published: Monday | April 28, 2008
Barbara Ellington, Lifestyle Editor
April Jackson, Miss Jamaica Universe 2008 actually prefers to wear beautiful gowns to parading in bikinis all day.
Miss Jamaica Universe 2008, April Jackson, may hold a British passport, but she is as Jamaican as those who claim they were 'born under the clock'. The product of divorced parents is a daddy's girl who at age three lived in Jamaica for one year before returning to England. The family returned to the island when she was eight and she attended Hillel Academy and Campion College.
Back in England, at age 16, she sat A' levels, after which she took a gap year off and worked briefly as an au pair in France so she could hone her French-speaking skills. But she heard about the Miss Jamaica Universe contest and returned to the land of her birth for it.
April spoke with Flair in her first official interview since winning the crown. She will study law and economics when she goes to university but has not yet decided where.
Potential winner
No stranger to beauty contests, Jackson is also a past winner of the Miss Jamaica UK title. As the face of Swift Cash, her father's company, she was spotted by that contest's president, June Daley, who saw a potential winner in her. She entered and won in October 2006.
So, why did she enter the local contest and how will she feel when asked about her thick British accent coming from Jamaica? "It is on a grander scale than Miss Jamaica UK; there are many things I can do with the title. I will take to Vietnam the fact that I am totally Jamaican, so I am not worried about the accent. Initially, people may question it but when they hear what I have to offer and understand my heart, that is what will matter," the articulate queen said.
Controversy
As far as the controversial events at the contest regarding audience preference for a winner, Jackson said she only read about it in the paper the next day. She was too absorbed in events on stage to notice much. When the first runner-up was called, she heard the boos but felt it had subsided when she was announced the winner.
"I was so happy that I did not hear the negatives. The reaction is to be expected because everyone has their favourite. I appreciate why they would want Doneika Plowright to win; we are friends. We had a closeness throughout because she was next to me in the running order and we would check to make sure all was well with each other's outfits," Jackson said.
Never won the int'l title
This new BMW is among April Jackson's multimillion-dollar prizes. - photos by Andrew Smith/Photography Editor
We have come close but we have never had a contestant win the title. Has Jackson been looking at tapes of past contests to see what they are looking for? Yes, she has; but she understands that there are 82 countries and it's competitive. As for why Jamaica has never won the title, she hopes to stop that trend. Regardless of the outcome, Jackson still considers it an honour to be involved.
Part of her competitive edge is her extensive travel experience and having met several people of all races and cultures, it should help. Second, she learns very fast by listening to details and absorbing it all.
She is looking forward to Vietnam and, along with the local wardrobe pieces, hopes to take a few pieces from hot London designer Adebajo Jones. But she would love to meet franchise holder Donald Trump and speak with him. She will spend a month in Vietnam before the contest in July.
Jackson is happy that she will get an opportunity she will never have again and, should she take the crown, all she wants from her country is a street named in her honour. "I like the sound of April Jackson Avenue," she said.
Serious note
And what will she tell those who ask her about violence in Jamaica? Without a doubt, Jackson prefers living in Jamaica over England. But she feels that foreign media promote negative images over our positives, yet ironically, she has had worst experiences overseas. "There is violence everywhere; schools in London now have metal detectors," she said, citing an example.
One solution to our problem, she feels could be a law that makes it compulsory for young Jamaicans who get an education overseas to return home to help rebuild their country.
For Jackson, the future is promising. She is revved up and ready to contribute even after the year's reign is over, a reign that has changed her life in the brief two weeks so far. "Besides signing of autographs, she is surprised at how quickly she now gets attention.
"People are now more attentive, my calls are returned immediately," she said, flashing her winning smile. But there is a difference: Women whisper when she enters or leaves a room, while men are more direct - they want her phone number or a photo opportunity.
http://www.jamaica-gleaner.com
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