Miss Jamaica World 2007 Yendi Phillipps. - Winston Sill/Freelance Photographer

Contestants in the 2008 Miss Jamaica World (MJW) pageant will be able to compete for the MJW Beauty with a Purpose award, in what is a new fast-track competition being introduced this year.

The pageant's other competitions are: Supreme Ventures MJW Sports, SoftSheen/Carson MJW Model, Jergens MJW Talent and Aqua-Essential MJW Beach Beauty. All fast-track competition winners will automatically be top-10 finalists.

President of the Miss World Organisation, Julia Morley, coined the phrase, 'beauty with a purpose', more than 25 years ago. Since then, more than $US400 million has been raised in support of children's charities across the globe, bringing help and hope to hundreds of thousands in need.

Sectional prizes

Jamaica has always featured well in all sectional prizes at the Miss World event. Reigning Miss Jamaica World Yendi Phillipps, was one of three contestants selected at last year's Miss World pageant in Sanya, China, to vie for the Beauty with a Purpose award. Phillipps' project was focused on raising funds for victims of Hurricane Dean.

This year, however, contestants who are involved in charitable activities prior to entering the competition will be able to submit those projects to vie for the award.

Spartan Health Club is currently organising the 2008 Miss Jamaica World Pageant, which is set to have its first public activity on Saturday, July 26, with the presentation and sashing of finalists. The pageant final is slated for Saturday, August 16.