Twelve weeks of thorough training in philanthropy, style, fitness, culture, beauty, and personality culminated in an impeccable display of elegance and excellence on Sunday evening at the AC Hotel Kingston.
The new Miss Universe Jamaica 2024 coronation, following in the footsteps of the international competition, saw 27 of the 34 ladies originally sashed as finalists in May vying for the chance to represent Jamaica on the world stage later this year.
Throughout the evening’s programme, 27 was whittled down to 15 and then five. Ultimately, like a diamond is discovered, Jamaica’s 2024 delegate to the acclaimed Miss Universe competition was announced as pharmacy student and St Mary native Rachel Silvera. First runner-up and second runner-up were announced as 30-year-old Sara-Jade Kow and 23-year-old Keri-Ann Greenwood, respectively.
The panel of judges, hailing from industries ranging from fitness and health to politics and beauty, had their work cut out for them, selecting the winner from the high-calibre Jamaican women presented to them.
However, as the Miss Universe Jamaica final progressed, Silvera demonstrated her pageant prowess by excelling in the swimsuit, evening gown, and question-and-answer segments. She also won the People’s Choice Award.
Other sectional prizes included Most Congenial and Personality Challenge, awarded to 52-year-old and top five finalist Dr Sandra Swaby; the Essence of Style award, given to 24-year-old and top 27 finalist Shannon Johnson; and the Best Altruism Project, won by 21-year-old and top 15 finalist Michalia Cowan.
Silvera’s sweep of the most-anticipated sectional prizes highlighted her pageantry experience, having previously placed second in the Miss Universe Jamaica 2022 competition. For the 25-year-old, it was a case of ‘second time’s the charm’.
When asked what she did differently this time around, the new queen cited a replenished confidence and trust in herself.
“I say this all the time. It was just a matter of me realising that all I needed to be great was inside of me this entire time. It was just a matter of me unlocking and nurturing that and stepping into my true potential.” Silvera went on: “It’s a message I want to share with everyone because self-doubt is a poison, and it can really get you down. But once you step outside of that and realise that you are capable, you can ignite change, you can be an empowered leader. That is when you step into who you really should be and the impact that you really should have on the world.”
Silvera’s crowning moment was made even more special when she was not only crowned by Miss Universe 2023 Jordanne Lauren Levy, as is customary, but also sashed by Sheynnis Palacios, the reigning Miss Universe. Palacios, who had endured a series of flight delays to attend Jamaica’s national competition, arrived just in time for the event.
The new Miss Universe Jamaica 2024 will now engage in rigorous training to ensure her best performance at internationals to be held in Mexico, where she could once again be sashed by Nicaragua native Palacios as the incoming Miss Universe 2024. Silvera excitedly looks ahead to this possibility.
The self-dubbed ‘country girl’ will dive headfirst into her preparation and looks forward to working hand-in-hand with the Miss Universe Jamaica organisation.
“The energy I’m bringing to Mexico is fire, fire, fire! Honestly, I trust the Miss Universe Jamaica organisation. They have done such an impeccable job so far in preparing [us Miss Universe Jamaica contestants] to be the empowered leaders that we are. So I trust them. I trust their process and whatever they say goes.”