By Eugene Pitter, Staff Reporter 
BLACK HISTORY MONTH FINALISTS: The 13 women selected for the Miss Black History Month finals before they were sashed at Sutton Place Hotel, last Saturday night. The finals will be held in February 2002. - Michael Sloley
THE BEAUTY of any competition is that the audience can never tell what will happen. Such was the case of the Miss Black History Month Contest eliminations when the judges concluded that all 13 girls should be sent to the finals.
They are Alesha Levene, "Miss Kingston Creation Fashions; Oletha Palmer, "Miss Crystal Bakery"; Keneisha Lowe, "Miss Athol Ltd"; Gillian Brown, "Miss Prima Engineering Company Ltd"; Sasholey Stoltz, "Miss A.B.'s Promotions"; Lovann Chambers, "Miss Yours Jewellers"; Kaydian Davis, "Miss Mountain Roots Ltd"; Simone Melbourne, "Miss Richards Imports and Export Agent"; Yanique Chance, "Miss Ken's Wild Flower Lounge and Restaurant"; Andrica Brown, "Miss Universal Negro Improvement Association"; Talisha Shand, "Miss Prestige Graphics Box Ltd"; Telesha Shrouder, "Miss Pablos" and Tajmarie Brown, "Miss Smex Construction Ltd".
The finalists were greeted with wide applause and they were so happy that they could hardly contain their joy.
"I am so happy. I am so glad" was how Talisha Shand, Miss Prestige Graphics Box Ltd, expressed her joy.
Others ran and hugged parents and relatives, who were waiting for that special photograph to take which they will no doubt keep as souvenirs.
The event, which started a little after 8 o'clock, did not fall short of entertainment, the best which came when the contestants demonstrated their talent. This was in dance, poetry and skit.
Patrons had much to laugh about as some contestants went all out, dancing mainly to African rhythms. This involve moving the waistline and the hips. One contestant found her blouse slipping off as she danced. This brought much laughter as each time she tried to keep up the strap on her shoulder it fell down again.
Many women agreed with Andrica Brown, who claimed through her skit presentation that men were in the habit of taking women for fools. But, one man decided to hit back with such comment as, "Some (women) a real idiot"
Guest artiste Rass Rod, from Dub Traffickers, the second of two performers was something to talk about. This was a poem called 'Arthropod Anthropomorphism'. This, he says, is describing the social conditioning by the website, which has led many addicts who were becoming like machines.
Rass Rod's movements were quick in some instances whenever he left the ajimbe drum and spoke to the audience. Not only does Rass Rod communicate through his lips, his entire body seems to enhance his words.
The Kingston drummers showed their energy in a positive way, which had several patrons moving.
