Name: Marika Hornsby
Age: 22
Height: 5' 7"
Vital statistics: 34-25-35
Occupation: Model
Sponsor: Heart Institute of the Caribbean
Why did you decide to enter the competition?
"I decided to enter Miss Jamaica World because I feel as a beautiful Jamaican, that's not only beautiful but intelligent, that it would be very beneficiary to myself to win the competition, or represent Jamaica to other countries as a diverse country."
What is your definition of a beauty queen?
"My definition of a beauty queen is somebody who is elegant, who is warm and welcoming but also intelligent with the beauty so that younger generations can look up to her."
What do you expect to achieve by entering the competition?
"I expect to achieve by entering the competition, basically to help more charitable organisations come to Jamaica to help out the lesser people, the people who cannot really afford certain things, such as medical care and basic information that's lacking."
What is your best asset?
"My best asset would be my personality. I'm very open, very welcoming, very warm, I can talk to anybody, any age, any size, any colour, any race. I don't view a person as a colour, a race, I just see them as a person."
How would you sell Jamaica to a foreigner in light of the high crime rate?
"Well, not all of Jamaica is like that, first and foremost, and the second thing that I believe very strongly in that question is that everywhere you go there is crime ... we are also beautiful and we are very warm and welcoming were our tourists are concerned."
What do you love the most about Jamaica?
"We likkle but we tallawah. Jamaicans in general is what I love most about Jamaica simply because we are such a strong people and when we leave Jamaica, wherever we go, we make a major impact and we always form groups with each other and grow within the community we are in, whether it be at home or abroad."
If you could meet one person, who would it be, and why?
"I would probably have to say Oprah Winfrey because she is the richest black woman and not only is she rich, but she also gives back, she helps. She has recently built a school in Africa for children who cannot afford education. Not only does she make money but she also gives back to everybody so I would definitely have to say I would like to meet her."
If you win, what sector of the society would you work with?
"If I win, the sector of society that I would work with would be the poor people because I'm involved in a group called the Caribbean Medical Educational Organisation, which they are in Clarendon right now. They come down from Florida and they go to different parishes that cannot afford medical care, such as Clarendon, certain areas in Clarendon, and they provide medical doctors and medical attention to people and medicine itself from hospitals abroad that have donated to the people who can't really afford to take care of themselves medically."
If you were the Prime Minister, what changes would you make and how?
"If I was the Prime Minister I would change, first and foremost, basic information about health. Like how to wipe yourself, how to lift something, wear glasses when you are in the sun ..."
What do you hope to achieve in five years?
"Definitely my education first and foremost. I'd like to finish my degree in criminal justice, to help better Jamaica in any possible way I can and number one, to win Miss World."
Name: Tina Ingram
Age: 24
Height: 5' 9.5"
Vital statistics: 36-25-42
Occupation: Realtor
Sponsor:
Captain's Bakery
Why did you decide to enter the competition?
"I decided to enter the competition because it has been a dream of mine since I was a very young girl. I've watched the pageant practically all my life and I moved abroad but it still remained a dream of mine, deep within me. I would like to represent my country in the best way possible and I basically entered not only for self-development, but also to teach me more about my country, the culture, just learn about myself."
What is your definition of a beauty queen?
"I think a beauty queen is a person that is not only beautiful on the physical aspect but more so inner beauty, within their tone, their demeanour, the way they interact with others, motivating, doing positive things with their life, giving back.
What do you expect to achieve by entering the competition?
"I just hope to be a well- rounded young lady after the competition, no matter what the outcome."
What is your best asset?
"I think my best asset is my personality, the person deep within me. I truly describe myself as such a genuinely pure person. I always scout out for the more positive."
How would you sell Jamaica to a foreigner in light of the high crime rate?
"I would just let them know that there is violence everywhere. I have travelled all over, and in every community, every city, you have violence. The violence is not a reflection of the country. It may come off in the media that Jamaica is a violent place but it is just in particular areas, and feel safe that it is an issue that we are aware of and it is something that we are working on in Jamaica so it's not just a stagnant thing, we are working to improve it and make it less of an issue."
What do you love the most about Jamaica?
"I'd definitely have to say the diversity within the people."
If you could meet one person, who would it be, and why?
"If I could meet one person I'd definitely have to say it would be Oprah Winfrey and my reason being is I really look up to her not only as an accomplished entertainer but also as an individual. She is a very giving person."
If you win, what sector of the society would you work with?
"I can't really target out one particular sector because as I look and I observe, there are so many issues that need to be addressed but for starters, one of my key issues that I would like to address is a movement to beautify Jamaica, in terms of demographic, in terms of working with the various community leaders to beautify and take steps towards beautifying the area, whether it be cleaning up garage out of the gullies, or painting up different communities or use organisations, sponsors, such."
If you were the Prime Minister, what changes would you make and how?
"I would definitely focus on trying to empower our society. I would look to try to start to build the home in Jamaica as a structure because by providing jobs for families, by providing schooling for the children of Jamaica ... "
What do you hope to achieve in five years?
"In five years, I really hope to achieve all of the goals that I set out for myself. I am a really goal-oriented, ambitious person. I would really like to continue on my education in media communications, whether it be journalism, or such, just being more educated with that. I would also like to just to continue to give of myself, work with various charity organisations."
photos by Winston Sill/Freelance Photographer
