte Productions' staging of the event.