To Jamaica and the world, Lachu Ramchandani is known as “The King of Beauty Pageants” but there is much more to this outstanding “man from Burma and India” who has called Jamaica his home since 1967 when he arrived as a little boy in a short pants and jacket to work with his uncle at Manhattan House in down town Kingston for 12 years.

Today, he is being hailed as a pioneer of the Elegant Corridor – that strip along Ironshore, Coral Gardens and Rose Hall stretching from his landmark Blue Diamond Shopping Centre to the Iberostar Resort. Indeed, when he broke ground in 1992 for the shopping centre in what was then primarily a residential area, many persons including some of his close friends dubbed him as a “mad man”. “It would never work” they said.

Today, developments abound in the area and it is strongly believed that it was daring entrepreneurial spirit of Mr. Ramchandani that engendered all of this. The top class shopping centre is named after his last daughter Neelam, which means “blue diamond”. Of course, he is happily married to Bina, his charming wife of many years and their union has produced four children.

At present, the Blue Diamond houses several businesses including a supermarket, pharmacy, InBond shop, gym among many others and soon to be opened a call center facility where the Diamond Cinema used to be that will be the talk of the town. Quite an achievement for a man who was once known as “The King of Souvenirs”, having opened the Nik-Nak shop in Montego Bay during 1976 and which has the largest inventory of souvenirs island wide. Now Blue Diamond has a freezone status, which means they have Blue Diamond Shopping Center and Freezone.

Having firmly established himself as a successful business man, Mr. Ramchandani who has always had an eye for beauty has not hesitated to get involved in beauty contests whenever the opportunity presented itself. So in 1993 when he was asked to participate in the Miss Jamaica World Cornwall, he became a major sponsor and subsequently became the franchise holder. Since then, he has been involved as franchise holder, chief judge and sponsor in such pageants as Miss City of Montego Bay, Miss Commonwealth and Miss Global International among many other.

And it was while being up to his neck in beauty pageants that Mr. Ramchandani decided to use his tremendous organizational skills to provide well needed funds to the Good Shepherd Foundation, founded by Roman Catholic Bishop Charles Dufour who had approached him on the matter. As result, the charitable organization has been the recipient of hundreds of thousands of dollars,

A Justice of the Peace, devoted family man and astute entrepreneur, Lachu Ramchandani continues to be a leading light in the western city as he continues to pursue the things he loves best – business, beauty and charity. A most enviable combination!