It's that time of year again when we present the beauties. The Gleaner, in the upcoming weeks will run profiles of all the contestants in the 2006 Miss Jamaica World pageant. 15 girls are vying for the prestigious title and the opportunity to represent Jamaica at the Miss World competition in Warsaw, Poland in September.
Today we present ...
Danya-Cecille Williams
Danya-Cecille Williams, one of the finalists in the Miss Jamaica World 2006 beauty pageant. - Winston Sill / Freelance Photographer
Sponsor: Dark and Lovely
Age: 19 years
Occupation: Student
Vital Statistics: 33 1/2, 25 1/2, 36 1/2
Height: 5' 6"
Weight: 129 lbs.
How do you feel about Jamaica's performance in pageants over the years?
"I am not much of a pageant follower. I wasn't into the fashion thing, it is all new to me. I am a living 'tom boy'."
Do you think beauty pageants are still relevant and why?
"In a sense, yes. You have a lot of women in society today that are not really sure about themselves. It gives people a lot more confidence in themselves."
What in your opinion is your best quality?
"My personality. I am a warm person, not to sound conceited. I am loving and I make people feel very comfortable around me. I can get people to open up to me."
How does this competition fit into your plans for the future?
"It didn't. It was a last-minute decision. It was not like I planned to be Miss Jamaica World. My mom suggested it and I thought it would be a new experience. Even if I don't win I can say that I did this."
Which of the mini-competitions do you stand the best chance of winning?
"Probably talent. My talent is singing and the song that I will be singing suits my type of voice. I just feel comfortable, more comfortable with my talent than everything else."
Name three must-haves
"My mother, she is my everything. My siblings - I have seven brothers and four sisters and I must have Chinese food and Nestlé Quick."
Why should you win the title of Miss Jamaica World 2006?
"I love my country. There is nothing I wouldn't do to try and help my country. The world has a very bad opinion of our little island and I would like to show them that we are not as bad as they have us to be. We are really beautiful. We are a strong people and we never stay down. I am proud to be Jamaican, no matter how bad things may be."
Chantal Raymond
Chantal Raymond, one of the finalists in the 2006 Miss Jamaica World Beauty pageant. - Winston Sill / Freelance Photographer
Sponsor: Pavillion Mall
Age: 20 years
Occupation: Recently graduated from the University of Florida
Vital Statistics: 36, 27, 38
Height: 5' 9"
Weight: 138 lbs.
How do you feel about Jamaica's performance in pageants over the years?
"It depends. The pageants in Jamaica have been great and fantastic. They are glamorous, but abroad, where the Miss World and Miss Universe pageants are kept, it is somewhat different. I know we do very well in the Miss World pageant, we've had lots of Caribbean queens of beauties. I am saddened by the fact that we haven't done that well in the Miss Universe pageant, rarely do I see Jamaica make it in the top ten."
Do you think beauty pageants are still relevant and why?
"Of course they are relevant. They have been going on since the 1960s, just about the time Jamaica got its independence so it's a part of our culture. It is woven into our system, it is traditional, it is something for every generation where another group of girls every year goes on to become Miss Jamaica World or Miss Jamaica Universe."
What in your opinion is your best quality?
"My personality, because I am vibrant and bubbly and my mother has always told me that when I light up, people light up around me. Your confidence shows a lot when you are onstage because when you go up and you are like, 'I have arrived', then people see that and they get into whatever you are doing and they follow you and their eyes can't help but focus on you."
How does this competition fit into your plans for the future?
"The competition doesn't really fit. I want to be a lawyer and there is not a lot of lawyers that enter beauty pageants so that is why I did it because it is not traditional. So that's what makes me different that is what makes me unique. It also helps to build my confidence and makes me a better person overall. I wanted to step outside the box and do something that was not very normal for a future lawyer to do."
Which of the mini-competitions do you stand the best chance of winning?
"I would say talent and model. Those are the two. Talent because I am a very good actress, I am very dramatic so I would go out there and do my best. And model because I am tall and elegant and I think I can walk and model my outfits."
Name three must-haves
"My computer, it keeps me up to date. I get the news from my computer, I keep in touch with my friends and family abroad. Another thing is my family. I am a family-oriented person and I love having my family around me. And the third thing would be music, I have lots of songs on my iPod and my computer. Music is a way to get away from the stress of the world. It is a means by which you can just escape."
Why should you win the title of Miss Jamaica World 2006?
"I think I'd be a great Miss Jamaica World. First of all, they are looking for a girl that is fabulous and well-rounded, who carries herself well and have the qualities of a lady and would represent Jamaica well and I know I can do all of that."
