Sixteen finalists were selected from 39 contestants for the 2007 Miss Jamaica World title at a private 'selection' last Wednesday. This year, prospective contestants were asked to submit applications via the Internet along with photographs.

Twenty-five applicants were invited to attend the private selection at Spartan Health Club on Wednesday. On that day, numbers swelled to 39. The judges for the event were: Tommy James, who this year will again be chief judge for the pageant finals, Laurel DeMercado, Shirley Hanna, Shienne Holman, Marcel Robinson of Interlinc Communications, Uzuri's Karl Williams and pageant promoter Mickey Haughton-James.

Resounding success

Mr. Haughton James, managing director of Spartan and pageant promoter, thinks that the new system of selection has been a resounding success and the high standard of the finalists is testimony to its success. "Unlike most other years when there was an elimination show to select the contestants, the selection this year has been done privately and very successfully. Energies will, instead, now be directed towards preparing the contestants for an excellent coronation which will be held August 18 at the Jamaica Pegasus."

The 16 finalists were presented to the public at the Sovereign Centre, Liguanea, last Saturday.

The Miss Jamaica World 2007 finalists, as they will appear in the official line-up, are as follows: 1. Jody Shaw; 2. Sasha Leigh Gordon; 3. Tina Ingram; 4. Kadia Brooks; 5. Marika Hornsby; 6. Racquel Powell; 7. Natalia Godfrey; 8. Rosina Casserly; 9. Angina Thomas; 10. Camesha Powell; 11 Simone Poot; 12. Kristen Wood; 13. Tiffany Ellis; 14. Yendi Phillips; 15. Renae Ellis; 16. Kristin Metz.

Miss World 2007 will be held in Sanya, China on December 1. Last year, Miss Jamaica World, Sara Lawrence, placed in the top six.