The world has no idea how well Judith Wolloughby, Miss Jamaica 1960, would have performed at the Miss Word competition that year. She pulled out before the competition, but before and after, she certainly made her mark. Before, when she captured the Miss Jamaica crown, the country was caught by her beauty, and afterward, as a teacher at St Andrew High School for many years, her students were captured by her patience and her wish to see the betterment of all her charges.

Published Monday, June 27, 1960

JUDITH WILLOUGHBY – new Miss Jamaica

Judith Willoughby, 19-year-old daughter of Mr & Mrs T.N. Willoughby of 7 Carlton Crescent is the new “Miss Jamaica” for 1960.

Eight hundred spectators, seated around tables on the extensive lawns of the Myrtle Bank Hotel watched in silent admiration as Sheila Chong, the outgoing queen, tied the ribbons of the royal blue cape around Miss Willoughby’s slender shoulders and rested the sparkling jewel-studded crown upon her head, then they burst into thunderous applause.

Stepping up to the mike, Judith in a tremulous voice said: “There are times when no words can adequately express the joy that we feel. This is one of these times. I would like to thanks my sponsor, the judges, you the people and the ten beautiful girls who have helped me make these past two weeks, the most memorable I have ever spent.”

It was shortly after 0ne o’clock when Mr Ian Levy, chairman of the panel of judges announced that Miss Willoughby, wearing the sash of “Miss Issa Retail”, was winner with Avril Bayliss “Miss Homarama” and Ester Anderson “Miss Four Aces” as runners up.

Of eleven

Before this, the eleven aspirants for the throne, all beautifully attired in dazzling white evening gowns, had paraded twice on the T-shaped stage for the benefit of the judges and guests.

Miss Willoughby 5’ 8” in height, and tips the scales at 132 pounds, with 36” 24” 36” measurements. Her hair is black and her eyes a very dark brown. A Higher Schools graduate of St. Andrew High School, she was also awarded a special prize for the most “beautiful legs.”

Other special prizes went to Ester Anderson (Miss Four Aces” for possessing the loveliest hair and the sweetest smile, to Andrea Mohrman (Miss Philco” for the best figure and prettiest eyes, to Marva Morrison “Miss Nathan’s” for her well kept hands, to Avril Bayliss “Miss Homarama” for the best skin, and to Diane Levy “Miss Spread Satin” for being the most popular girl.

Miss Willoughy’s main prize is an all-expense-paid trip to South America (with a chaperone) visiting such countries as Panama, Venezuela, Argentina, Brazil, Ecuador, Peru, Uruguay and Paraguay.

Desnoes and Geddes have donated to Miss Bayliss, second prize winner, a one-week, all-expenses-paid trip to Miami.

In gorgeous gowns

The new queen also received the Charm Trophy a 24” stylised figure, symbolic of beauty mounted on a crown surmounting an orb and pedestal – donated by Seprod Limited and presented to her by Mr Felix Fox, manager of Seprod and the Max Factor Trophy donated by Distributors Ltd.  She will keep the Charm Trophy for one year but will be given a 12” replica to keep permanently.

The Judges were Mrs Felix Fox, Mr Ivan Levy, Mr Jim Lim, Mrs M. Stanley, Mr Emile George and Mrs D. Moo Hong.

On stage was one of the most gorgeous collections of evening gowns seen in Kingston for a long while. They were exquisitely designed to make each contestant look her loveliest. 

Judith’s dress, an Ivy Fyffe creation, was a strapless figure moulding sheath of peau de soie, with a straight split up the front of about eight inches in length, displaying her well-turned ankles.  It was elaborately encrusted with pearls, sequins and diamantes.  A bouffant train of taffeta fell in graceful folds from the waist to the floor and long, loud applause greeted her as she appeared both times on stage, gliding along in light blue shoes, slowly and regally.

 Sparkling tiaras

Except for Miss Willoughby, all the contestants’ coiffures were complemented by sparkling tiaras and coronets of diamante.  White was the choice of all the girls, except that Mary Beswick’s (Miss Whirlpool) train, was made of light pink tulle. 

Miss Bayliss chose a very full gown of Chantilly lace, covered all over with tiny petals of nylon and Miss Anderson’s was of heavily draped peau d sole with tiny leaves appliquéd on the skirt.

Finally, one by one, gifts of every size, shape and description were laid at the feet of all the beauties – including radios, lamps, a refrigerator, cosmetics, travelling kits and baskets of flowers. Brook’s of King Street offered every contestant her choice of clothing in the amount of £10.

And then it was all over. The barrage of camera bulbs stopped flashing; the applause died as the guests departed; the wind blew coloured streamers to every corner of the lawn, a new day had begun – and with it the reign of a new and gracious queen over Jamaica – Miss Judith Willoughby.

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