Alicia Roache, Staff Reporter
The Queen and the runners-up: Raquel Wright, (second left) poses with second place winner Shemille Blake(left), and two third place winners, Carolyn Yapp and Chavoy Gordon.
EVEN BY pageant standards, the script turned with stunning swiftness. When Raquel Wright was announced as Miss Jamaica Universe 2005 at the grand
coronation on Sunday night, it was the completion of a surprise ending to an intricately woven plot.
And never, maybe, was a third place announcement - joint, at that - met with such obvious shock.
By beauty pageant standards Carolyn Yapp was supposed to have been the winner of the pageant.
Everything was in place, it seemed, the right gown (she won for 'Best in Evening Wear'), the right attitude (she swung her shoulders and hips and smiled confidently as she paraded on stage throughout the night) and the backing of 'the people' (she won the 'People's Choice Award' and had her own cheering team present). There were at least two groups in the Hilton ballroom, one on each side, cheering for Carolyn, bearing banners with her name.
Given all of that, plus the fact that she had the experience to boot, having placed a very near second in the Miss Jamaica World pageant last year and in that competition the 'people's choice', Tonoya Toyloy, had won, it seemed she should have won on Sunday.
SO WHY DIDN'T SHE?
Well, there were two (perhaps three) other girls who strutted in her way, the most impressive of which was the eventual winner, 23 year-old Raquel Wright. She won $2 million in cash and prizes the coveted crown and the title, the Miss Universe winner's wardrobe and the opportunity to represent Jamaica at the Miss Universe pagent in Bangkok, Thailand on May 31.
But, the look of utter disappointment on the face of the second runner-up Yapp, even as she tried desperately, but in vain to cover it with a smile, was enough to make a sympathetic audience member want to cry. She looked like she would cry as she shared third place, another pageant plot twist, with Chavoy Gordon.
Shemille Blake, a crowd favourite, placed second and a very ecstatic Raquel Wright, became the new Miss Jamaica Universe. Raquel also won the 'Most Congenial' contestant award, what is thought to be the 'booby prize' of pageants, usually reserved for the girl who never stood a chance of winning the title in the first place.
WHAT A TWIST
Shemille Blake won prizes for being the 'Most Aware' and 'Most Photogenic' contestant, while Chavoy won for being the 'Best in Swimsuit'. Natalia de Lisser completed the top five.
The disappointment of one contestant did not overshadow the joy of another, though, and Raquel celebrated with her friends, family and well-wishers afterwards. "It's been a great experience," she breathed, between sips of water and trying to compose herself. "I wasn't sure I was going to win, but I think I am quite deserving," she said.
Raquel wore a red, sequinned gown with a satin strap that crossed one shoulder, designed by Uzuri. In fact, Uzuri designed all the gowns worn by the 13 contestants.
The show, which started promptly at 8 p.m. was enjoyable throughout and, with the exception of a few minor glitches, ran smoothly. After a dramatic opening which served to introduce the finalists in a 'Chicago'-styled vaudeville presentation, the show continued with the contestants in swimwear by Mushroom.
Amid the beauty and pageantry of the ceremony, the show went a bit down to earth with performances by singer G-Whiz, with Treat Her Like a Lady, and the 'Crew Demolition' dance group, with a breakdance routine.
Contestants also added to the performance segment of the show, with songs, poems and mini skits about love and self-affirmation in a script that was well rehearsed and well presented. This talent section, however, did more to highlight the lack thereof, with quite a few of the contestants singing flat and off-key. Djavila Smith, however, the sole dancer of the finalists, stuck to something with which she is obviously familiar and gave what may have been the best (though very brief) performance of the group.
In the end, the package was well presented and at the end of the night, none could be heard complaining of the outcome - not even one disappointed contestant.
