Miss Universe Jamaica Rachel Silvera ready to take on Mexico
Published:Wednesday | October 30, 2024 | 12:11 AMAinsworth Morris/Staff Reporter
Miss Universe Jamaica 2024 Rachel Silvera has declared that she is ready to take on the worldwide competition in Mexico.
On Monday evening, 24 hours before she left the island from the Norman Manley International Airport, the vibrant, energetic and eloquent pharmacy student gave a sneak peek into some of the fashion-forward pieces she would be taking with her to Mexico.
“I’m very, very excited. I am [also] nervous, because, as I have said before, Jamaica is the Beyoncé of the world. So there’s a lot of pressure in representing such a remarkable and vibrant country. I know that I am going to go over there and do my absolute best to represent my Jamaican people and to pay tribute to the organisation for doing a remarkable job at training and prepping me for this big moment,” Silvera told The Gleaner at the AC Hotel Kingston where the Bon Voyage event was held to send her off to Mexico City.
When asked about the national costume Silvera will rock on the stage of the arena, Mark McDermoth, co-national director, Miss Universe Jamaica, was tight-lipped but did share that it would pull on the island’s musical heritage.
“We can’t tell you about the costume, because what we normally do is we like to have it showcased and then everybody sees it at that time. But we can tell you it’s about the vibrancy of Jamaican music. That much we can tell you,” McDermoth told The Gleaner.
“It’s 130 delegates this year, and therefore one of the things that will make you stand out is your fashion and your styling, and we really took it seriously this year in that regard, to ensure that Rachel steps out always with a fashion-forward essence,” he said.
His colleague, fellow franchise holder and co-national director, Karl Williams, chimed in and stated, “It’s pretty exciting and dramatic also. It (the costume) is going to be something special on Miss Rachel Silvera. She’s going to be there for three weeks, but it’s three weeks of a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. So, every day she steps out, there has to be a wow factor. So, we played up on her skin tone, her body, her personality, and so, whenever Rachel steps out, it’s going to be a wow moment with amazing colours and amazing silhouettes.”
A native of St Mary, Silvera has a passion for the environment. Her organisation, Footprints Jamaica, is geared towards the development of rural communities while maintaining sustainability.
The 73rd Miss Universe pageant will be held at the Mexico City Arena in Azcapotzalco, Mexico City on November 16. Mexico is hosting the event for the first time since 2007.
The reigning Miss Universe is Sheynnis Palacios.