By Alicia Roache, Staff Reporter
A costume for Straw provided by Uzuri. 'Flight of Fantasy: Essence of the Doctorbird' - Winston Sill/Freelance Photographer
MISS JAMAICA Universe 2004 Christine Straw presented pieces from her Miss Universe wardrobe to well-wishers, friends and the media during an intimate dinner held at the Hilton Kingston Hotel, New Kingston on Tuesday night.
The small gathering was treated to fashion fit for a queen from Jamaican designers and fashion houses at the three-hour event, organised by Pulse, owners of the Miss Jamaica Universe franchise. Food, music and fashion were combined in a fitting farewell to the queen before her departure for the Miss Universe Pageant, to be held on June 1 in Ecuador.
GRACE AND POISE
Straw wore the outfits from her wardrobe with grace and poise, while fielding questions from the media in a light and lively affair. The first outfit, a long, white A-line skirt with white satin trim and a light blue tube to match, came from Extras. Wright Style's signature casually elegant pieces were also a part of the presentation. The first, a layered yellow and teal skirt worn with matching spaghetti strapped teal top, made Straw look picture-perfect. The second Wright Style outfit, a gaucha pants and tube with ankle-length jacket, was also well-received. Marcia Nicely provided a green pants suit that, according to Kingsley Cooper, Pulse CEO, might serve as the 'interview suit'. This outfit was accessorised with matching pumps and jewellery.
STUNNING CONTRIBUTIONS
Sophia Max Brown, who was present at the affair, was congratulated for her stunning contributions to the wardrobe, one such being a show-stopping pink gown accessorised with a broach and sequined strap. The gown hugged Straw's body in all the right places, before falling smoothly to the floor.
Straw also wore a Barry Moncrieffe black, strapless, knee-length dress, dotted with multi-coloured sequins. The Uzuri duo, Carl and Mark, made their contribution with four outfits, inclusive of the national costume. A departure from the traditional madrass costumes, it was a plumed costume called 'Flight of Fantasy: Essence of the Doctor Bird' which elicited animated responses from the invited guests and hotel personnel in the vicinity of the Palm Court Restaurant.
TRUE JAMAICAN PRIDE
Straw's personality, her humility and the grace with which she wore the outfits, it is believed, should augur well for her at the international competition. At the end of the presentation, Straw emphasised her commitment to "represent the country with true Jamaican pride" in the Miss Universe competition.
Cooper, who closed the proceedings, had high praises for the beauty queen. "She is her own person, an original. I am optimistic that she will do better than everyone thinks she might," he said.
