Newly-crowned Miss Jamaica World 2002 Danielle O'Hayon, is flanked by, at right, first runner-up, Miss Jamaica International Natalia Casado and by second runner-up Leanna Prendergast, Miss Jamaica Caribbean. (Photos: Bryan Cummings)

STUNNINGLY attractive, 18-year old Danielle O'Hayon, Miss Jamaica Lottery Bingo, before a capacity audience at the Hilton Kingston Hotel Ballroom, Saturday, walked away with the title of Miss Jamaica World 2002, in what was possibly the best-produced staging of any Jamaican beauty pageant in recent memory.

Natalia Casado, Miss Interlinc Communications, who also won the sectional prize for Best Legs, was crowned Miss Jamaica International as the first runner-up to the queen. Crowd favourite and this year's Miss Soft and Beautiful, Leanna Prendergast placed third. Prendergast also received the title Miss Jamaica Caribbean.

Minutes after being crowned by her predecessor Regina Beavers, with ecstatic family members screaming and dancing around her, a breathless O'Hayon declared "this all feels very exciting, very overwhelming, certainly unexpected! I'm looking forward to a wonderful year."

She will have a wonderful year. O'Hayon left the Hilton the proud owner of a fully loaded 2002 Peugeot 206 motor car, $100,000 in cash, a $100,000 wardrobe, a computer from ACS Systems and a model portfolio website from Interlinc Communications. In addition, as winner of the prize for Best Smile, she took home $10,000.

Each of the top five contestants went home with academic scholarships from the Institute of Management Sciences (IMS)) and Florida International University (FIU) that have a combined value in excess of $2.2 million.

For the first time in many years, the Grand Coronation Show came off almost flawlessly. The set design was simple and tasteful, with cut-stone columns framed by strategically placed potted plants and the winner's green Peugeot 206 motor car parked to the right of the stage. Lighting by Intec was the ideal complement to an expertly choreographed presentation, the work of veteran choreographer Bert Rose.

By far, however, the most impressive achievement of this year's show was the level of poise and grace displayed by each of the 20 young ladies, a credit to the expertise of Invision Training Consultants Ltd, brought in to assist in that regard this year. As a group, these twenty girls were certainly the most polished contestants -- perhaps in the history of the contest -- and the hours of preparation showed in the confidence and elegance they all exuded.

With beauty pageants in Jamaica, however, some things seem almost impossible to overcome. As usual, the show started late and lasted close to four hours, although it ran seamlessly once under way.

Following the opening numbers and an introduction from the night's comperes, Paula-Ann Porter and Alwyn Scott, the audience got their first glimpse of the contestants, who strutted their stuff in a short fashion segment.

Soon afterwards, the crowd began selecting their favourites as the girls appeared in swimwear by Spunk. Truth be told, there was no outright crowd favourite selected until the formal wear segment, although Christine Mighty, Leanna Prendergast, Sacha Davis, Danielle O'Hayon, and Melissa Roche had vocal cheering squads that certainly inspired confidence and the occasional giggle.

In the formal wear segment, all the contestants were dressed by Uzuri International. Some of the gowns were spectacular stage costumes that glistened and shimmered, but many were ill-fitting and poorly constructed with long trains that, at times, proved challenging for the girls to manoeuvre.

By far, the most impressive gown was worn by Miss Body Accents, Leanna Prendergast. The nearly backless creation accentuated her bronze complexion, for which she won the sectional prize for Best Skin Tone, and an intricately embroidered gold and brown bodice flattered her every curve.

Only halfway through the show, the panel of judges, which included past Miss Jamaica title holders Lisa Hanna, Selena Delgado and Allison Jean Barnett-Cross, returned the list of the top 10 contestants. Then, the competition really began.

In their gowns, each of the 10 recited a well-rehearsed summary of her intentions, should she become Miss Jamaica World 2002. With only a few minor stalls and flubs, the girls represented themselves eloquently, but at the end of the speeches, it was clear who would be among the top five.

While Suzanne Couch, delighted the crowd with ballads from her award-winning album Lifeline, the judges conferred, turning up the tension backstage a notch, as the nervous girls paced and trembled in anticipation.

"It was crazy," said Natalia Casado afterwards, describing the nerve-racking experience. "But honestly, the only bad thing is that it's (the pageant) over... I really enjoyed the experience, and I'm glad to have been a part of it."

In this, the final segment of the competition, Theresa Lindo and Leanna Prendergast eliminated themselves from crown contention with nervous blunders in answers to questions posed by individual judges. Despite a well-prepared sultry-voiced response, Melissa Roche failed to advance to the top three. In the end, there were only two contestants to choose from. The exquisitely bejewelled Danielle O'Hayon and the vivacious Natalia Casado, truly displayed the intelligence, style and grace needed to be a Miss Jamaica.

The charming graduate of Immaculate Conception High School plans to use the Miss Jamaica title as a platform for environmental advocacy here at home and abroad, but first, she wants to "spend time with the family, just relax and get used to the idea" of being Miss Jamaica 2002.

O'Hayon now begins a rigorous one-year schedule of photo shoots and public appearances, which include competing in the Miss World 2002 pageant, to be held in Nigeria this November. Asked if she is ready for the demands of her new position, with her ready, radiant smile she confidently asserts, "I'm ready. I'm ready to represent Jamaica."

A smiling Danielle O'Hayon takes her victory walk, after being crowned Miss Jamaica World 2002.

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