Kavelle Anglin-Christie, Staff Reporter

Miss Jamaica World 2005, Teri-Karelle Griffith and Former Miss Jamaica World 2006, Sara Lawrence. - File photos

"Lawrence, 21 years old (like Griffith), has that bubbly personality that makes you wonder if she ever has bad days and where you can purchase some of that charisma she has, to face a room of strangers and make them love you. And, of course, there is the intelligence factor that makes you know that beauty with a purpose does exist in these often criticised beauty competitions."

The Sunday Gleaner

Late one summer night last year, a new Miss Jamaica World was crowned. She cried and smiled. As her crown slipped off every now and then she tried to fix it, wave hurriedly, readjust the large crown swimming in diamonds and still hold her bouquet. Though she continued to cry, she never forgot to smile. A diamond in the rough started to glisten.

She was 21 year-old Sara Lawrence. She was beautiful, charismatic and reminiscent Teri-Karelle Griffith, Miss Jamaica World 2005. Fans of Griffith immediately fell in love with Lawrence's energy, her unpretentious humour and those dimples to die for. But mostly they were happy they weren't losing a queen, simply crowning another Jamaican beauty.

Then recently a 'tragedy' of sorts struck. Lawrence announced she was pregnant and would be having a baby later this year. As such, she decided to relinquish the crown. A diamond in the rough didn't break.

did Jamaica proud

Immediately following Lawrence's announcement, Miss Jamaica World franchise holder, Mickey Haughton-James, issued a statement saying, "Sara Lawrence, the reigning Miss Jamaica World, is a fabulous young woman who did Jamaica proud at the 2006 Miss World contest and has performed outstandingly as Miss Jamaica World since then. Unfortunately, Ms. Lawrence has made an error of judgement and is now facing up to the consequences. It has caused her great anguish."

He continued: "Sara's role in all of this cannot be ignored; her actions could potentially harm the tradition that is the Miss Jamaica World pageant and past and future winners. I know that she intends to do all within her powers to mitigate this potential harm through her future endeavours and Spartan intends to give her 100 per cent support. I hope that all Jamaica will be understanding and do likewise."

The support, fused with criticism, was and still is overwhelming, and Griffith and her family say Lawrence, 22, has their full support.

Donna Marie Scott, Griffith's mother, spoke on behalf of Teri-Karelle, now a final-year student in Cuba studying veterinary medicine.

"When Teri heard about it and read it online, she was very sad and wanted to express her love to Sara and regardless of the outcome she will stand by her," said Scott.

Scott also spoke on the issue of her daughter getting involved in the competition again, which Mickey Haughton-James offered as a possibility in the release, which read "I am not sure it will be necessary to appoint a replacement and I may very well ask Teri-Karelle Griffith, Miss Jamaica World 2005, to participate in this year's event and to crown the winner". Scott says though the statement was made, Griffith has not been officially contacted by Haughton-James on the issue.

"She can't assume anything right now because she is in school and she has not been advised by Mickey Haughton-James. As far as her taking over, it's only been speculated and we only saw it in The Gleaner and I told her to go online and read it, but he hasn't finalised anything with her," said Scott.

"Maybe when school is over with we can think about that, but for now it's just a thought. I'm not going to use Sara's demise to say I'm happy so Teri can get the crown, because that's not how I feel. But I'm proud that he considered her, as opposed to going back 10 years in the past. I won't say anything bad about the situation because I am a mother too," Scott said.