Krista Henry, Staff Reporter

The sixteen finalists in the 2006 Miss Jamaica World beauty contest. -- Winston Sill/Freelance Photographer

'Sugar and spice and everything nice' is the common myth of what a woman should be. However, annually the Miss World and Miss Jamaica World pageants revamp the formula through their motto 'beauty with a purpose', eliminating hundreds of entrants to find 'Miss' World, a standard of femininity gifted with beauty, intelligence, a caring nature and purpose in life.

The Miss Jamaica World pageant has met with much criticism from the general public. However, that has not stopped the organisers from trying to hit it big. Internationally, Jamaica has had moderate success, producing three Miss Worlds, two third-place winners, two fourth- place winners, one fifth and two sixth-place winners.

Jamaican culture

Franchise holder for the 'Miss Jamaica World' contest, Mickey Haughton-James, says the pageant has found its place in Jamaican culture. "Miss Jamaica World is relevant because it's a part of our culture and it should be maintained. It's like the NDTC and plays. It's not as popular as dancehall and music, but they are still important. We need people to put more weight behind cultural activities such as these. Not to knock the importance of music festivals, but we need to be a rounded society. Over a hundred countries participate from all over the world and we still manage to do Jamaica proud. Miss Jamaica is a role model; you just have to look at the work of Terri-Karelle Griffith to see that," Haughton-James said.

"Terri was a positive representative. She was on the Internet constantly. She captured the attention of thousands and there are so many things said about her looks and personality. Her predecessors were great too. People say we haven't had a success since Lisa Hannah in 1993, but that's not true. We have had many Caribbean queens. We have people in the top ten and the top five," he said.

"Miss Jamaica World is one of the few things that give the country publicity, especially when you win Miss World or come in the top five. That is worth tens of millions. If we can have a winner every 15 years or place, then it's worth it," he said.

However, no matter the amount of training the girls get, sometimes luck is a huge factor. Haughton-James says the "judging panel is the luck of the draw. If it's a minority group then we stand a better chance. Look at last year. Terri won the public vote for the Caribbean and Miss Puerto Rico came second, yet she came up. If you look at the panel it was mainly Spanish-American."