Carolyn Yapp, a stunning 25 year old Interior Designer was crowned Miss Jamaica Universe 2009 to loud cheers and prolonged applause from the small audience in attendance at The Refuge at Villa Ronai. The coronation was a private affair, attended by the family and friends of the contestants, as well as producers and organizers from Pulse, licensees for the Jamaica preliminary to Miss Universe. Judges were well known fashion and beauty personalities Barry Moncrieffe, former principal dancer of the NDTC and fashion designer; Gilou Bauer, Curator of the Mutual Life Gallery and Lois Lake-Sherwood, artist, business executive and diplomat. The winner was the universal choice of all the judges.
First runner-up was Fallon Harris a 21 year old student at the University of the West Indies and fashion model. Third runner-up was budding model, singer and designer, 19 year old Krystina Black. Pulse made a special appeal to Jamaicans to come forward to compete for the title, despite giving up the license earlier this year, as the Miss Universe Organization prevailed on the Jamaican company to conduct a contest and produce a Miss Universe entrant from Jamaica. This year is considered especially important for Caribbeans, as the event will be held at Atlantis in the Bahamas, next door to Jamaica. This might be a year in which Jamaica has its best chance, given the event’s presence in the region and the potential of the stunningly beautiful Miss Yapp.
At the start of the week, Pulse Investments announced that they were on the hunt for Jamaica’s most fabulous woman to represent the country at Miss Universe, the largest and most impressive Beauty Pageant in the world. As Miss Jamaica Universe, Carolyn copped the crown and title and will get the opportunity to represent Miss Jamaica at Miss Universe before a worldwide audience of close to one billion persons. Wearing gowns by Uzuri International, the contestants paraded before the judges and live audience. They also appeared in bikinis for the swimsuit competition. Visibly elated following her win Carolyn says she is ready to represent Jamaica at the upcoming Miss Universe finals in Bahamas, “It has always been a dream of mine to be an ambassador for my country and this is my chance! I know the competition will be tough but I’m ready to do my country proud and bring the title home.”
Although never having won the title, Jamaica has had significant success at Miss Universe pageants, claiming four top-10 finishes - Sandra Foster, Nicole Haughton, Christine Straw and Kimberley Mais. Several other beauties, including Sanya Hughes, Rachel Stuart, Trudy Ferguson, Justine Willoughby, Bridgette Rhoden and Zahra Redwood, the first Rastafarian beauty queen to appear in a major international pageant, have also raised Jamaica's profile at the international pageant.
Miss Jamaica Universe 2009 is the daughter of Jean and Hartley Yapp and is originally from Montego Bay. She is a graduate of the University of the West Indies in and did post graduate studies in Interior Design in Florida. She is currently residing in Kingston Jamaica. She will begin immediate preparations for Miss Universe, the finals of which will be held in Nassau, The Bahamas on August 23, 2009. Now in its 58th year, the glamorous event, features some of the world's most beautiful women from 85 countries, with each contestant competing for the right to call herself the most beautiful woman in the world.
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