EIGHTEEN girls will vie for the title of Miss Teen Jamaica at the Courtleigh Auditorium in New Kingston, tonight. Peta Gaye Foster, CEO of organisers J’Sin Promotions, said she has made a few adjustments to the competition since assuming the helm at her mother’s passing last year.
Foster’s mom, Janet Sinclair, started the pageant 35 years ago. “I want to get the competition back up where it should be. My aim is to make it better than Miss Jamaica World or Miss Jamaica Universe. I will be reintroducing beauty as an asset for winning the contest,” she told the Jamaica Observer.
According to Foster, tonight’s winner will be entering the Miss Teen International and Miss World Nations events at the global level. Miss World Nations will be held in China, April 15-30, and Miss Teen International will either be in Taiwan, Indonesia or Singapore. The date and venue are yet to be confirmed.
The first runner-up will compete with 79 other countries in the Miss Global Charity Queen contest in Taipei, Taiwan, November 16-28. “ I believe that it will help the competition regain its popularity and encourage more girls to enter,” said Foster.
Other prizes for Miss Teen Jamaica include:
- a $500,000 scholarship to University College of the Caribbean (UCC);
- a trophy valued at $25,000; a feature in Teenvybe Magazine;
- a gold chain and watch, courtesy of American Jewellery;
- a silver watch, courtesy of Dougall Jewelry in Florida;
- a wardrobe valued at $100,000, courtesy of top designer, drennaLuna;
- a $150,000 wardrobe, courtesy of Miss Teen Jamaica organisers; cash prize of $50,000;
- a gift basket of make-up and hair products from K’Visage; and a portfolio of Miss Teen Jamaica’s journey, valued at $100,000, from Bryan’s Photo Studio;
- and $500,000 more in scholarships for the runners-up from the UCC.