Meeting the beauties

Daviot Kelly, Staff Reporter

Now who would turn down a chance to meet such beauties?

Well, unfortunately for them, a few Government ministers missed the meet-and-greet session on Tuesday with the Miss Jamaica Universe 2011 finalists. Dhorie Cox, pageant director, said the session was just one of the events on a busy schedule for the contestants.

The lucky officials who met the vibrant, intelligent misses at the Wyndham Kingston Hotel were Deputy Prime Minister Dr Ken Baugh (with G2K President Delano Seiveright in tow).

Needless to say, the minister had no qualms about taking a few photos with the young women before reminding them that they are ambassadors. He told them that the world will not only be looking at their beauty, but also their poise. He congratulated them on being selected for the finals and expressed confidence that whoever took the crown would represent the island well. He called them "bold" for taking this step, putting themselves out there so that people can appreciate who they are. He then put the icing on the cake and really got them stirred up when he opined that it was full time a Jamaican won the Miss Universe pageant.

Contestants

Vying for the crown are Kadyan Salmon, Yanique Grizzle, Jameela Geddes, Chantal Zaky, Jodiel Ebanks, Tiffany Trotter, Mitzie McLean, Natasha Brown, Samantha Zschuschner, Kaiya Montague, Sophronia McKenzie, Gabrielle Alexander, Shakira Martin, Debbie-Lee Baker, Christina Gonzalez, Peta-Gaye Simpson, Itrisha Nunes, Tausheedah Francis and Tamara Cox.