This week we introduce our readers to the Miss Jamzone 2011 lineup for the international leg of the pageant with sneak previews into the lives of seven and the beautiful faces of the remaining four.
This is the second pageant of its kind as in the previous ten years there were only local delegates competing for the crown. However, the Hits and Jams Entertainment team is determined to make Jamzone an event of renown on calendars throughout the Caribbean and as such, in 2010, the organizers decided to change the pageant’s format and include the Miss Jamzone International Pageant, which saw the winner of the local leg competing against several other delegates from around the Caribbean.
This year, the team has added our neighbouring countries, Venezuela and Brazil in addition to St Kitts and Nevis, creating a total of eleven contestants. These girls will battle for the crown on August 17 at the National Cultural Centre.
The standards of this event have progressed with each passing year, including the prizes, which have evolved from $40,000 to a scooter, a car and now US$10,000!
Fatisha Imo: Miss St Kitts & Nevis – This 23-year-old is currently a student at the Midwestern State University majoring in Accounting and Spanish. She enjoys dancing and singing as well as listening to the mellow sounds of her favourite musicians, Alicia Keys, Lauren Hill and Beres Hammond.
Fatisha has a wealth of experience in pageants, having competed in numerous contests around the world and explains that her love for pageants is to some extent genetic.
“Pageantry has been a part of my family’s history as far back as my grandmother. My mother passed the trait down to me and my sister. My sister won the Carnival Talented Teen Show in 2009 and then went on to represent the Federation in Miss Caribbean Talented Teen,” Fatisha said.
If chosen as Miss Jamzone International 2011, Fatisha hopes to leave an indelible mark on the Caribbean Community through her talent of dance. “My love for dance has allowed me to reach out to many people. My dances tell stories and showcase many challenges the world faces: gang violence, pollution, child abuse etc. Throughout my appearances in different countries, my talent has left the audience reason to believe that the world will change one day only if we work together.”
Marcia Baptiste: Miss Dominica- “I am a proud denizen of the island of Dominica also known as the Nature Island of the World, Land of Many Rivers, Home of the World Creole Music Festival and the Most Original Carnival, ‘The Real Mas.’ I am quite confident in my chances of securing the crown!” says 26-year-old Marcia Baptiste.
Baptiste has had quite a prolific run in the pageant industry, winning multiple crowns including Miss Dominica, Miss Caribbean World and Miss Jaycee’s Caribbean Queen 2010. In the academic arena, Marcia has three A-levels from the Dominica State College in the Natural Sciences, and is also currently employed as an Events and Customer Service Assistant at the Ross University School of Medicine.
This Dominican beauty describes herself as an outspoken and determined person who loves reading, meeting people, travelling, shoe shopping, exploring new places, learning new things and surfing the web. Should Marcia be crowned Miss Jamzone International 2011, she intends to use this as a platform to impact positively on the lives of young people.
Stacey Norine Ceder: Miss Suriname -Suriname heads to Guyana once more for the second staging of the Miss Jamzone International pageant this time, armed with conviction and a 21-year-old show-stopper who plans to leave no stone unturned in her quest for the crown. The Dutch representative Stacy Norine Ceder is currently studying to become a Chemical Analyst at the Suriname Nature Technical Institute (NATIN).
Though her favourite hobby is modelling, Stacey also enjoys swimming, dancing and believe it or not, Thai boxing. Ceder is an avid fashion enthusiast and has also participated in numerous runway shows and modelling competitions throughout her country, including the Miss Suriname 2008 pageant.
Ceder describes herself as a rigid, persistent individual and a very redoubtable opponent.
Trishauna Clarke: Miss Jamaica – “I’m looking forward to visiting the beautiful country of Guyana and I am eager to learn more about the culture. I will be sure to absorb every detail of this unique experience. In that way I can proudly wear the crown and handily represent Miss Jamzone International for 2011.”
The land of reggae is proud to present a stunning bi-racial beauty, an urbane young woman who seamlessly exemplifies the diversity of Jamaican culture, Miss Trishauna Clarke.
This 23 year old actress, singer and former national athlete, is currently a full-time student pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Nursing. She also adds professional model to her portfolio, as she is presently one of the most sought after faces at both the regional and international levels. Trishauna’s successful modelling career includes numerous appearances in commercials, magazines and runway shows including BET’s annual Rip the Runway in spring 2010 and the internationally aired Puma ‘Jam’ commercial alongside fellow Jamaican, track star Usain Bolt.
Trishauna is honoured and excited to be a part of the Miss Jamzone International 2011 pageant, and she therefore intends to work unremittingly to represent her homeland and hopefully claim the crown for Jamaica once more.
Jovan Wilson: Miss Guyana –Many of you may remember this ‘dark horse’ who eliminated her competition on Independence night to claim the title of Miss Guyana Jamzone 2011. Well, this Berbician beauty, presently in Antigua competing in the Miss Jaycees Caribbean Queen show, is also making preparations to represent Guyana at the upcoming Miss Jamzone International 2011 pageant.
This talented 21-year-old enjoys fishing, modelling, hospitality research, photography and reading. Wilson attended the New Amsterdam Multilateral School, where she secured nine subjects at the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate examinations. She also obtained an Associate’s Degree in Tourism and Hospitality Management from the H Lavity Stoutt Community College based in Tortola, British Virgin Islands.
Wilson explained that since it is her first international pageant, she intends to use the Miss Jaycees Queen Show as a stepping stone, and apply the knowledge and experience gained to hopefully win her second crown for 2011.
Jovan would like the general public to continue supporting her as she enters this new venture.
Rhea Cummings: Miss Barbados – Eighteen-year-old Rhea Cummings has had a love for the visual arts as long as she can remember. After winning multiple awards for her outstanding artistic capabilities, her passion gravitated towards fashion designing when she was introduced to Creative Embroidery in high school. Cummings went on to write Art for CXC claiming grades 1 & 2 in Arts and Textiles and is currently pursuing her Associates Degree in Fashion Design at the Barbados Community College.
There is absolutely no stopping this confident Bajan beauty, who also lists creative writing and modelling as her hobbies. Cummings is a lover of nature and most importantly a proud citizen of Barbados, which she describes as one of the most beautiful places on earth.
Davia Chambers: Miss Trinidad and Tobago – An intellectual beauty with a fetish for fashion, 19-year-old Davia Chambers is moving smoothly towards realizing her dreams of one day becoming a world renowned journalist and anchor as well as establishing herself as the first woman from her island to own a fashion magazine featuring everything Tobago.
Incidentally, Chambers is a current news reporter/anchor at Tobago Channel 5 and she also boasts an impressive portfolio especially in light of the fact that she is among the youngest in the Miss Jamzone International lineup. Her personal achievements include Best Personal Interview (Miss T&T World 2010), Best Evening Wear (Miss T&T World 2010), 12 CXC and GCE passes (including 5 grade ones and the remainder twos), TCI Supermodel 2009 and many awards for academics and sports in high school.
Proud to represent the beautiful Trinidad and Tobago, Davia intends to promote her country’s Carnival, exuberant culture, the rainforest, waterfalls, the national instrument – Steel Pan – rivers and most of all the human resource.
“Trinidad and Tobago is one of the most looked at countries in the Caribbean and of this I am proud. Therefore, I have made it my duty to continue to be an ambassador of my country, through international pageants and modelling.”
