As 16 women vie for the coveted crown of Miss Jamaica World 2024, some familiar faces have resurfaced for another shot at a title. On Saturday after working up a sweat in their fitness challenge, one of the many rounds of competition in the pageant, some of the ladies caught up with The Gleaner to let us into their mindset after having gained prior experience in pageantry. Commencing her second act, last competition’s second runner-up Tahje Bennett said though she didn’t walk away with the crown on her last attempt, her experience was invaluable.
“I just learned from my experience the power of representation and also just putting myself out there 100 per cent and really showing my full potential,” she began. “So this year I came with a renewed mindset, renewed passion and with more determination and we’re here for the crown.” Similarly, both Lianne Fullwood and Aliah Clark’s prior experience in the Miss Universe Jamaica pageant held tons of self-development for them that they believe they can apply to the competition.
Clark explained, “I’ve gained a lot of self-development and growth from it so entering this pageant I feel a lot more prepared in the pageant world so I really appreciate my experience from (Miss) Universe and just applying that here now.” The mental health advocate continued, “I believe that I am bringing diversity and versatility. I believe that I am someone who is compassionate and loving and I am for the people.
I’m very selfless and I’m filled with love and compassion. I think people in our world need more love.” Fullwood, a 25-year-old St Catherine native, added, “The first thing coming into this pageant was acknowledging all of my potential I saw in the last one and just capitalising on that.
I really saw sides of me, confidence and growth, that I never saw before, and I just really wanted to put my best foot forward. Go in with a clean heart [and] clean mind and hopefully the best will come.” While 18-year-old Shanae Brown was unsuccessful in her pageant bid earlier this year, she says she is coming into this competition with renewed confidence.
“I entered Miss St Catherine Festival Queen this year. I didn’t win, I wasn’t in the top five either, but I felt it was a good experience. I’m just here to put my best forward.
I’m in the competition to learn a lot from my peers and to just develop as a person.” If crowned, at the centre of her reign will be destigmatising the social identity of communities. “If I were to be crowned Miss Jamaica World, the first thing I would put out there is to let everybody know, ghetto is just a mindset.
Because I am from the ghetto and I want other girls that just think that they’re not enough to know that if I can do it, so can you. I want them to see that I have a voice and my voice must be heard, so that means ghetto is just a mindset and you can do anything you put your mind to. I am also for the kids.
I believe that children are the future and children live what they learn so if we are supposed to go in our communities and show the children the right way of living, I believe that from there we can have a better Jamaica, and that’s what I would take to the table.” Centring her own efforts, Bennett said this time around she would leave, having tried her best. “I think one of the things I want to leave with this competition is leaving knowing I put out my 100 per cent.
So not holding back, not reserving anything, just putting it out there 100 per cent,” she said. For Fullwood, however, she says after having gone through pageantry before, she is centring love. “I want to lead with love, I want to lead with positivity.
For everyone that’s competing and myself, my biggest message is especially going through this type of journey where you’re going through so much growth and revelation, be kind to yourself and be kind to the people around you. We’re competing but we’re human and the sisterhood is still important, checking on your girls is still important, that’s definitely what I want to lead with.” shanel.
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