INITIALLY slated for August 20, the grand coronation of the Miss Universe Jamaica Beauty, Fashion and Wellness pageant has been rescheduled to Saturday, September 3.

The venue remains at the AC Hotel by Marriott Kingston in St Andrew and coronation is scheduled for a 8:30 pm start.

Mark McDermoth, national director of the Miss Universe Jamaica Organisation, said the extended time would better prepare the contestants and give the sponsors of the pageant more visibility.

“The decision was taken primarily because we felt we were running out of time to run and execute the promotional campaign by giving the sponsors their due. We did have quite a few events lined up to give the contestants that special programme, to get them immersed in activities and time was really short. We had to take a decision to extend the length of the competition, so that we would add more elements in terms of training for the contestants and activities such as courtesy calls,” McDermoth told the Jamaica Observer.

Twenty finalists, comprising mostly university and college students and graduates as well as working professionals, are competing for the coveted crown and a chance to represent Jamaica at the Miss Universe finals.

“It’s really about enriching the contestants’ experience in the competition. We have invited a number of speakers to address the girls, including Miss Universe Jamaica 2000 Dr Saphire Longmore, Mrs Nadine Thomas-Hylton (Miss Universe Jamaica, 1999), Angelie Martin Spencer (Miss Universe Jamaica, 1994), Sanya Hughes (Miss Universe Jamaica, 2002), Shani McGraham-Shirley (Miss Universe Jamaica, 1998), the ladies from the Bureau of Gender Affairs, Miqueal Symone Williams (Miss Universe Jamaica, 2020) and our reigning queen, Daena Soares,” said McDermoth.

“With the extended time for pageant, we can go after sponsorship that was promised. The time frame is giving us more time to tie these down,” McDermoth continued.

The finalists in the 2022 Miss Universe Jamaica pageant have been immersed in a number of activities during the Emancipation and Independence celebrations. They were a part of the Jamaica 60 Float Parade, the Miss Jamaica Festival Queen coronation as well as the Grand Gala at the National Stadium on Saturday.

“We are appreciative that our partners and stakeholders, performers and sponsors who were able to adjust to the change of date. We are happy that they have been flexible to move ahead,” McDermoth shared.

A beauty, fashion and wellness expo will precede the grand coronation of the Miss Universe Jamaica pageant on September 3 from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm.