Miss Jamaica World profiles

Published: Saturday | August 15, 2009

The Miss Jamaica World beauty pageant will be held next Saturday at The Jamaica Pegasus Hotel ballroom. Eighteen women are left in the competition but only 10 will appear at the coronation show a week from today. Here are two of the contestants who are hoping to represent Jamaica at the Miss World beauty pageant in South Africa in December.

Name: Gillian Chen

Sponsor: Tashamay's Fashion

Age: 17

Body Status: 35-26-38, weight 127lb, height 5' 6"

This elegant tomboy competes in netball, track and field and football and loves to play the piano. She was valedictorian of her class and a prefect and still found time to win a silver and bronze medal in the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission Festival competition. She was also second runner-up in this year's Miss Jamaica World Western competition.

Gillian views the Miss Jamaica World Pageant as an enabler that will give her a boost in her future endeavours. No matter the outcome, however, she believes she would have achieved many things from the pageant, which will ultimately aid her in personal growth.

Her five-year plan is to study law at either Oxford or Cambridge University. Her ambition is to become a successful attorney and to make positive differences in the world.

Her passion for football has increased her desire to meet Edison Arantes do Nascimento (better known to the world as Pelé). She admires his football achievements and his dedication to the sport.

Gillian says of herself, "I am an energetic, well-rounded individual who believes in seeing things through to the end because winners never quit. Life is too short and too precious to waste, so I believe in utilising all of my resources and potential to delve into whatever it is I will eventually dedicate myself to."

Her favourite quote is "Yesterday is a cancelled check. Tomorrow is a promissory note. Today is cash...Spend it wisely."

Name: Shereen Sterling

Sponsor: Logo Stitch

Age: 17

Body Status: 34-27-38, weight 141lb, height 5' 11"

This future singing neurosurgeon has a long list of achievements to her credit - a Rotary of Montego Bay East Bikeathon Scholarship recipient in 2008, Montego Bay High School Music Award of the Year, Jamaica Cultural Development Commission Festival Music Award, Leadership Award for 2007 and 2008 and vice president for her ecology club.

It therefore comes as no surprise that she plans to pursue a bachelor of medicine and a bachelor of surgery programme and simultaneously do professional voice training.

Sterling says apart from socialising with the other contestants in the run-up to the pageant, she will enjoy the opportunity of being a public role model and the chance to social network.

It is because of her passion for singing why she would mostly like to meet Alicia Keyes. She views her as not only a great vocalist and musician but as someone with a charitable heart and helping hands, especially to the World Aids Fund.

Shereen's personal statement is, "I am a diligent, hard-working person who loves helping others. I am fun loving, intelligent and definitely not a quitter. I am a nature lover who loves children and animals. I am aspiring to be a neurosurgeon as well as a legendary singer because I truly believe this is an ideal route in which I can make a difference in helping others."

http://www.jamaica-gleaner.com/