THE 34 girls drawn from across western Jamaica to compete for the Miss Jamaica World Cornwall title this July were recently put in the spotlight at the launch of the competition at the lavish Coral Cliff Hotel and Entertainment Resort in Montego Bay.

The contestants include:

* Maris Miller, Trudy Bell and Melisa Mangal;

* Annesha Beckfort, Shellee McGregor and Tanesha Patterson;

* Amalee Lewin, Kerry-Ann Peart and Denise Francis;

* Latiya Petgrave, Angelee Small and Mane James;

* Shakeelia Moodie, Marsha Nelson and Keisha-Ann Green;

* Anila James, Julia Jumpp and Simone Bernard;

* Latoya Gibbs, Roselyn Bailey and Annalisa Gordon;

* Naomi Foster, Nordia Blake and Latoya Lawrence;

*Tameka Bremmer, Fiona Anderson, and Ashley Martin;

* Stacy-Ann Foster, Nadine Blagrove and Ladiva Bradley;

* Charmaine Fenton, Shereece Powell and Kerry-Ann Murray; and

* Georgia Nepaul and Marcelaine Lawson.

The elimination to reduce that number to 20 will take place on June 14 and the grand coronation is set for July 14 at the Montego Bay Community College.

This year’s competition is being staged under the theme “Celebrating Women”.

The winner will take home $50,000, earn a trip for two and a course at the Arianox Business College valued at $165,000, among other gifts.

The total prize package for this year’s pageant is said to be valued at over $2 million and the proceeds will go toward the Good Shepherd Foundation, a non- profit organisation that caters to the needs of dying HIV/AIDS patients.

“It was good that the net profit will go towards a worthy cause which shows that the community is becoming aware of the organisation,” Custos Clarence Nelson, chairman of the six year-old organisation said. “Thirteen million dollars is needed per year to run the hospice.

The lucky winner and runner-up will be automatic qualifiers to the national elimination competition. Over the years the county’s queens have distinguished themselves, placing very high in the national competition. Thricia Bennett is one such example. She placed fourth last year.

At the recent launch, Lachu Ramchandani, the man behind this year’s competition, was commended for his dedication to the pageant over the years.