FOLLOWING an impressive showing by Kaci Fennell at the Miss Universe pageant in Florida last month, the search is now on to find a successor.

National director of the Miss Universe Jamaica organisation, Karl Williams, said his team is absolutely pleased with Fennell’s performance and are already scouting to find a new queen to step into her shoes.

“Kaci’s impressive performance at Miss Universe goes to show what can be achieved through hard work and it is only our second year as franchise holders. We are brushing off this year and looking to a new Miss Universe Jamaica,” said Williams.

He continued: “We have already put things in place. There are a number of feeder pageants from which finalists for this year’s pageant will be drawn. These include local county pageants and the Miss Jamaica Diaspora which will draw on girls from the United States and Canada.”

Fennell finished in fifth place, with the crown and title going to Miss Colombia. Her performance was the second highest placing by a Jamaican at Miss Universe. Yendi Phillipps finished in the first runner-up spot back in 2010.

— Richard Johnson