Miss Jamaica World is a national beauty pageant in Jamaica that selects a contestant to represent the country in the Miss World beauty pageant.
History The Miss Jamaica World pageant's predecessor, the "Miss Jamaica Contest", began on June 7 1959. The winner of Miss Jamaica represents Jamaica at the Miss World pageant from 1959 to present. The title of Miss Jamaica World was officially coined in 1978. The 1976 and 1977 representatives were appointed by then licence holder Mickey Haughton-James of the Spartan Health Club. Spartan held the franchise from 1976 to 2012 and resumed its leadership in 2017.
In 2018, Miss World Organization announced that the franchise to stage the Miss Jamaica World pageant as a precursor to Miss World has been granted to Crown of Beauty Jamaica Limited, whose principals are local playwright and impresario Aston Cooke and veteran entertainment specialist Weston Haughton.
Jamaica sent its first representative, w4 year old Sheila Chong in 1959. To date Jamaica has garnered four Miss World titles (1963, 1976, 1993, and 2019) and several runner ups and top ten finalists.
Titleholders Color key
The winner of Miss Jamaica World represents her country at Miss World. On occasion, when the winner does not qualify (due to age) for either contest, a runner-up is sent. YearMiss JamaicaPlacementSpecial Awards 1959 Sheila Mechtilde Chong Top 15 1962 Chriss Leon Top 15 1963 Carole Crawford Miss World 1963 1964 Erica Jeanne Cooke 5th Runner-up 1965 Carol Joan McFarlane Unplaced 1966 Yvonne Walter Unplaced 1967 Laurel Williams Unplaced 1968 Karlene Waddel Unplaced 1969 Marlyn E. Taylor Top 15 1970 Elizabeth Ann Lindo Unplaced 1971 Ava Joy Gill 4th Runner-up 1972 Gail Geraldeen Phillips Unplaced 1973 Patsy Yuen 2nd Runner-up 1974 Andrea Lyon Top 15 1976 Cindy Breakspeare Miss World 1976 1977 Sandra KongWithdrew 1978 Joan McDonald Unplaced 1979 Debbie Campbell 2nd Runner-up 1980 Michelle Harris Top 15 1981 Sandra Cunningham 2nd Runner-up 1982 Cornelia Parchment Unplaced 1983 Cathi Levy 3rd Runner-up 1984 Jacqueline Crichton Unplaced 1985 Alison Barnett 4th Runner-up 1986 Lisa Mahfood Unplaced 1987 Janice Whittingham Unplaced 1988 Andrea Haynes Unplaced 1989 Natasha Marcanik Unplaced 1990 Erica Aquart Top 10Caribbean Queen of Beauty 1991 Sandra Foster 3rd Runner-upCaribbean Queen of Beauty 1992 Julie Ann Bradford Unplaced 1993 Lisa Hanna Miss World 1993 Caribbean Queen of Beauty 1994 Johanna Ulett Unplaced 1995 Imani Duncan Unplaced 1996 Selena Delgado Unplaced 1997 Michell Moodie UnplacedCaribbean Queen of Beauty 1998 Christine Straw Top 10Caribbean Queen of Beauty 1999 Desiree DePass Unplaced Caribbean Queen of Beauty 2000 Ayisha Richards Unplaced 2001 Regina Beavers Unplaced 2002 Danielle O'Hayon Unplaced 2003 Jade Fulford Top 17Caribbean Queen of BeautyBeach Beauty (Top 10) 2004 Tonoya Toyloy Unplaced Miss Scholarship 2005 Terri-Karelle Griffith Top 16 Beach Beauty (Top 19) 2006 Sara Lawrence 3rd Runner-upCaribbean Queen of BeautyBeach Beauty (Top 25) 2007 Yendi Phillipps Top 16 Beach Beauty (1st Runner-up)Beauty with a Purpose (Top 5)Top Model (Top 7)Sports and Fitness (Top 16)Performing Talent (Top 18) 2008 Brittany Lyons Unplaced Performing Talent (Top 19) 2009 Kerrie Baylis Unplaced Sports and Fitness (1st Runner-up)Best World Designer Dress Award (2nd Runner-up)Top Model (Top 12)Beach Beauty (Top 20) 2010 Chantal Raymond Unplaced 2011 Danielle Crosskill Unplaced Sports and Fitness (Top 24) 2012 Deanna Robins 5th Runner-upCaribbean Queen of BeautyPerforming Talent (Top 5)Beauty with a Purpose (Top 10)Top Model (Top 10)Sports and Fitness (Top 24)Beach Beauty (Top 40) 2013 Gina Hargitay Top 10Caribbean Queen of BeautyBeach Beauty (3rd Runner-up)Best in Interview (1st Place) 2014 Laurie-Ann Chin Unplaced Sports and Fitness (Top 29) 2015 Sanneta Myrie 3rd Runner-upCaribbean Queen of BeautyPerforming Talent (2nd Runner-up)Best in Interview (4th Runner-up)Multimedia Award (Top 5) 2016 Ashlie Barrett Unplaced 2017 Solange Sinclair Top 10Caribbean Queen of BeautySports and Fitness (Top 23) 2018 Kadijah Robinson Top 5Caribbean Queen of BeautyBeauty with a Purpose (Top 12) 2019 Toni-Ann Singh Miss World 2019 Miss World Talent 2020 colspan=5 2021 Khalia Hall Unplaced Miss World Talent (Top 27) Miss World Sport (Top 32) 2022 colspan=5 2023 Shanique Singh Unplaced 2024 colspan=5 2025 Tahje Bennett Top 40 Miss World Talent (Top 24) 2026 Nevaeh Allen Unplaced
Trivia Miss Jamaica 1963 is the shortest woman in history to win Miss World. She is tall.
Cindy Breakspeare is the mother of Damian Marley, son of reggae icon Bob Marley.
Joan McDonald was the first to hold the official title of Miss Jamaica World. She is also the first winner of full African descent. Her win came at a time when public pressure built up for winners who represented the dominant ethnic group in Jamaica.
Lisa Hanna is currently a Member of Parliament and former Minister of Youth and Culture.
Miss Jamaica World 1991, Sandra Foster, represented Jamaica at Miss Universe 1989 and made Top Ten.
Miss Jamaica World 1989, Janice Sewell, is currently working in Human Resources.
Miss Jamaica World 1995, Imani Duncan, currently serves as a Senator.
Regina Beavers became the youngest title holder, she won at age 17 in 2001.
Miss Jamaica World 1998, Christine Straw, later represented Jamaica in Miss Universe 2004, making the Top Ten.
Miss Jamaica World 2005, Terri-Karelle Griffith-Reid, is a successful keynote speaker, events and TV host. She is the host of the popular talent show Digicel Rising Stars, which was previously hosted by Yendi Phillipps from 2008 to 2009.
Miss Jamaica World 2006 was subject to controversy when she got pregnant during her reign. Miss World CEO Julia Morley allowed her to retain her title as Miss World Caribbean.
Miss Jamaica World 2007, Yendi Phillipps, went on to win Miss Jamaica Universe in 2010 and placed first runner-up at Miss Universe 2010.
Miss Jamaica World 2009, Kerrie Baylis later represented Jamaica at Miss Universe 2013 but was unplaced.
Miss Jamaica World 2017 and Miss World Caribbean 2017 Solange Sinclair is the granddaughter of deceased Hollywood actress Madge Sinclair who had notable roles as Queen Aoleon in Coming to America and the voice of Sarabi in Disney's The Lion King.
References
External links
Miss World Official Website Marguerite Carby, "Ms Jamaica Pageant - History", My-Island-Jamaica.com