TONIGHT, 20 females will vie for the title of Miss Universe Jamaica 2022. The grand coronation is scheduled for the AC Hotel Kingston.

Daena Soares, Miss Universe Jamaica 2021, will hand over the title to a new queen. She reflected on her reign.

“We pulled off a short turnaround time in the middle of a pandemic and then went on to do important work with different groups after I returned from the Miss Universe pageant. So I’ll remain forever grateful where the general public and the Miss Universe Jamaica organisation are concerned,” Soares told the Jamaica Observer.

Asked if she was able to accomplish the objectives that she had hoped to do, Soares said: “This was one of the things I was most worried about, actually; not being able to deliver on my promises. But personal development aside, the work I was able to do on the ground in my community has gone beyond what I even expected.”

Soares is from Junction in St Elizabeth. She is a former student of the Hampton School for Girls in the parish and The University of the West Indies in St Andrew.

She said pageantry has helped to shape her into the person she is today.

“The Miss Universe Organisation works very hard to ensure you’re as well-rounded as possible in all categories: in walk and poise, oratory, and altruism. There’s a large investment into your development and when other people like my mom started commenting on how much I was growing and being shaped into something greater, I realised then that I was coming out of my shell more and being more receptive to change,” she disclosed.

She shared some of the organisations and charities that she was involved with during her reign.

“I worked closely with What Women Want Jamaica to establish a free cupboard in our local health clinic located in Junction. This cupboard targeted women who experienced period poverty and the feedback has been positive so we’re actually considering establishing more cupboards within the parish of St Elizabeth to remove the stress and shame often aligned with acquiring menstrual care items. I’m also still currently raising funds for a local women’s centre in St Elizabeth, which will be turned over when my reign is completed. Aside from that, I’ve had the opportunity to work closely with small businesses in my hometown, such as Neil’s Enterprise, concerning their charitable efforts and how they can give back to our quickly developing community, which I think has been the most rewarding of them all,” she said.

And what are her plans after the end of her reign as Miss Universe Jamaica 2021?

“This is actually a very ironic situation as everyone has been asking me this as well, and I have absolutely no idea. For someone who’s such a planner, it’s strange that I didn’t plan much further than winning and what I wanted to do. But I’ve chosen to trust the path that I’m on and continue doing the work I am currently doing while also remaining open to new opportunities,” she said.

Soares had some advice for the ladies who are competing for the Miss Universe Jamaica 2022 title.

“Well, I’d like to say firstly that all 20 ladies have been amazing. I’ve had the pleasure of interacting with all of them and they all bring something different to the table. I just want to remind them that only one lady can win, and you don’t need to win the crown to continue to be a positive light and make changes in our society. Don’t be discouraged by perceived failure, but see it as a means of redirection,” she added.