TWENTY finalists will compete for the Miss Universe Jamaica 2022 title at the AC Hotel by Marriott Kingston in St Andrew on Sunday, August 20.

The finalists were selected at the New Kingston-based hotel during a gruelling elimination process on Sunday.

Mark McDermoth, national director of the Miss Universe Jamaica organisation, said the process to arrive at the final 20 girls was not an easy task.

“We had over 80 applicants, but only about half of that number showed up on Sunday. This year, we were very proactive in the application process. We had castings being done in various parts of the island, among other activities,” McDermoth told the Jamaica Observer.

“It was a very difficult task to arrive at the 20 ladies. There was so much diversity. We had a collection of amazing persons and personalities, fitness enthusiasts, they were beautiful and looked fantastic. We could have easily selected 30 because the group was really good. We had ladies from different ethnic backgrounds, including medical and law students, and they were all very expressive,” he continued.

There were two rounds before the judges arrived at the final group of girls.

“At first, we did an interview with each girl, then we asked them to wait for a general announcement. We then gave out 34 silver tickets and then they were given another round of interviews from which we selected the 20 finalists who would move forward,” said McDermoth.

According to McDermoth, an Instagram Live feature called Spotlight on Program was conducted prior to the eliminations to sensitise potential applicants about the pageant and its objectives.

“Prior to the eliminations, we had Spotlight on Program, an Instagram Live feature where we had the reigning Miss Universe Jamaica Daena Soares speaking about important matters as it relates to Jamaica and Jamaicans on a whole. She also spoke about what it requires to be a Miss Universe Jamaica. We also had persons, including Diahann Gordon-Harrison [children’s advocate] and Jenille Brooks [Jamaica Mental Health Advocacy Network], former Miss Universe Jamaica queens Angelie Martin Spencer and Miqueal Symone-Williams, who participated.”

The finalists in the 2022 Miss Universe Jamaica Beauty, Fashion and Wellness pageant are Zara Holmes, Miss Universe Jamaica East; Celine Walters, Miss Universe Jamaica West; Shantana Pitterman, Miss Universe Jamaica Central; Shanté Jarrett, Miss Universe Jamaica North-west; Zasha-Kae Dennis; Toshami Calvin; Rachel Silvera; Brittny Hutchinson; Jillian Taylor; Alecia Spence; Aiysha Hemmings; Kasey Graham; Ysabelle Hughes; Shanique Singh; Thalia Malcolm; Catherine Harris; Pershenia McGann; Tasheka Rowe; Marisa Dixon; and Titania Mycko.