Nicole Haughton steps into the room like a gush of fresh air. Her glow speaks not to the seven-and-a half years of residence in the United Kingdom, but rather to the sun catch-up she's been playing since flying home for the Christmas holidays. There's something pretty disconcerting about how time flies.

Former Miss Jamaica Universe Nicole Haughton operates her own Marketing and PR consultancy business specialising in ethnic markets, including the Caribbean, Asia, Turkey and Africa.

Wasn't it just the other day (1999 to be exact), that we were all applauding this gorgeous, intelligent queen all set to charm the judges down South - Trinidad and Tobago where the hope was that the reigning Miss Universe Wendy Fitzwilliam would score a double for the region and crown our own queen?

The fact is, the zip on Haughton's red Uzuri gown broke and she quickly changed into another, placed in the top 10, and moved on to the United Kingdom, the University of Surrey where she pursued a Master's Degree in Marketing and Tourism. "I recently saw a photo of the current Miss Jamaica World, Yendi Phillips," she reveals, "and her red gown was almost the same as mine and for a brief moment, I have to admit, I did in fact ask, 'What if?' It was just that, however, a brief reflection for Nicole Haughton who admits to "allowing life to chart its own course".

She has been extremely busy charting a career path that has already afforded her the opportunity to quit her job and set up her own Marketing and PR consultancy business, specialising in ethnic markets including the Caribbean, Asia, Turkey and Africa.

There's more - Haughton, come 2008, will have her own one-hour radio talk-show called Colourful Travel, which will air every Monday from 8:00 pm -9:00 pm. "I'm pretty excited," she gushes, sweeping her hair to the side and moving closer to the edge of her seat. "I'll now be able to connect people with travel, something I absolutely love.

I reckon it's all come full circle." It certainly has for there's her role as grooming consultant and judge for the Caribbean Model Search UK (a Pulse franchise now operated by More 3) and the experience gleaned whilst working as a marketing exec at Western Union, Jamaica National and MoneyGram has certainly placed her in good stead. "I know quite a few people who have not enjoyed the UK and have returned to the Caribbean.

I see and have enjoyed the opportunities afforded me." That she has, including a pretty massive dose of the paparazzi when her relationship with footballer-turned-commentator Johnny Barnes made the headlines. "It was a culture shock," she says. "I mean they were camped outside my door." The relationship is now over, but Haughton admits that they are "still very close". There's currently no beau in her life and her sights are firmly set on the future with all its possibilities.

"There's not a large enough middle-class black movement in the United Kingdom, but I believe the next generation will take care of that." And there's no doubt in our minds that the 32-year-old Haughton will play an integral role in this movement.

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