THIRTEEN females, whose ages range from 19 years to 26, will compete for the 2022 Miss Jamaica World title.

The finalists were recently selected and will undergo intense training and preparation for the grand coronation which is scheduled for December 4 at the Courtleigh Auditorium in Kingston.

According to co-franchisee Dahlia Harris of Crown of Beauty, this year’s competitors are a diverse group.

“We have a very diverse group representing a wide cross section of our society. I’m extremely pleased at their passion for charity, which is an important aspect of Miss World, and their hunger for personal development. I’m very excited to see how the Fast Track and coronation placings will end,” Harris told the Jamaica Observer.

Harris shared what fans of the pageant can expect this year.

“We are happy to be able to publicly interact with our Miss Jamaica World (MJW) supporters in a way that wasn’t possible up to last year. We continue to take the cue from the Miss World Organization in how we design the execution of the various activities. We will also be partnering on the advocacy of various social issues through our platform and that of our contestants.”

She said getting sponsorship has been challenging.

“Yes, it has been; however, we are committed to sustaining the MJW brand that Mickey Haughton-James and other franchise holders have worked so hard to develop. We are fortunate to have some partnerships including government entities like the Jamaica Tourist Board (JTB) and the Ministry of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport (MCGES), who have supported us from day one through cash and/or support services. We couldn’t have won the Miss World crown in 2019 without them and we continue because of their partnership,” said Harris.

Harris continued, “The selection process this year included a sit-down interview so we were able to have some insight about the finalists before the training started. This further informed us how we structured the training, the sequence of the areas to be covered, as well as who our trainers would be. In a short time, we’ve seen improvements. There’s more work to be done, but based on the results so far, we are very optimistic about the final outcomes for these ladies.”

The first Fast Track event is the Beach Beauty which takes place this Sunday, November 6, at Fort Clarence Beach in Portmore.

The other Fast Track events are the Fitness Challenge on November 19 at Emancipation Park in New Kingston. The Talent Event is November 24, while Top Model is scheduled for November 27.

“Beauty with a Purpose will once again be featured on Smile Jamaica through our Head-to-Head Challenge. The Multimedia or Popular Vote is ongoing,” said Harris.

Shanique Singh, who finished third in the Miss Universe Jamaica pageant in August, is among the finalists. She is sponsored by Howard Johnson Reality.

The other finalists are: Garisha Grant — Miss Courtleigh Hotel; Shanika Samms — Miss Miakalani Swim; Tashwania Buchanan — Miss Interlinc; Tahje Bennett — Miss Artwell Classic Prints; Sabrina Farquharson — Miss Knutsford Express; Lineisha Davis – Miss RE-TV; Mikhaila Nathan -Miss Jamaica Observer; Khamara Wright — Miss Dining With Curvy; Chavel Wilson — Miss TM Ross Beauty; Toni-Ann Martin — Miss Emancipation Park; Rishema Daley — Miss Len’s Catering; and, Asheka Robinson—Miss QORHIC.