Name: Racquel Powell

Age: 21

Height: 5'11"

Vital statistics: 37-27-37

Occupation: Loan officer

Sponsor: Diet Ting

Gleaner: Why did you decide to enter the competition?

Racquel Powell: It has always been a dream of mine. Ever since I was a little girl, I was always watching Miss Jamaica. I've always wanted to be a part of it. My mother, as well as my supervisor at work, had been encouraging me to, so I decided to enter.

G: What is your definition of a beauty queen?

RP: Somebody who is well-rounded, can handle pressure, physically and emotionally beautiful. Somebody who is warm, pretty on the outside, somebody who people like. In terms of a beauty queen like Miss Jamaica, somebody who can represent Jamaica.

G: What do you expect to achieve by entering the competition?

RP: I tend to be a little shy and, in my job - I work also as a marketing officer - I have to make presentations to persons and I tend to get uncomfortable when I go up on stage and speak to everybody. So this will teach me how to go up there, say what I have to say, entertain the crowd, let them be comfortable around me and show them that I am comfortable. I also want the title of Miss Jamaica and all the opportunities that come with it. When you have status like Miss World, people look up to you; you can be a role model and it's an opportunity to help a lot of persons.

G: What is your best asset?

RP: I'm charming. Children, especially, always seem to fall in love with me. When I'm at the office, they always come over to me. People always seem to be taken with me. I tend to smile a lot.

G: How would you sell Jamaica to a foreigner in light of the high crime rate?

RP: Jamaica is a beautiful place and Jamaicans are very beautiful. They are very innovative, very strong, very hard-working. Yes, we do have a high crime rate now, but I do think the crime rate can go down. I just think that you need to work on the areas that are experiencing this. Where I live, we do not have any crime, for that matter. Mostly praedial larceny; people in my community are farmers.

G: What do you love the most about Jamaica?

RP: The place and the people. I like that fact that if you are in a community, for instance, where I live, if you were driving through and you do not know where you are going and you ask somebody 'can you give me some directions', Jamaicans will tell you where to find that place. In fact, they will go as far as to follow you to the place or follow you on a part of your journey. I also think that Jamaica is a beautiful place. The beaches, the weather, it's always wonderful. I love the Dunn's River, Lover's Leap and all the little hidden sites that the world might not know about but are there.

G: If you could meet one person, who would it be, and why?

RP: Oprah Winfrey. She inspires me through her work as a philanthropist and her work as a talk show host.

G: If you were the Prime Minister, what changes would you make, and how?

RP: There are many changes I would like to make, from the education system to the crime rate, to investors. Jamaica needs a lot of outside investments. We also need Jamaicans who can open businesses here (instead of overseas). I think it's very, very important that children are educated and properly educated. The crime rate, a lot can be done to change this because crime is concentrated on a few areas, especially gun crimes. A lot of the persons committing crime are also young people. I think resocialisation is very, very important, especially these young men who sit on the roadside. They don't want to work; they don't want to do anything, even if they do have an education. If I were the Prime Minister, I would force them.

G: What do you hope to achieve in five years?

RP: In three years, I want to start my own business. In five years, I want to be the regional manager of the company I work with, JN Small Business Loans. I hope to have finished or be working onmy master's in business administration as well.