Danisha Osbourne
The Gleaner continues to profile the contestants in the 2006 Miss Jamaica Universe pageant.
The finals will be held on Sunday, March 26 at the Hilton Kingston hotel at 7:30 p.m.
Danisha Osbourne
Age: 23 years
Height: 5'10"
Weight: 125 lb
Vital statistics: 32- 26-34
Occupation: Student
Sponsor: Miss Tiny Tots
Why did you decide to enter the competition?
"I decided to enter because it is a desire of mine to see what a pageant was all about. Watching pageants has always intrigued me and I wanted to experience it first hand. I thought of it as a way of getting added exposure."
What is your definition of a beauty queen?
"Confident, smart, a woman who knows what needs to be done and takes her job seriously. Being a beauty queen is more than just a sash and a crown, it actually becomes a full-time job."
What do you expect to achieve by entering this competition?
"I hope to gain some genuine friendships. I also hope that whether or not I win, this will be an opportunity to help others."
What do you consider to be your best asset?
"My smile. I have been told that I am very patient and the two goes together. For people who are hurting a smile goes a long way in assisting them."
How would you sell Jamaica to a foreigner in light of the high crime rate?
"I believe Jamaica's beauty surpasses all the bad things. There are so many wonderful attributes that this island has. People abroad always talk about Jamaica. We have the given sun, sand and sea, our island is overall beautiful and would overshadow the crime."
Would you say Jamaican people are diverse, and why?
"We are diverse and that is because of the huge 'melting pot' of culture that we have here. For people who have to study abroad there is an influence there that when we bring it home it intensifies the diversity that makes us unique as an island and as a country."
If you could meet one person, who would it be and why?
"I would want to meet Dr. Martin Luther King. I would want to find out from him what his struggles were like with the Civil Rights Movement in the United States taking into consideration the fact that he was always a target."
If you were to win the title, what sector of society would you work with and why?
"My passion is working with children. I have been a youth counsellor for years and have been working rigorously with young people. They would be my target. Not only to work with that group, but also to continue with Racquel Wright's (MJU 2005) work with HIV/AIDS."
If you were the Prime Minister what changes would you make and how would you go about making those changes?
"I would change the current status of the education system and make it more accessible at all levels by securing funding. I would also try to build attractive job opportunities to curb the loss of our educated population to other countries."
What do you hope to achieve in five years?
"I would like to have achieved one of two things, either to be a medical researcher and make new drug finds for common diseases that humankind has been struggling with, like the various types of cancer and AIDS. I would also like to continue the work my mother started at Shalem Special Needs Training Center, where she works with young people 12 years and older who has special needs."
