It was a weekend of beautiful ladies, high energy vibes, fashion and of course entertainment at the luxurious Princess Hotel and Resorts in Green Island, Hanover.

This, as the finalists in the 2025 Hyundai Miss Universe Jamaica beauty and wellness pageant, took over the resort for what was dubbed Euphoria Weekend, entertaining guests at the resort, the media and specially invited guests.

From the welcome party on Thursday, June 26, to fashion shows, shoots, swimwear and evening gown presentations, the 29 ladies had the attention of everyone as they competed for the title and a chance to represent Jamaica at the Miss Universe pageant later this year.

The Miss Universe Jamaica Organisation partnered with Princess Hotels & Resorts to stage the event, an exciting four-day luxury experience, which took place from June 26-29.

Mark McDermoth, National Director for the Miss Universe Jamaica Organisation, was pleased with how the turn of events unfolded over the weekend.

Twenty-nine of the 30 contestants strike a pose with Rachel Silvera, Miss Universe Jamaica 2024 following their swimwear presentation

“I would describe the entire Euphoria Weekend as a magnificent experience and one that we are very appreciative to have experienced. We have to wholeheartedly thank Mr Enrico Pezzoli and his amazing team for making this dream come true, firstly, by allowing us to be their guests and then extending such fantastic service and amenities to the contestants and our staff and crew. The staff and resort are, in a word, just fabulous, which all formed an incredible backdrop for the contestants and our team to execute our programme. It was simply amazing,” McDermoth told Observer Online.

McDermoth continued, “This was a working weekend for the Miss Universe Jamaica Organisation and the contestants, so I will admit, it was a very hectic schedule to ensure that we realised our objectives, despite feeling that we were in paradise. There was a particular theme each day, with that day’s activities showcasing the essence of the theme, so there were – ‘Just Illusions’, ‘Dream Island Vibez’, ‘Beauty & Elegance’, ‘Rejuvenate and Celebrate’. I would say the major highlights included the welcome reception we received upon arrival with a red carpet, welcome drinks and what appeared to have been all the staff forming a reception line and welcoming the team. This was quite impressive. Then the first night’s event on the resort’s Dream Island with the international DJs and the contestants colourfully dressed in reggae inspired wear, with musical performances, exotic food and beverage items served.”

The contestants made two main appearances, the second night they appeared in fashion and resort gowns from Atelier Dermoth Williams as part of the MUJ preliminary evening gown challenge, as well as a swimsuit presentation on the final night as part of their swimsuit challenge to advance to the finals. The swimsuits were also designed and created by Atelier Dermoth Williams.

“And I must speak about the Rejuvenate and Celebrate feature the resort included for the weekend with the contestants,” said McDermoth. “The contestants interacted with the guests at yoga sessions, meditation on the beach, hydrotherapy, beach fitness session and a morning nutrition smoothie bar. And there was constant nighttime and daytime entertainment; so many choices for dining, the Euphoria Weekend was truly a celebration of beauty, fashion, wellness and so much more. In addition to the activities mentioned, the contestants were also involved in a swimsuit photo and video shoot as well as an evening gown photo and video shoot. The evening gown shoot was particularly fantastic, which was done by the iconic over-the-water villas, which added excellent atmosphere and quality to the shoot.”

-Kevin Jackson