With the news of her historic win as Miss Jamaica Universe 2007 still sinking in ("I still can't believe it at times," she enthuses), Zahra Redwood sat with the Observer, amid frequent congratulatory greetings to talk about the journey to this point, her startling new life in the spotlight, and what she looks forward to in Mexico and beyond.

Congratulations on your win. Just who is Zahra Redwood?
Firstly, my name means flower, and in the same way that you have different types of flowers out there, there are different aspects to my personality. I am a very exciting individual, very conversational and social. Those aspects aside, I enjoy my serenity, it is very important to me, because I like to reflect on the day's activity. I am fun-loving but at the same time very pensive.
What was your rationale for entering the competition?

Miss Jamaica Universe, Zahra Redwood

A year and a half ago I shifted my career goals. For the first time in my life, because a lot of the times we are influenced not just by parents but also society, in terms of what career we enter. So, having completed a double major in Biotechnology and Zoology, both majors enhanced my analytical abilities, but I did not feel as if they were being used maximally, to the benefit of those around me, because I do have a strong love for people and their advancement throughout life.

So I began researching different careers. Then I was reading an article in the Observer one night, about A grade students and what got me was that a psychologist wrote it, and I became overwhelmed, and from that article I began shifting my goals, realising that I wanted to do psychology and social work. So when the pageant came up it was the perfect timing as it offered me a platform from which I could do social work and help others, and start even earlier on embarking on further studies in psychology.
Have you always been for beauty pageants?

No, and that was simply because of the outward projection I got. When you are not a part of something you don't know the goings on. Additionally, when you have not researched something or even asked questions, you are still pretty much leaning on your own understanding. But I did enquire more, and began to understand that beauty spoke not only to the physical attributes, but also to the mental.

Do you think there were, among the other ladies, certain preconceptions of you, by virtue of your being a Rastafarian?
I must admit that they were in awe, and I usually get that. For example, is that your hair? And other questions but that is a response to an attractive feature, and based on my response it is what propels people to continue a conversation. When you are a confident person without being cocky, people sense that, and feel welcome to speak to you.

You are the first Rastafarian to enter the competition. Did you think your locks would aid or hinder you, with regards to winning?
I really didn't think of it at all. I am a package; my hair is not a separate entity. For my whole life I have just considered myself as just me. Yes I get a lot of adoration where my hair is concerned, but when I entered the competition I did not think there would be any issue with my hair and their was no issue with my hair besides the fact that everyone adored it.

So I entered based on the characteristics that all contestants were asked to have, and I fit those.
Were your parents supportive of you entering the pageant from day one?
I didn't expect that I would get any negativity from my parents, because I modelled before, and they endorsed it. Even though modelling is different and beauty pageants have been misunderstood, when I did tell them, they trusted my decision, knowing that I am a responsible individual and that I had thought this through thoroughly.

Miss USA 2006, Tara Conner got into a lot of trouble last year, for slacking off on her duties, excessive partying and substance abuse. How can you ensure your fans that the pressure of being Miss Jamaica Universe will not send you on a downward spiral?

It is important for us to note that things do happen, so it speaks to the importance of further guidance of us as individuals in whatever it is that we do, so that we are more cognisant of our roles and responsibilities and the consequences should we choose to go here or there with regards to our responsibilities. As I said before, I set my goals a year and a half ago and I intend to stick to them, I am a person of my word, my word is my bond, and that is how it will be. I am not considering children anytime soon, I have a career goal which I will obtain, I won't be satisfied until I reach it and I am not used to disappointing myself, much less other people.

What is your opinion on the Sara Lawrence debacle?
Sara Lawrence is an individual totally separate from who I am and she has made her decisions in life and I wish her all the best. This is however, my moment to shine, and so I would like to be considered as an individual. Her decision is not for me to comment about. There are some things that you really cannot touch in life not even mentally, so there are issues, but then there is this imaginary barrier that stops you from going any further to say whether or not you agree with a person's decision.

At the age of 25, you were the eldest competitor. Did you feel old?
Well, I know that when people look at me they think that I am younger than I am. I have never really told my age willingly, because we are living in a society where asking a female her age has never been something regarded as appropriate.

And I grew up like that. The first time I willingly told my age was in this pageant, because it was required. I have no issues with my age and have nothing to hide, but it was just something I was not used to and I think 25 is a turning point in anyone's life. The reason I took so long to enter was that although I am a risk taker, I like to take sensible risks, so having not known that much about pageants I wanted to take some time to research them before I jumped in.

Why do you think 25 is a turning point?
I think so because at this age I find myself doing a lot of reflection on what life really means to me as an individual, and how it is that I want to shape the rest of my life.

See Monday's Observer entertainment for the conclusion of this interview.

Feeding the multitude

DANGEROUS PETS

Pepper Pot