Krista Henry, Staff Reporter

Miss Jamaica World 2006, Sara Lawrence, is all smiles as she is flanked by first runner-up Kristelle Harris, left, and Zahra McGraham, second runner-up at the Miss Jamaica World 2006 Grand Coronation Show at the Jamaica Pegasus hotel ballroom, Knutsford Boulevard, New Kingston, on Saturday. - Winston Sill/Freelance Photographer

Who's the fairest of them all? The Miss Jamaica World pageant was on a 'mission' last Saturday at the Jamaica Pegasus to find the most beautiful, talented and intelligent contestant of them all.

Standing in exquisite evening wear by Uzuri and accessories from Xtra's, it was a tough decision to cut all but one Queen. Coming in as the second runner-up was Zahra McGraham, first runner-up was Kristelle Harris who won the public vote. At the end of the night, Miss Crane Ridge Resort, Sara Lawrence, took home the title of Miss Jamaica World 2006 with obvious grace and poise.

The coronation was well planned and smoothly run with the girls coming on for their opening number accompanied by the Ashé group. They performed a lively dance to Allison Hinds Roll and Shakeira's Hips Don't Lie. From the start, the crowd roared for their favourite girls, with three lovely ladies coming out with the loudest cheers. Sara Lawrence, Zahra McGraham and Kristelle Harris elicited the loudest cheers, with banners flying with their names on it across the ballroom.

After another dance number from Ashé, the girls sashayed in colourful bikinis of green, yellow and red by the Mushroom. The pageant asked the crowd, and possibly itself, a very important question: "Are the girls culturally aware?" After the question section, it was obvious that some were more so than others. Despite one or two memorable mishaps, most of the girls aptly answered questions such as what benefit can Jamaica can achieve by participating in Cricket World Cup 2007? And what makes you feel proud to be a Jamaican?

Farewell speech

Teri-Karelle Griffiths, Miss Jamaica World 2005, cemented in her farewell speech that pride in Jamaica was an essential element for a Jamaican Queen. She said "Miss Jamaica World is a public servant, an ambassador and a good role model. To the upcoming Queen, just be yourself." Sara Lawrence who was dubbed 'most aware' expressed that sentiment exactly when The Gleaner caught up with her after the show. She expressed "it's surreal, I'm so thankful. I was confident knowing that there would be a destined winner but I was never completely sure it would be me. I plan simply on being me, the best me."

Last year's winner

Speaking on last year's winner Teri-Karelle Griffiths and being often compared to her, Sara states, "She's such a wonderful person and it's such a privilege to be compared to her. I plan to do as much as I can to keep the Miss Jamaica name high. I plan to be a very active Miss Jamaica, so you will see a lot of me; I'm going to be present. I want to personify the image of Jamaica, in the way I carry myself, express myself; when they see me, they are going to see what a Jamaican person is really like. I want them to love our country through me."

As for her plans for her reign and the upcoming competition in Poland, Lawrence claims, "I didn't have any preconceived plans, but I want to do outreach; to use all of our resources to the best of my ability. I'm not nervous about the competition in Poland, because I pray everyday and having something bigger than yourself to rely on, such as God and Jamaica, makes all your worries go away."