Carolyn Yapp, Miss Jamaica Universe 2009, with Pulse's CEO Kingsley Cooper. - Contributed

And so, my dears, after 20 years of being the owner of the Jamaican franchise of the Miss Universe contest, Pulse announced it would relinquish its rights to the contest. The Caribbean's foremost beauty, model and talent agency, Pulse is undertaking a strategic redeployment of resources to facilitate its own in-house production and programmes.

Dears, it was an announcement that brought a collective groan from the lips of beauty pageant aficionados. These included fans of the Miss Jamaica Universe pageant, and more so fans and supporters of the Pulse brand, as they did not want to see Pulse relinquishing the rights to the world's most prestigious beauty contest. Despite fielding a number of outstanding beauties over the years, the coveted Miss Universe crown has never been captured by a Jamaican. To bow out without taking the crown home would be tantamount to bowing out of the contest on a low note!

As far as Pulse was concerned, however, it would be in their and Jamaica's best interest to concentrate on developing its core business - that of modelling, as well as expanding its television entertainment production capacity. And so the die was cast.

fate stepped in

There are those who believe 'never say never!' And so it was that with Pulse's intention of walking away from the Miss Universe pageant, fate stepped in and seemingly delayed the much vaunted exit for at least another year. The organisers of the pageant prevailed upon Kingsley Cooper to field a contestant, as the absence of a Jamaican contestant at this time when it would be hosted in neighbouring Bahamas would be less than fab!

And so it was that with the intervention of providence, Pulse is sending a Jamaican representative to this year's staging contest, at the fab Atlantis Resort, no less!

Well, my dears, with time running out to stage the national leg of the international pageant, to select the Jamaican representative, and bearing in mind that there are international requirements that the contest be open to all eligible participants, a number of hopefuls responded. The contest was held on Thursday, July 16, at the beautiful Villa Ronai estate, in Old Stony Hill, St Andrew.

Dears, the event was as fab as it was different, as to begin with, to say it was a boutique-style beauty pageant would not do the event any disservice, as that's what it was and then some!

With the contestants vying for the prestigious crown whittled down to a handful, four fabulously lovely girls to be exact; and the audience drawn mostly or restricted to family members and/or supporters of the contestants, y'all know we are talking a really intimate affair here, and nothing but! This, however, did not rob the event of any of the colour and/or excitement associated with the crowning of a beauty queen, not to mention the pomp and circumstance, and/or panache and pizzazz!

And so it was that the esteemed curator and art dealer, the charming Gilou Bauer, designer/choreographer/tutor and one-time lead dancer of the acclaimed National Dance Theatre Company, Barry Moncrieffe; and leading socialite, businesswoman and honorary consul of Lithuania, Lois Sherwood, as judges; with Kingsley Cooper as compere, the shortlist of contestants, namely, Fallon Harris, Krystina Black, Carolyn Yapp, Terry Williams, headed into the judging.

not enough to secure crown

Well, my dears, Fallon Harris was this here scribe's odds-on favourite contestant to cop the crown going into the finals of the contest, but after the contestants paraded in their swimwear, their Uzuri-designed evening gowns, and sat through a five-minute or so interview with the judges, it was clear that the edge Miss Harris had, due to her beauty, poise and grace, would not be enough to secure the coveted crown!

And so it was, my dears, that after the finalists had strutted their stuff and the judges took their leave for their deliberations, guests gathered at the bar to mull over the contestants. The consensus that emerged was that the lovely Carolyn Yapp was the crowd favourite and possibly Jamaica's best ambassador to move on to The Bahamas for the finals.

And so it was, my dears, that upon the judges' return, Krystina Black was voted second runner-up to the queen; Fallon Harris was voted first runner-up; and Carolyn Yapp was crowned Miss Jamaica Universe - to the cheers and applause of the majority of those in attendance.

But what a charmingly relaxed event it proved! Amid the champagne and toasts, among those spotted sharing in the spotlight were: the absolutely gorgeous Romae Gordon; designers Marc McDermott and Carl Williams of Uzuri fame; Barbara Black; Jheanelle Maturah; Paul March; Roxanne Peynado; Saint International models Kibwe McGann and John Campbell; Tonya Russell; Walrick Peddie; the lovely Reeshma Ragbeer; Donovan Marshall; Jamila Hyre; Pulse new leading male model Andre Swaby; Kemolyn Lynn; Miguel and Patricia Mullaly; Julene Dixon; celebrated photographer William Richards; Renee Pink and Leon Earthlighte, plus a number of others.