Contestants in the Jamaica 'Mother of the Year Pageant' were sashed at a ceremony at Curphey Place, South Avenue, Swallowfield, on Saturday. - WINSTON SILL/FREELANCE PHOTOGRAPHER
THE 23RD annual sashing of the 'Mother of the Year' was staged at Curphey Place, Swallowfield Road, on Saturday night.
The event was brief but it was enough for patrons to get a sneak preview of their favourite contestants. This year's contestants are Judith Jarrett, Delfa Bailey, Norma Brown-Aarons, Petula Jarrett, Marlene Knight-Brown, Anmarie Mowatt, Diana Williams and Nicola Henry.
The women treated the audience with their talents, some of which were questionable. One which stood out for the wrong reasons was Delfa Bailey's Sound of Music piece. Bailey, 59 and a registered nurse, came out attired in a long pink dress and head tie, but it was her violin playing that had the audience in stitches. Many commented that it was Bailey's first time playing the violin.
CROWD FAVOURITES
Other pieces, including Anmarie Mowatt's dance to Tina Turner's Simply the Best, was also hilarious. Her entire piece could be likened to a lesson in window cleaning.
However, there were two crowd favourites: Diana Williams, 40, a personnel manager, and Nicola Henry, 32, a legal secretary.
Williams, who did a dance medley, started with Celine Dion's Have You Ever, Beyonce's Crazy in Love, among others. She had the crowd standing and cheering for her entire set.
Then came Henry who performed Tanya Stevens' The Other Cheek. In most parts it was almost impossible to tell the difference between the two women's voices.
SASHES WORN
The ladies also modelled formal wear and were sashed soon after. Nicola Henry wears the sash, 'Miss Definitions Ltd.'; Delfa Bailey, 'Miss Binn's Auto Stores'; Norma Brown-Aarons, 'Miss Emkay Sports'; Petula Jarrett, 'Miss Gloria's Rendezvous', Marlene Knight-Brown, 'Miss Golden Bowl'; Anmarie Mowatt, 'Miss Tiny Tots'; Judith Jarrett, 'Miss Allen's Casual Wear' and Diana Williams, 'Miss Sonia's Homestyle Cooking & Natural Juices.'
The crowing of the 'Mother of the Year' will take place on Mother's Day, May 14, at the Jamaica Pegasus, New Kingston.
