There were 16 finalists at the time when this photo was taken, but the number has decreased by one. Here they enjoy the sun and sand during their recent stay at the Sandals Dunn's River Village Golf Resort and Spa. - Contributed
The finalists in this year's Miss Jamaica 'World' beauty pageant are now in
frenzied preparation for the big night and Flair caught up with them at Spartan Health Club where they were in the middle of a training session.
Staff Reporter Daviot Kelly played 'pageant judge' and asked them about
the challenges of preparation so far. Here are their responses.
Aleen Bailey
"I'm a tomboy so for a lot of girls this is easy. The whole competition is a challenge. Every day you're learning something new. It's a wonderful experience, you meet new people. Public speaking is a challenge because I'm shy but I'm not going to make you know I'm shy!"
Sara Lawrence
"It would be in speech class. I speak very fast so I need to learn the proper diction and pacing. The competition is coming around so quickly, they're trying to cram everything so I have to catch on fast."
Chantal Raymond
"I don't think I have a real one. It doesn't feel like a real competition. We're all having a blast. This is a great bunch of girls and we're just bonding."
Tashana Wright
"The diet and the gym work. You can't eat too much starch or fatty foods. The gym work is very hard. You're working every day to have a nice body to look good in your swimsuit and it's just a lot of work."
Hertha Berkman
"Time. It just consumes you. It's a great cause, but it consumes you. Each of us has our own reasons for entering so it's a sacrifice to get what you want, even if it means missing work or school."
Zahra McGraham
"Public speaking. Before this, I wasn't very confident but I've definitely grown. The sessions have definitely helped. When I'm asked the sample questions, I can answer them better. Hopefully, I'll get better for the final night."
J'nelle Stephenson
"For me, opening up and being more confident in public is a challenge. I'm naturally a shy person,
but you get exposed to girls from
different places with different personalities. I've become close with all of them."
Tiffanie Glendenning
"For me, it's public speaking because I get so nervous in front of people. I would get shaky and forget what I'm saying. But the training has helped me to evolve little by little and I hope to evolve even further."
Danya-Cecille Williams
"There is none really that I can think of although I'm not really a strong speaker in front of a crowd. This whole thing is new to me. Some of the girls like being in the spotlight, I'm getting used to it."
Christelle Harris
"My main challenge has to do with weight. It's not about losing it, or maintaining it. It's just the amount of exercise and keeping your energy level up. The whole competition is really the challenge; just trying to keep everything together. But it's a good learning experience."
Miska Samuels
"I used to model so I was taught to walk in a certain way. Now I have to be retrained how to walk the 'beauty queen' way or whichever one is required. The beauty queen walk is more subtle and not as extravagant."
Renee Barrett
"I haven't had much of a challenge but I would say public speaking. I've done a lot of speaking in high school and college but now I get nervous and what I want to say is not what comes out."
Lacian Roache
"Two things in particular that have posed a challenge to me have been my ability to take part in the mini-competition sports, owing to lack of being in shape, and also I've done a lot of fashion modelling, Therefore, adjusting to the technique required for beauty pageant's parade walk poses a problem. Overall, change is always something I welcome and somewhat enjoy, so I look forward to overcoming these challenges, because they will only make me a stronger and better person."
Gillian Taylor
"My biggest challenge is public speaking. For me it's not the speech, it's the presentation part. You do get
a little daunted when you hear the comments, the cheers and you see the audience and you get nervous. But I'm learning to take a deep breath, exhale and continue."
