Miss Jamaica World 2006, Sara Lawrence, on coronation night. Her baby is due in September. - Winston Sill/Freelance Photographer

There's a new selection process to choose Jamaica's Miss World contestants. Those prospective contestants will send entry forms and photos via email. But, this time, based on the entry forms and photos, a select group of judges will narrow down the initial list of contenders and invite the chosen entrants to appear before them. It is from this second batch of ladies that the final 16 will be chosen. Mickey Haughton-James, pageant organiser said there was no foreign influence in the decision.

"We constantly reinvent ourselves," he said. "The new system will be a less traumatic event, so to speak. It's especially good for the girls who live abroad.

They wouldn't have to waste their time to come down and be disappointed," he explained. The new format is also more private as the first time the wider public will see any of contestants is at the swimwear and sportswear presentation and sashing on Saturday July 14, at the Sovereign Centre. He joked that in years past at the public elimination shows, some persons came to the pre-judgings/eliminations to witness the slip-ups of the prospective candidates.

"We feel this (the system) is very efficient and even some girls who might not have entered before may do so now," he added. The finalists will undergo the usual intensive training in grooming, stage presentation, speech and physical conditioning. The pageant finals will be staged August 18 at the Jamaica Pegasus hotel.

Miss Jamaica World 2007 will depart the island on November 1 to compete in the Miss World contest on December 1.

The new format is also more private as the first time the wider public will see any of contestants is at the swimwear and sportswear presentation and sashing on Saturday July 14, at the Sovereign Centre.