Miss Jamaica Zahra Redwood, the first Rastafarian Miss Universe contestant, poses in Mexico City on May 2, 2007. - File

Entries close on March 8

In six weeks, Jamaica will raise champagne, flutes and toast its newest beauty queen at the highly anticipated 2008 Miss Jamaica Universe coronation show set to be staged at the National Indoor Sport Centre.

The search, however, for the island's next beauty queen has been nothing short of relentless.

From Montego Bay to Mandeville, the Miss Jamaica Universe (MJU) scouts have recruited a record-breaking score of beauties interested in vying for the crown. But Saturday, March 8 is the final call for the most beautiful and otherwise qualified young Jamaican women to take up the challenge and enter the competition by submitting applications to the fashion and beauty headquarters - Pulse at 38a Trafalgar Road.

Prizes

With a brand new, fully loaded two-litre BMW 120i hatchback courtesy of Stewart Motors and a million dollars in cash courtesy of title sponsor World Wise Partners for the taking. This week is the absolute last chance for young Jamaican women with the potential to compete for the Miss Jamaica Universe and ultimately the Miss Universe title.

The search for a new beauty queen means the end of another's reign. After one year at the helm, Zahra Redwood, the first Rastafarian beauty queen to appear in a major international pageant will hand over the crown to the new queen.

The 5'8" biochemist did the isle proud and, given her historic significance, received media coverage from all across the globe. Zahra, who made appearances on all the MJU roadshows, encouraged the potential contestants to enter the pageant.

"This pageant has changed my life completely and I truly believe that I am a better woman because I went out for this opportunity," said Redwood.

The Jamaica preliminary to Miss Universe will be held on April 12.