Footprints Café, located on Belmont Road in New Kingston, hosted 19 of the 20 finalists in the Miss Universe Jamaica pageant on Wednesday evening.

The girls were served meals, compliments of the establishment, while mingling and interacting with customers.

Stephanie Lindsay is the proprietor of Footprints Café.

“This is my second year of being a sponsor for the pageant and I’m someone who supports culture and local talent. When we see the young ladies stepping out, we know it’s a lot of work. I’m also the mother of a pageant girl, so I know what it takes to step out,” Lindsay disclosed to the Jamaica Observer.

Her daughter is former media practitioner Brithney Clarke, who was a finalist in the 2021 Miss Jamaica World pageant.

“It’s always a pleasure for us here at Footprints Café to give back, so it’s a way of being a sponsor and saying thanks to the ladies, and let them know we appreciate what they are doing,” said Lindsay.

Peter Bovell is co-owner of 24 Karat Beer, a sponsor of the hosting of the girls at Footprints Café.

“It was a no-brainer for us to be a part of this initiative. My advice to the ladies is to use their ability to help other people, inspire and encourage others to do the right things. People are attracted to beauty, so anything that they can do to point people in the right direction, is a good thing,” said Bovell.

Mark McDermoth, national director of the Miss Universe Jamaica Organisation, said the activity at Footprints Café afforded the females to interact with each other.

“Sometime ago, Mrs Lindsay invited us and the ambience and food was great, so we couldn’t turn down another opportunity. For the ladies, this is an outing where they can enjoy themselves and the pageant is really about enriching their experience. And so, we want to ensure that all the activities are available for them to connect with each other, bond with that sisterhood and have a good time,” said McDermoth.

Earlier on Wednesday afternoon, the contestants were given an overview about life lessons by television and social media personality, former beauty pageant winner Dr Terri-Karelle Reid at the AC Hotel Kingston.

“Today Dr Reid came in and spoke to them about life lessons. Any occasion that any young woman gets to speak with her is always impactful. The great value that she added to the programme this year was when she signed copies of her new book and presented it to the ladies,” McDermoth disclosed.

The finals of the Miss Universe Jamaica pageant will take place on Saturday, September 3 at the AC Hotel Kingston.