Monique Hinds'Miss Soft And Beautiful Jamaica', Monique Hinds, 20, is preparing herself for the international stage.
She travels to Texas, United States, later this month to compete in the international Miss Soft And Beautiful competition being staged by Pro Line agency which deals in Alberto V-O5 products.
"I am excited about going. I am quite eager to go out there and represent my country. There will be girls from all over competing and I expect that the competition will be tough. But I am prepared to give it my best shot," she said.
The contest not only concentrates on beauty, but also on hair quality, style and the intelligence of the contestant. "We had to write an essay before we were selected. The company wanted to make sure that the person chosen would represent them well," she told Showbiz.
Monique is a guest service assistant at Sandals Dunn's River hotel in St. Ann. She is a former student of St. Hilda's High School and Moneague Teachers College. She enjoys her job.
"It's great being able to assist people and to make their vacations exactly what they hope for. There are challenges from time to time, but the important thing is that we always manage to get the job done," she said.
Monique has plans to go back to school to further her education, eventually gaining a doctorate.
"I am always encouraging people that whatever kind of education you can achieve, go after it. That is the key to survival in this global economy and an ever-changing world," she said.
Miss Hinds also holds the title of Miss Ciboney when that hotel was in operation. "I had never thought about entering contests because I was shy and hated speaking out. The experience has helped me to develop my self-esteem and to widen my horizons," she told Showbiz.
