Nashauna Drummond, Staff Reporter
Raquel relaxes by having some fun in her room. - PHOTOS BY IAN ALLEN/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
In 2005 Raquel Wright snatched the Miss Jamaica Universe title. In 2006 the right girl to replace her was Cindy Wright (no relation). Both queens were sponsored by Captain's Bakery.
But that seems to be where the similarity ends.
To Raquel, thanks for representing our country so well and to Cindy, all the best in July.
HER WALLS are napel yellow and orange. Her yellow-and-white striped curtains accentuate the bright walls, while the matching sheets are a stark contrast to the purple rugs.
This bright and sunny room is representative of its owner's personality; Miss Jamaica Universe 2005 Raquel Wright.
With a constant smile on her face, it is evident why she also walked away with the Miss Congeniality prize and the title at last year's competition.
When she woke last Monday, she went back to a life that has been on pause for the past 12 months. Now free of her Miss Universe obligations, she can spend more time with her family and friends, which she hasn't been able to do. "I can get away and be normal now," she notes.
ACHIEVEMENTS
After a year of representing her country, Wright sees her greatest achievement as completing four years of university at Ithata College in New York. Coming September, this 24-year-old beauty will embark on another major chapter in her life, completing another goal - law school. So far, she has been accepted to three law schools in London - universities of Buckingham, Birmingham and Wolverhampton. She's also been accepted to master's programmes at Ithaca College and Florida State University.
The Miss Jamaica Universe title and academic achievements are merely steps on Raquel's ladder of success. She has continued to excel, she says, because of her ability to filter out negativity. "People are different and you have to tailor your attitude towards different people, but maintain a positive attitude which is the way to move forward in life."
HIV/AIDS
During her reign as Miss Jamaica Universe, Wright was the national spokesperson on HIV/AIDS. She became interested during the Miss Universe competition where she met and became very close to Miss America. She had two friends who had recently died from AIDS. "I was so moved by her speech, when I came back I called the Ministry of Health. I've become so passionate about it; it's a reality for so many Jamaicans."
EXPERIENCES
Wright describes her experiences in Thailand as one of the greatest in her life. "I don't think I'm ever able to recapture that month. Four weeks of bliss. You can't buy a book on experiences with 81 of the world's ambassadors," Wright said. She notes that one of the reasons she entered the competition was to be a positive role model to young Jamaicans.
She says young Jamaicans are extremely creative and do not understand their creativity. "I wanted to make an impact on my country and this was the opportunity I got." She said she feels she has touched many Jamaicans through numerous motivational workshops and learnt that taking five minutes of your time to talk to someone can make a great difference. The beauty has also changed some person's perspective of beauty queens and beauty pageants. She notes that in the past, they were thought of as 'stuck up' and superficial. "I proved a lot of people wrong."
RAQUEL NOT RACHEL
On a lighter note, Wright notes that one of her biggest pet peeves is being called 'Rachel'. Wright was named for the movie star Raquel Welsh. However this pales in comparison to her distaste for hypocrisy. "I don't condone hypocrisy or lies. I should give people the respect I deserve."
If Raquel Wright seems perfect, that's because she's a perfectionist. For Wright, "Everything has to be right which is not good at times because life is not absolute. It's hard to accept that things will not always go your way. I'm driven by passion."
