Eight finalists will compete for the Miss Universe Jamaica Central crown come April 30.

The contestants made their first public appearance last Thursday when they were sashed by their respective sponsors at Golf View Hotel in Mandeville, the home of the pageant.

Miss Universe Jamaica Central is one of the regional pageants under the national Miss Universe Jamaica umbrella. The winner is an automatic finalist in the national pageant.

In keeping with the new rules instituted by the Miss Universe Organization last year, which expanded the pool of eligible women to include married women and mothers between the ages of 18 and 28, the local pageant has followed suit.

“The Miss Universe Organization has changed the rules and has now welcomed married women and mothers in an effort to have a more inclusive pageant. We are proud to have two contestants who are mothers and one who is married,” Trilissa Walker, franchise manager, Miss Universe Jamaica Central, explained.

She disclosed how contestants were recruited.

“We did a series of auditions, both virtually and in person; the first one was held in Mandeville and the second in Junction, St Elizabeth. The central region includes young women from Clarendon, Manchester and St Elizabeth, and I am truly impressed and excited about our eight finalists,” said Walker.

She said, however, that sponsorship has been a challenge.

“Sponsorship proved to be a bit of a challenge given the current economic climate. However, the sponsors who are on board truly believe in what we are trying to do in advancing the women in this region and giving them the platform they need to advance their causes,” she shared.

The franchise Manager added that the entity is still actively working to acquire additional sponsors for the 2023 staging.

This is Walker’s first year as franchise manager for the Central region. She previously managed the Miss Universe Jamaica East pageant.

Shantana Pitterman is the reigning Miss Universe Jamaica Central titleholder.

The eight finalists competing for the Miss Universe Jamaica Central crown are: Sitara Jones, Miss Golf View Hotel; Daina-Lee Gittens, Miss Zenova Company; Shadia Johnson, Miss Fusion Fitness Gym; Suzan Dowdie, Miss Chef Rose Jamaican Cuisine; Lee-Anndra Hanson, Miss BLOOM The Aesthetic Spa; Chaslie Vaughn, Miss TW Originals; Ayanna Powell-Myles, Miss Jale Designs; and Shantavia Williams, Miss Mid-Island Service Station.