Miss Universe Jamaica organisers lament lack of corporate sponsorship

Miss Universe Jamaica organisers Karl Williams and Mark McDermoth have been involved in the running of the annual event for over 11 years, and have helped several women carry out projects and visions that have benefitted the island in more ways than one.

However, despite this, the duo say they are often still left out in the cold when it comes to corporate sponsorship.

“I don’t think the general public understands what happen when these ladies come into the pageant system and what it does for them specifically, and what they in turn do with the training for Jamaica,” McDermoth told The Gleaner.

He continued, “Which is why we get so upset when we go and talk to people about sponsorship, and they say they don’t sponsor beauty pageants. How can you so flippantly say that, but then turn around and sponsor carnival?”

The director’s comments come on the heels of this year’s sashing ceremony, where 34 contestants – the most in the competition’s history – were named as the chosen few set to move on to the next stage.

A long-standing component of the competition includes the presenting of personal projects aimed at benefitting some aspect of Jamaican society by the contestants.

According to Williams, these passion projects have done wonders in the past.

“One of issues facing young people in Jamaica today is mental health challenges … it is a big thing. Sometimes we think about mental health issues, and we think is only people walking around on the street. But a lot of us have underlying issues,” he said.

“But when these young ladies who are trained in the system go back to their communities and impart that training, then they overall build a better Jamaica,” Williams added.

While the directors say things have got slightly better in recent years, they are once again calling on corporate companies to look at beauty pageants more wholistically.

“I am not sure how they were looking at competitions like Miss Universe Jamaica before, but I urge them to consider people who have passed through the pageant system like Lisa Hanna and Terri-Karelle who are these amazing ladies,” McDermoth said.

The Miss Universe Jamaica competition is about to move on to the next, where all 34 contestants will be tested in a format like that of a reality TV show.

Their hope is to reduce the number of contestants once again – this time, down to 25.