Miss Jamaica World Finals For Montego Bay

MJW franchise holder Laura Butler

For the second consecutive year, Miss Jamaica World (MJW) grand coronation will be held in the second city.

The event’s climax will be held at the Montego Bay Convention Centre on July 12.

This was among the announcements made at the annual pageant’s launch held at CRU Bar and Kitchen on Lady Musgrave Road in St Andrew on Wednesday.

MJW franchise holder Laura Butler said the decision to stay in Montego Bay is part of a bid to showcase the best of Jamaica.

“The challenge in hosting the finals in Kingston is finding an appropriate venue that can be both aesthetically pleasing as well as financially viable.  We will be broadcasting to 25 countries and the Montego Bay Convention Centre offers the opportunity to showcase a First World facility at an affordable cost,” she told the Jamaica Observer.

Butler was, however, quick to point out that logistically hosting the event out of town poses a huge challenge.

“The majority of the production team, about 70 persons are from Kingston. The first set of the production team has to be in Montego Bay from Tuesday for the Saturday night show. This means accommodation for a week. But we are committed to putting on a great show,” she said.

Auditions for hopefuls began at Spartan Health Club in St Andrew on Saturday.

“Girls have already been calling to be part of the pageant this year. Following Saturday’s audition, we will be hosting two more on May 17 and 24, just before the eliminations which will be held on May 31 at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel,” said Butler.

She also announced other initiatives to boost this year’s event.

These include a multimillion-dollar sponsorship package which will see the July 12 final being aired on the local channel 100 operated by cable television provider Flow. There will also be a reality show — My World — to be aired on the same channel in the lead-up to the finals, taking viewers behind the scenes with the beauties as well as offering a sneak peak at the training  and grooming regimen, trips and challenges.

The broadcast of the finals on Flow channel 100 will be the first live event to be carried on the station.

The pageant will also be beamed to 25 countries including the Caribbean and North America courtesy of SportsMax and CEEN TV.

This year’s winner will have the opportunity to represent Jamaica at the Miss World Pageant in London later this year.  She will become the media ambassador for the telecommunications firm Digicel, and the University College of the Caribbean has offered scholarships worth $5.2 million, among other prizes.

http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/entertainment/MJW-final-for-MoBay–again_16639780

Source: Jamaica Observer
Richard Johnson
Monday, May 12, 2014