Miss Hawaiian Tropic (Jamaica) 2007, Bobiesha Jackson (centre), is flanked by second runner-up Claudia Rattigan (right) and first runner-up Ashley Lewis, after she won from a field of 13 contestants in the inaugural Miss Hawaiian Tropic Beauty Pageant held at Hedonism II, Negril, on Saturday. - Photos by Mark Titus

Mark Titus, Freelance Writer

WESTERN BUREAU:

Twenty-three-year-old Jamaican Bobiesha Jackson walked away with the Miss Hawaiian Tropic Jamaica title and the right to represent her country following a dazzling display of beauty, elegance and poise at the local leg of the 2007 International Pageant in Negril on Saturday.

"I am very excited and happy, I hope I will represent Jamaica well," she said. "I just kept focused. I knew what I was aiming for and went at it.

"The other contestants are great and we have become great friends, we are like family," she added.

Standing at five feet nine inches tall, the leggy Kingstonian was immediately pitted against Cuban entrant, Leydi Anglana, whose exuberance earned her catcalls and cheers from the countless male patrons in attendance at the Hedonism II venue. However, the final decision was in the hands of the judges and when the dust had settled Ms. Jackson emerged victorious out of a field of 13 contestants.

Chief judge, Sharon Kirkcaldy, said that Ms. Jackson embodied all that the panel was looking for.

"(We) were looking for the young lady who we believed embodied Jamaica in her intelligence, attitude, skin tone and poise," she explained.

Good representation

"We looked for someone who we thought would bring a piece of Jamaica to Las Vegas, and we are confident Bobiesha will represent us well."

Ms. Jackson also won sectional prizes for best bikini and best figure. Nicole Weller was selected for the best skin tone while Leydi Anglana took the prize for best personality and best smile. First runner-up Ashley Lewis and second runner-up Claudia Rattigan did not receive any additional prizes.

This was Jamaica's first staging of the pageant. Now in its 23rd year, the Miss Hawaiian International Pageant is currently conducting elimination pageants in the countries where the Hawaiian Tropic product is distributed. Ms. Jackson will compete for the title in Las Vegas on May 9.