Toshami Calvin’s performance at the 71st staging of the Miss Universe competition has ignited immense pride among Jamaicans and has generated a lot of feedback locally and internationally, and it is not over just yet, said Karl Williams, co-national director of the Miss Universe Jamaica organisation.
“She is a winner,” Williams told The Gleaner, adding that “was the resounding [pronouncement] we kept hearing. Everyone was coming up to us on the ground in New Orleans, from national pageant directors to bloggers, to speak of how amazing Toshami is, having observed her in the preliminaries and meeting her.”
For the preliminary round of judging in the categories for swimsuit, evening gown and national costume, Calvin was a standout, “with her forte being the stage portion, having the runway walk and the presence, and we knew if she got to the semi-finals, it would have been a good chance for Jamaica to place in the top or take the crown”.
Williams added, “We send a variety of delegates to the Miss Universe competition, and each year we select a [well-rounded] female [who] we believe will make the biggest impact, and we’re happy for the representation she delivered. It has [been] stamped that the work we are doing locally is being recognised in terms of recruitment and our training programme. Coming into the finals, we were all feeling very strongly she would make it to the top 16, because Toshami is the kind of delegate you want. But we did also see the performance of the other delegates, and the competition was stiff.”
The Miss Universe organisers added a new element for the swimwear round. Instead of national gifts for auction, the delegates were told to customise their own cape with inspirations from their cause or country. The capes would then be auctioned and the proceeds will benefit a charity that has yet to be announced. Calvin posted on social media that her family, country and advocacy inspired her cape. “It embodies who I am, where I’m from, and the change I hope to foster. I wanted the cape to tell a meaningful story.”
Her caption continued: “As I represent Jamaica, the land of my birth, internationally in our 60th year of Independence, I wanted to encapsulate my pride in our country. ‘We likkle but we tallawah!’ We may be small, but we are strong, mighty, resilient, and can do and be anything.” If that did not capture her pride in Jamaica, Calvin represented the island’s single national heroine, Nanny of the Maroons, in the national costume round, in a sparkling green gown and headwrap accessorised with an abeng and machete.
The St Thomas-native, who hopes to pursue a master’s degree in applied behaviour analysis, may not have advanced to the semi-finals, but she certainly reigned on stage like a true queen, and the expectations of her are very high.
According to co-founder of the Jamaica Autism Support Association (JASA), Kathy Chang, it has been a pleasure to meet and also work with Calvin.
“Miss Calvin has shared her interest in working with children with autism and being an advocate of autism awareness in Jamaica. She has been with us at events, actively helping us to raise autism awareness, including as the patron of The Jamaica Council for Persons with Disabilities; as a guest at the St Andrew High School for Girls Expo in November; the Disabilities Awareness Week in December; and she volunteered at our annual Christmas treat. She has expressed her commitment to [continue] working with JASA, whatever the outcome of the pageant, and [we] look forward to working with her further,” Chang said.
Another person anxious for Calvin’s return and to continue collaboration with her is Emma Subratie, managing director at Hema Luxe Limited, which sponsored the Altruism Award at the local competition.
“I’ve had first-hand experience of her journey and seeing her in action – her whole demeanour, she is well-poised, grounded and benevolent. I believe everyone watching her on the international stage were saying out loud, ‘This is a winner’, because Toshami, truth and in fact, is our winner,” she shared.
“I applaud Toshami’s performance and the Miss Universe Jamaica team because they groomed and trained her well. We, Jamaicans, continue to beam with pride that the national directors chose the right queen. The judges definitely missed out when they left Toshami out of the semi-finals, but she’s a woman to keep on your radar as one who will make an impact,” Subratie continued.