- Winston Sill/Freelance Photographer
Miss Jamaica World 2003 Jade Fulford.
Alicia Roache, Staff Reporter
MISS JAMAICA World 2003 Jade Fulford has been named the 'Continental Queen of Beauty of the Caribbean.'
She won this title at the recently concluded Miss World Competition in China from a group of English, French and Dutch speaking countries from the Caribbean region. She also placed in the top 10 of the 'Bikini Babe' preliminary competition, which contributed to her placement in the top 20 in the finals.
The top 10 was not announced at the competition, but according to Jade, she was later named by the organisers as one of the top 10 finalists in the overall competition. Miss Ireland, Rosanna Davison was crowned Miss World 2003, Canada's Nazanin Afshin-Jam copped second place, while China's Quan Gi placed third.
Jade was good-natured in her
estimation of the Miss World Competition despite not being adjudged the winner. Amidst criticisms being levelled at the competition's fairness, and about her placement in the top 20, Jade remains kind and politically-correct. Though she agrees that in many cases, the person who wins does not always deserve to do so, she maintains that in this competition the winner was selected based on what the judges were looking for and not simply on public sentiment, and thus her victory was well deserved.
"I was disappointed when I didn't make it, but as far as being robbed, I would not say that I was robbed", she states.
In addition, Jade insists that Miss China's placement was not a political ploy but was, in fact, fair. "I met her during the competition and she was a really pleasant and sweet girl. I wouldn't say her placement was political" she says.
But was she surprised when she made it to the top 20?. "Yes and no", she says. "You feel surprised because even though you know you are good enough to be there, you never know what is going to happen. I felt surprised and then I felt very happy," she says.
She does admit, however, her disappointment with not making the top five, and becoming the winner. The response of the other contestants to the announcement of semi-finalists, finalists and winners was staid and unemotional, she says. "Backstage seemed pretty calm. I didn't see any emotions really flowing" she says.
REPRESENTATION
Although Jade might not have won the coveted 'Miss World' title, she believes she represented Jamaica well. Her talent piece consisted of a medley of popular Jamaican dances. She also acted as a spokesperson on Jamaican culture in addition to employing the Jamaican charm and grace.
"I brought some flags, and handed out souvenirs" she said. Jade also benefited from what she calls the "cultural exchange" of the Miss World Competition, interacting with the "Latin girls, and the Spanish girls", Jade got a chance to develop her fluency in speaking Spanish. "I did not want to limit myself to just the English-speaking contestants", she said.
Jade is nostalgic about her travels throughout sections of China; Beijing, and Shanghai, but names her visit to The Great Wall as one of her most memorable experiences. "You hear people talking about the Great Wall, but you never experience it fully until you are there," she says. In addition to her other-worldly experience, Jade, who in an earlier interview admits to not making friends easily, says that she has made at least one good friend of Miss Aruba, Nathalie Biermanns, at the competition. Jade in fact plans to visit her in Aruba next year.
Today, Jade is getting some rest from the gruelling schedule of the competition. However, she plans to tackle various charity responsibilities during the remainder of her reign as Miss Jamaica World. Regarding which charities she will work with, Jade has yet to come to a final decision. "I have many offers but I have to do more research on them," she says.
