18-year-old crowned Miss Jamaica World

Hargitay took top honours from a field of 25 contestants at the event’s 37th staging.

Jenaae Jackson (23) was first runner-up, while Amanda McCreath (23) finished second runner-up.
The newly crowned Miss Jamaica World said the competition was fierce.

“I came into it trying very hard to win it. Tonight (Sunday night), there were points where other girls were amazing, other girls have been wonderful, but I am really, really happy that I came out on top,” she told the Jamaica Observer.

The 18-year-old not only secured the top prize and a 2013 Suzuki Kizashi vehicle, she also walked away with three sectional prizes — Most Aware, Most Sociable, and Best Smile. The three, were among the final 15, who also included Ashley Miller, Stephanie Bignall, Shana Simpson, Jessica Campbell, Sheree Tomlinson, Arriel Brown, Sara-Kay Webley, Shanice Rerrie, Vanassa Metzger, Latoya Johnson, Joanna Sadler and Arriana Bartley.

Hargitay had a large crowd support, some bearing placards while others chanted her name. She was greeted with thunderous applause when she responded to the question that the person she admired most was 95-year-old Nelson Mandela, who was jailed for 27 years.

“After being incarcerated for almost three decades in South Africa, he did not retaliate with violence though he must have been angry and frustrated. He took the route of non-violence,” she answered to wild cheers.

“I think that is an act of intelligence and it showed the world that you can succeed without being violent, and can make your point without violence,” she continued, after the cheers subsided.

She expressed confidence in repeating her triumph in the Miss World pageant slated for Indonesia in September.
“I am very confident. I think it is about time that Jamaica had Miss World and I hope that I can be the Miss World for everybody,” she expressed .

Jamaica won the Miss World title on three occasions with Carole Joan Crawford (1963), Cindy Breakspeare (1976) and Lisa Hanna (1993). Deanna Robbins, Miss Jamaica World 2012, expressed her appreciation for the opportunities and support she got during her reign. The evening also saw a delightful set from Jimmy Cozier. — Jamaica Observer.