Miss Jamaica World ready to represent in India
Published:Wednesday | February 21, 2024 | 12:14 AMKenrick Morgan/Gleaner Writer
When Miss Jamaica World Shanique Singh arrived in New Dehli, India, for the start of the 71st Miss World festival, only one thing was on her mind – making Jamaica proud.
The festival, which serves as the longest-running international pageant, returns to the South Asian nation for a second time as more than 117 contestants compete for the crown.
This will be 26-year-old Singh’s first time representing the island on a global stage, and according to co-franchise owner Dahlia Harris, the stage is set.
“I think Shanique’s biggest desire is to do Jamaica proud – she has put in a lot of work, dedicated a lot of her time and energy. Every conversation we have is about making Jamaica proud, and I am confident she will,” she said.
Harris, who has been a mentor to many Miss Jamaica contestants and winners, explained the process leading up to Singh’s departure for India.
“A lot of what we did before she left was just fine-tuning. We did some work in terms of debating and presentation techniques. We did some work on her walk and poise – which she was already good at – and just a few tweaks to her talent piece to make it a little more Jamaican.”
Singh has had extensive time to perfect her technique following crowning in December 2022 where she wowed Jamaicans with her elegance – a task she has to now replicate on the global stage.
But Harris declared, “Shanique is focused and ready.”
A DIFFERENT BALL GAME
She spoke of the hard work contestants must put in. “Miss World is a lot on them. They have to compete in a number of challenges and it is not easy on them. It is intense but she is doing well,” Harris explained.
This year, the Miss World festival has introduced a new component to the competition. Each contest is given their own page on the festival’s website and are expected to fill it with their own information – testing their versatility.
As of news time, Singh’s page has her basic information including height and age. Supporters can expect more as the competition progresses.
“There are 117 contestants, so it is really hard to judge who your biggest competitor is. But I think the toughest part is being just as competitive as you can be and bringing your best,” Harris said when asked about the hardest part of the festival.
Singh hopes to impress the judges and, by extension, the world with her talent. She is expected to showcase her Dances of the World piece, as well as the work she has been doing to combat period poverty.
Jamaicans can watch Singh do her best as the Miss World festival unfolds from February 18 to March 9, and supporters both at home and in the diaspora are being asked to keep their banner waving high.
“Show her your love. I know we tend to be a passionate people, so just continue to be positive and supportive. She has been doing really well for Jamaica, and what will help her to do well is to know Jamaica is doing its best to support her,” Harris said.
Jamaica last won the Miss World title in 2019 when Toni-Ann Singh brought home the crown. Toni-Ann Singh was the longest reigning queen in history due to the postponement the 70th Miss World competition during the height of the coronavirus pandemic.