Thu | Mar 28, 2024

Former beauty queen turns franchise holder

Published:Wednesday | September 30, 2020 | 12:15 AM
Alexia Royal Eatmon, Miss Universe Jamaica East.
Alexia Royal Eatmon, Miss Universe Jamaica East.
From left: Shanique Thompson, Miss Universe Jamaica Central; Soyini Phillips, franchise holder for Miss Jamaica Universe Central and Eastern; Alexia Royal Eatmon, Miss Universe Jamaica East; and Iana Tickle Garcia, Miss Universe Jamaica 2019.
From left: Shanique Thompson, Miss Universe Jamaica Central; Soyini Phillips, franchise holder for Miss Jamaica Universe Central and Eastern; Alexia Royal Eatmon, Miss Universe Jamaica East; and Iana Tickle Garcia, Miss Universe Jamaica 2019.
Reigning Miss Universe Jamaica Iana Tickle Garcia crowning Miss Universe Jamaica East, Alexia Royal Eatmon.
Reigning Miss Universe Jamaica Iana Tickle Garcia crowning Miss Universe Jamaica East, Alexia Royal Eatmon.
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Back in January, former Miss Universe Jamaica Central, Soyini Phillips, announced her readiness to transform the pageant world as she took over the leadership of that segment of the franchise. Today, Phillips is looking to spread her wings in the pageant world as she reveals her acquisition of another piece of the franchise. The 24-year-old has now been put in charge of the Miss Universe Jamaica Eastern pageant.

“In January, I got the franchise for Miss Jamaica Central, and now some eight months later, I am in charge of another franchise, and all I can really say is that I am extremely grateful. It has always been my desire to mould and groom other young ladies in the pageantry world, and now I have got the chance to do just that times two,” she said. “I love pageants and when I took over Miss Universe Jamaica Central I guess my passion came through so much that the local pageant franchise holders saw it. They had asked me before if I was interested in doing more, and of course I said absolutely. I just think that the more franchises you have is the more opportunity you have to groom young ladies, and that has always been my intention,” Phillips told The Gleaner.

With the COVID-19 pandemic having cancelled a lot of the action in the pageant world for 2020, Phillips admits that she has her work cut out for her in terms of getting her girls ready for a hectic 2021, but says she’s ready to face any challenge thrown at her head-on. “When you have a passion for something you would go to the ends of the Earth to see it through, and I am willing to do all it takes to make these pageants a success. I am not afraid of the amount of work that lies ahead, in fact, I am actually excited. Hard work doesn’t faze me, it never has and it won’t start now,” she said. “I think my experience throughout the pageants over the years, from having competed to working behind the scenes, makes me fit for the job, and now is the time for me to just come out and be the best pageant manager I can be.”

Speaking of being the best, Phillips is confident that despite the setbacks the pageant world has faced due to COVID-19, the industry will rally back stronger than ever. In fact, Phillips said that the Miss Universe pageant refuses to be held back any longer, and hinted that the 2020 staging of the competition is a possibility. “The industry is resilient and has been making adjustments to combat the challenges brought on by COVID-19. The franchise holders of the Miss Jamaica Universe pageant will be giving the rundown on all of that very soon, so keep your ears open,” she said.

shereita.grizzle@gleanerjm.com