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.”
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.
