Kimberly Sherlock is Miss Global Jamaica

On what turned out to be a stormy night, Kimberly Sherlock, former Miss Universe contestant, surprisingly walked away with the coveted crown of Miss Global Jamaica 2011.

Held at the Grand Palladium Resort and Spa on Saturday, the competition, scheduled to begin at 9 p.m. was delayed until minutes to 10 because of torrential rains which lashed the Lucea coast.

Finally 18 hopefuls performed an opening number before stepping onstage in swimwear provided by the Mushroom.

At this stage, they were individually introduced to the while patrons wearing their respective sashes.

The Lady Hamilton Theatre at the Grand Palladium Hotel and Resort, the chosen venue for the pageant, was packed as guests of the hotel, well-wishers and specially invited members of the audience greeted the 18 finalists.

The audience was kept entertained throughout the night by the Grand Palladium Dancers. There was also a performance of the top-three talent pieces, selected from the previous night. Salema Hyatt won over the crowd with her dance piece, which paid homage to cultural integration. Antoinette James and Shanee King performed a dance piece and a rendition of Maya Angelou's Phenomenal Woman respectively.

proposal

It was then time for the contestants to showcase their evening gowns. The girls sashayed across the stage in dresses courtesy of CC's Dressing Room. Before the top 10 girls were announced, the crowd was treated to a performance by Soul4Soul. A seemingly random couple was selected to be serenaded by the group. Much to the delight of the audience, the man onstage got down on one knee and proposed to his now fiancée.

Sectional prizes came, as the competition got more intense.

Best Figure went to Narakay Powell and Salema Wyatt won Best Talent. Kimberly Sherlock and Katherine Rose received the awards for Most Aware and Most Philanthropic respectively.

The top-five girls were selected and interviewed to reveal to the judges and the audience who among them could articulate like a true queen.

After much deliberation, the judges' selection was finally revealed.

The second runner-up went to Miss Grand Palladium, Sasha Haase. First runner-up was awarded to Christol Wilson, Miss Knutsford Express.

Sherlock, Miss organocoffee.com, won for herself the title of Miss Global Jamaica and the opportunity to represent the country in the September final, a cash prize of $50,000, a personalised website valued at more than US $1,000, three nights all-inclusive hotel accommodation in North Carolina, a wardrobe valued at over US$5,000, a weekend for two at the Grand Palladium Hotels and Resorts, dinner for two at Carlos Café and a trip to Outameni Experience.