Jamaican beauty pageants have a long and colourful history. From the 1950s until the present, the country has been producing beauty pageant winners that are as diverse as the culture itself. Today, the island boasts a range of models, musicians, and actors who all share a unique blend of Jamaican and European looks.
Jennifer Hosten
Jennifer Hosten, Jamaican beauty, has had a long and varied career. She was the first person of African descent to win the Miss World pageant and the first woman from Grenada to do so. Her emergence as Miss World was not without controversy, however. Her life story reveals that despite her humble beginnings, she’s managed to find success in the face of adversity.
In the year 1970, the Miss World competition took place in South Africa, at a time when women’s liberation and civil rights movements were taking place across the globe. Feminist protesters flooded the stage at Miss World, which led to a historic moment: a black woman won the crown. Hosten’s memoir, “Misbehaviour,” was adapted into a film. She also appeared in Dr. Who and on the BBC. She also stars in a show on Apple TV, The Morning Show.
Before her role in the Miss World Pageant, Hosten studied political science at Carleton University in Ottawa, Canada. She earned her Master’s degree in political science and served as Grenada’s high commissioner in Canada. She later returned to Grenada and married David Craig. The couple has two children.
Hosten’s success at the Miss World pageant was notable not only for the country of Grenada, but also for the country of South Africa. During that time, the Miss World pageant was broadcast to over 100 million viewers. It was also a time of racial unrest. However, her appearance on the pageant brought the attention of many people. She was later portrayed by Gugu Mbatha-Raw in the movie, Misbehaviour.
While it is great to have a woman of colour in the Miss World pageant, it is also important to consider that this pageant is still a platform for empowerment. Many women of colour have competed for the title of Miss World and other major pageant crowns in the past, and Hosten is no exception.
Cathy Levy
Cathy Levy is an actress and theatre practitioner from Jamaica. She was Miss Jamaica World in 1983 and finished fourth at the Miss World contest. Aside from her acting career, she also started her own performing arts group over 25 years ago. It is named after her, and it has received awards from many places.
She plans to study medicine and become a doctor. She hopes to join the long list of Jamaican women who have excelled in various fields. In the meantime, she is a student from Bath, St Thomas. She has won several beauty contests and has been named Miss Jamaica International five times.
The pageant started in 1951, and Jamaica has sent representatives ever since. The first was Sheila Mechtilde Chong in 1959. The pageant was officially endorsed in 1978 by Mickey Haughton-James, owner of the Spartan Health Club in Kingston. The year was also historic for Jamaican beauty. The country has produced four Miss World winners. In 1963, Carole Joan Crawford won the pageant. She was the first black woman to win the title.
Jamaica consistently places well in Miss World contests. With four titles under its belt, Jamaica is the fourth most successful country in the competition. Despite the small size of the island, Jamaica has always managed to place high in the pageant. This is because the country is a small island of about 2.9 million people.
Allison Jean Barnett
Allison Jean Barnett has made a name for herself as a beauty queen. She represented Jamaica at the Miss World pageant in 2005 and placed in the semifinals, but did not make the Top 10. She went on to become a successful model with Pulse model agency. She has also had small roles in movies, including On Stranger Tides and Pirates of the Caribbean.
Another successful Jamaican beauty queen is Cathy Levy. The former Miss Universe and Miss Jamaica World winner made her way to acting. She has appeared in films and is very popular on the island. She also supports children’s theatre. Allison Jean Barnett placed fifth at Miss World in 1985 and was one of the favorites. In the interview segment, however, she stumbled and was not named Miss World.
Allison Jean Barnett died on October 27, 2008 at age 52. She was a widow and mother of three. She was born in Kingston and attended St. Hugh’s High School and the School of Radiography at the University Hospital of the West Indies. She also danced with the Eddie Thomas Dance Troupe. Her husband, Colin, survived her, as did her children Melanie and James. Her sisters, Cislyn Burke and Crecent Wedderburn, live in Florida and Kingston, respectively. She will be buried at Our Lady of Victory Catholic Church in Winnipeg.
Andrea Lyons
Andrea Lyons has long been known as a natural beauty who is proud of her Jamaican heritage. She is a mother of three daughters and is an active member of her community. She has served as an association vice president and as an active member of the media and news industry. She is also an activist with Citizens on Patrol in Lauderhill, Florida. Her dream is to become an Orthopedic Physician in Sports Medicine.
Andrea Lyons is also known as the first Miss Jamaica to wear an afro while competing at the Miss World pageant. She won the semi-finals in 1974 and became the first Jamaican woman to compete in this event wearing a natural hairstyle. She also went on to win the Caribbean Queen of Beauty title, but a scandal forced her to give up her title at the Miss World pageant.
Andrea Lyons’ family members and friends have shared their sadness at her death. She was born in Jamaica, attended St. Hugh’s High School, and later studied at the University Hospital of the West Indies’ School of Radiography. She also danced with the Eddie Thomas Dance Troupe in the sixties. She is survived by her husband, Colin, and their two children, James and Melanie. Her sisters, Crecent Wedderburn and Cislyn Burke, live in Florida and Kingston.
Andrea Lyons has been featured in several international magazines. She has appeared in numerous international competitions and was also selected as a Miss Jamaica finalist in 2005. In 2006, she represented Jamaica at the Miss World pageant, where she did not place. She has also won Miss Caribbean Queen of Beauty and placed 4th overall.
Lisa Hanna
The Jamaican beauty Lisa Hanna is a role model for women in the Caribbean region. She has won several beauty pageants, including Miss World, and she has been a Government Minister. Since she won Miss World, she has become an activist for marginalized communities. Her goals include empowering women and minimizing income inequality in Jamaica.
Hanna was born in Kingston, Jamaica, in 1975. She is the daughter of Rene and Dorothy Hanna, who are farmers. She later moved to the United States, where she studied the English language, history, and martial arts. In fact, she is a black belt in these disciplines. In her spare time, she has volunteered at the World Hunger Project, a charity that helps fight hunger.
Having been a member of the Jamaican Parliament for four terms, Hanna has also become an influential figure in the country. She was the youngest woman elected to parliament and is a member of the People’s National Party (PNP). Moreover, she is a member of the Parliament representing Saint Ann South East.
Hanna married David Panton in 1999. They had a son in 2001 and later divorced in Atlanta, Georgia. She then married Jamaican businessman Richard Lake in December 2017. The couple owns Lydford Logistics in Moneague. They also have a daughter together. Besides being a beautiful model, she is also a mother to two children.
In 1993, she became the third Jamaican to win the Miss World title. Later on, she was appointed a UN Goodwill Ambassador. She also appeared on TV shows as a guest host. She also became a prominent political figure in Jamaica, where she served as a member of the People’s National Party. Her political agenda includes lobbying for reparations and removing the Queen as head of state.
