published: Tuesday | March 28, 2006
Alicia Roache, Acting Entertainment Editor
At left: Miss Jamaica Universe 2006, Cindy Wright At Right: .Cindy Wright, Miss Jamaica Universe 2006 (centre), poses with second place Danisha-Raquel Osbourne (left) and third-place Georgia Bennett at the Miss Jamaica Universe Coronation Show, held at the Hilton Kingston hotel, Knutsford Boulevard, New Kingston, on Sunday. - PHOTOS BY WINSTON SILL/FREELANCE PHOTOGRAPHER
CINDY WRIGHT acknowledges that there is a lot of hard work ahead. She is also determined to become the first Jamaican to bring home the prestigious Miss Universe title in 2006. In fact, determination and hard work are twin factors which the statuesque, 5' 11" green-eyed beauty claims gave her the edge over 21 other contestants to win the coveted and highly-contested Miss Jamaica Universe title on Sunday.
The 19-year-old student and model seemed dazed after her victory, which initially seemed tenuous but became evident when the top five was announced.
Among the five were Georgia Bennett, 25, 5'10, a teacher; Stephanie Mclean, 20, 5' 9", a TV host; Danisha-Raquel Osbourne, 23, 5'10", a student, and the doctor Tanesha Davis, 26, 5'3" and a crowd favourite.
In fact, of the top five, Davis distinguished herself as the most articulate contestant and, along with Mclean, earned the sectional prize of watches courtesy of American Jewellery Company for being the 'Most Aware'.
Second place went to Osbourne and third to Bennett. Other sectional prizes went to Ayanna Dixon who won the 'Best Skin Tone' prize of Revlon makeup courtesy of Beauty Concepts, and Camille Bartley who won the 'Most Congenial' prize.
Wright won the 'Best in Evening Wear, 'Most Photogenic' and 'Best in Swimwear' prizes and, along with the title, won the Catch-A-Fire and Uzuri International Miss Universe wardrobe, jewellery valued at $100,000 from Bling Bling, lifetime membership from Gymkhana, and sponsor Captain Horace Burrell announced at the coronation, that he will match the $200,000 cash that is a part of Wright's $2 million prize package.
NOT MOST 'POPULAR'
This must have been a sweet victory to Wright who was, by no means, the most 'popular' on coronation night. That distinction was hotly contested by top 12 finalist Raquel Phillpotts and Dr. Davis, who, by the end of the night, won the CVM People's Choice trophy.
However, the two most popular contestants on coronation night were also among the shortest contestants, Phillpotts standing at just 5'2", and neither possessed the striking looks that undoubtedly gave Wright the edge.
However, good looks alone, like local popularity or being articulate, does not make an international pageant queen and Wright and her supporters acknowledge that she has more work to do.
Many people left the Hilton Kingston ballroom disgruntled on Sunday, as they always do whenever a new queen is crowned, because they were not satisfied with Wright's response to the questions.
She answered that unemployment is the major contributor to crime in Jamaica, but sounds of disapproval followed her suggestion that US business was the answer to the unemployment problem. However, Wright later corrected her slip with the call for better educational opportunities.
Her pause before answering the question of a 'major experience in life and what she has learnt from it' also elicited groans of disapproval. Her response, telling how kayaking has taught her to be more careful, barely remedied the situation but it was enough to land her in the top spot nonetheless.
"I have a lot of work ahead of me and I'm ready to go to work", Wright said after her coronation. "I want to be the first Jamaican to bring home the crown."
If she does all the 'work' to which she has committed, Wright will have as good a chance as any of doing so.
jamaica-gleaner.com
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