Carolyn Yapp crowned Miss Jamaica Universe 2009

Saturday, 18 July 2009

25-year-old Interior Designer Carolyn Yapp crowned Miss Jamaica 2009 Carolyn Yapp, a 25 year old Interior Designer was crowned Miss Jamaica Universe 2009 on Thursday July 16, in a private ceremony at The Refuge at Villa Ronai, attended by the family and friends of the contestants, as well as producers and organizers from Pulse, licensees for the Jamaica preliminary to Miss Universe. As Miss Jamaica Universe, Carolyn will get the opportunity to represent Miss Jamaica at Miss Universe 2009 in Nassau, The Bahamas on August 23, 2009 before a worldwide audience of close to one billion persons. Visibly elated following her win Carolyn says, “It has always been a dream of mine to be an ambassador for my country and this is my chance! I know the competition will be tough but I’m ready to do my country proud and bring the title home.” Pageant history Miss Yapp is something of a pageant veteran, having competed in Miss Jamaica World 2004 where she placed third, and went on to again tie for third prize in the Miss Jamaica Universe 2005 pageant. Following the Miss Jamaica World 2004 competition, Miss Yapp was at the centre of a 'controversy' after making disparaging comments about the 2004 winner Tonoya Toyloy to the media. Following her bid for the 2005 Miss Jamaica Universe crown she was the subject of a scathing feature in the Jamaica Star tabloid. Regardless, we expect that Jamaica will throw its support behind our new ambassador. First runner-up was Fallon Harris a 21 year old student at the University of the West Indies and fashion model. Third runner-up was budding model, singer and designer, 19 year old Krystina Black. The judges were well known fashion and beauty personalities Barry Moncrieffe, former principal dancer of the NDTC and fashion designer; Gilou Bauer, Curator of the Mutual Life Gallery and Lois Lake-Sherwood, artist, business executive and diplomat. The winner was the universal choice of all the judges. Pulse made a special appeal to Jamaicans to come forward to compete for the title, despite giving up the license earlier this year, as the Miss Universe Organization prevailed on the Jamaican company to conduct a contest and produce a Miss Universe entrant from Jamaica. This year is considered especially important for Caribbeans, as the event will be held at Atlantis in the Bahamas, next door to Jamaica. This might be a year in which Jamaica has its best chance, given the event’s presence in the region and the potential of the stunningly beautiful Miss Yapp. Background Miss Jamaica Universe 2009 is the daughter of Jean and Hartley Yapp and is originally from Montego Bay. She is a graduate of the University of the West Indies in and did post graduate studies in Interior Design in Florida. She is currently residing in Kingston Jamaica. She will begin immediate preparations for Miss Universe, the finals of which will be held in Nassau, The Bahamas on August 23, 2009. Now in its 58th year, the glamorous event, features some of the world's most beautiful women from 85 countries, with each contestant competing for the right to call herself the most beautiful woman in the world. Although never having won the title, Jamaica has had significant success at Miss Universe pageants, claiming four top-10 finishes - Sandra Foster, Nicole Haughton, Christine Straw and Kimberley Mais. Several other beauties, including Sanya Hughes, Rachel Stuart, Trudy Ferguson, Justine Willoughby, Bridgette Rhoden and Zahra Redwood, the first Rastafarian beauty queen to appear in a major international pageant, have also raised Jamaica's profile at the international pageant. http://www.popstylejamaica.com