Tesi Johnson, Gleaner Writer

Black gowns on lovely lasses. (From left) Avril Leonie, Petti-Gay Williams and Denise Coubry, gave the men at the Jamaica Chamber of Commerce 25th Grand Charity Ball a reason to look twice. The event was held at the Jamaica Pegasus hotel, New Kingston, on Saturday. - Photos by Winston Sill/Freelance Photographer

Beautiful people sashayed down a plush red carpet and into the Grand Jamaica Suite at the Jamaica Pegasus hotel, pausing every now and again to 'chit-chat' with their friends and colleagues, to enjoy the Jamaica Chamber of Commerce (JCC) 25th Grand Charity Ball.

The ball lived up to its name, as dignitaries, corporate bigwigs and socialites filled the 'Grand' Jamaica Suite and proceeded to have a 'grand' time.

This milestone staging of the event featured dinner, dancing and spirited conversation, inched on by the evening's master of ceremonies, Dr. Aggrey Irons.

It was Fabulous Five, however, which provided the selections that got the important hips swaying and feet shuffling on the dance floor.

After the first dance session, Irons instructed the gentlemen in the room to rise and applaud the lovely ladies in their company, "but without the aid of any blue or purple pills".

Dinner followed, punctuated by a lively performance by Dwight Richards and Trudy Francis.

After dinner, Irons invited the attendees to make their way to the dance floor commanded by Fab 5 who asserted, "We nah stop jamming til a morning!"

The ball is the signature fund-raising event of the JCC, and the proceeds go towards assisting institutions whose work the committee considers of value to society. This year's beneficiaries are the JCC Inner City Development Committee, the Women's Crisis Centre and the Mona Rehab Centre.

Among the guests were Jamaica's 'first couple', The Most Hon. Professor Kenneth Hall and his always elegant wife, Her Excellency Mrs. Hall; Mayor Desmond McKenzie and his wife, Marcia; Omar Azan and his wife, Lezanne; Lascelles Chin and his wife, Eileen, who looked smashing in a champagne-coloured gown; South African sprinter, Geraldine Pillay, accompanied Bridgette Foster-Hylton and her husband, Patrick Hylton, who openly doted on his 'swift sweetie'; Chris and Michelle Bovell, Michelle dressed to the nines in a daring silver number; the Mexican Ambassador, Leonora Rueda; Noel and Jackie DaCosta, and Milverton and Mignonette Reynolds.

(From left) Michelle Bovell, Wilson and Delores Look Kim, and Leonora Rueda show their perky smiles to our camera.

Radiant and ready for the season is Wray and Nephew's Marilyn Bennett.

Eileen Chin is glamourous in a champagne 'goddess' gown, defined by its rouched bodice and sparkling accent.