FASHION house Uzuri International is now the new franchise holders of the Miss Universe Jamaica pageant.

No stranger to the competition, the couture designers were the producers of the 2003 staging.

“We are ecstatic that the Miss Universe Organization has shown the confidence in our ability to effectively represent their brand in Jamaica, and that they share our vision for the direction of Miss Universe Jamaica,” read a statement from Karl Williams, national director for Miss Universe Jamaica and artistic director of the fashion house.

Uzuri International has assumed their lien on the franchise from Greece-born hotelier Dimitris Kosvogiannis, who has held it since 2011. Kosvogiannis announced his intention to relinquish the franchise two days before the competition’s final, which was scheduled for Emancipation Park in Kingston on Sunday, March 14.

“We are fully aware that past organisers had many challenges, so we know that this will not be a walk in the park. In this regard, we want to form new and non-traditional alliances in the pageant industry, alliances to bring beauty factions together, where Jamaica benefits, as this should not be about any one individual, or company,” the release continued.

Kosvogiannis succeeded Invyte Promotions as franchise holders. Prior to that, Kingsley Cooper of the Pulse model agency ran the contest for two decades.

Holders of one of the most popular beauty contests, the Miss Universe Organization was founded in 1952. It is owned by American businessman Donald Trump.

Jamaica has never won the a Miss Universe title, however, the country has consistently featured prominently. Yendi Phillipps was first runner-up in 2010; while Sandra Foster (1989), Kimberly Mais (1991), Nicole Haughton (1999), and Christine Straw (2004), were all top 10 finishers.