International Dancehall Queen competition in MoBay for August

Janet Silvera, Senior Gleaner Writer

More than 40 women from all corners of the earth will converge on the tourism capital, Montego Bay, for the 18th staging of International Dancehall Queen 2014.

The event, slated for Saturday, August 2, was launched at Mosino Casino, in Catherine Hall by Big Head Promotions, organisers of what is now considered one of the longest running dance events in the country.

According to Brian Martin of Big Head Promotions, dancers from Caribbean countries and as far as South Africa, Slovakia, Spain, Japan, Poland, Sweden, and multiple states in the United States of America are billed to contest the one million dollars worth of prizes and the title.

An achievement for all

"Whether the dancers win or not, it doesn't matter to them, they are able to place it on their profiles - the fact that they represented their country on the international scene," said Martin, who added that the concept had been adopted worldwide.

"International Dancehall Queen has been one of the vessels used to transport and showcase Jamaica's rich culture," Martin told the gathering, which included chairman of the Entertainment Advisory Board, Kingsley Cooper.

Cooper, representing the Ministry of Tourism and Entertainment, noted that the annual event could fit exceptionally well in the Jamrock Summer '90 Days, 90 Ways' promotion which was launched last week in Montego Bay.