Hotel manager takes over Miss Jamaica Universe

Garfene Grandison, Gleaner Writer

The Talk of the Town, The Jamaica Pegasus hotel, New Kingston, was buzzing on Tuesday evening as the Miss Jamaica Universe 2012 pageant was launched. Persons from far and wide came out to celebrate with new franchise holder, Grand Palladium's general manager, Dimitris Kosvogiannis.

The evening's proceedings were called to order by Kosvogiannis himself, who spoke about the pageant and what it means to him, a naturalised Jamaican citizen, to be the new franchise holder. "I think it is the responsibility of the organisation to give back and contribute to the growth and development of Jamaica," he said.

The media and other specially invited guests such as Minister of Tourism Edmund Bartlett, reigning Miss Jamaica Universe Shakira Martin and members of the diplomatic corp, were introduced to the persons who will be spearheading the 2012 Miss Jamaica Universe Pageant. Marlon Honeygan will lead as the pageant director; Kim Marie Spence, film commissioner, will deal with all things entertainment; Keneea Linton-George, fashion designer and television producer, will look after the fashion and style aspects; and Tess-Marie Leon of the Jamaica Tourist Board (JTB) will be the leading public relations person and government affairs liaison.

Kosvogiannis further revealed that auditions will be done all over Jamaica, starting soon, because he "found that the profiles have been concentrated in Kingston". He said that he wants to give more ladies the opportunity to be exposed, since he thinks that the pageant should be about the contestants and not the organisation.

Tourism Minister Ed Bartlett stated, "Dimitris has joined a band of illustrious persons to promote some of the finest qualities of female pulchritude in Jamaica." The minister also stated that he "hopes 2012 will provide a queen who will not only be a queen of Jamaica, but a queen of the world".

Spence said how proud Jamaica Trade and Invest (JTI) is to be a part of the team and further expressed that they are all for throwing their support behind brand Jamaica, offering the boost that a pageant needs. She reiterated that "Jamaica means business" and emphasised that JTI is ready to support the cause.

Linton-George spoke of her task, marrying fashion and beauty to promote brand Jamaica and the local designers, while Novia McDonald-Whyte, another key speaker, stated the importance of the ladies in the pageant receiving proper training and also the role of corporate entities in achieving Jamaica's "universal" success.

The Miss Jamaica Universe 2012 competition is slated to take place in May, as the winner has to be chosen before June 1, 2012, according to the Miss Universe Organisation.