Miss Jamaica makes Miss World finals

Deanna Robins placed in the top seven and was named one of five continental queens of beauty.

MONGOLIA, China, Wednesday August 22, 2012 – Deanna Robins, reigning Miss Jamaica World, did her country and the Caribbean proud as she earned her place as one of the top seven finalists in the Miss World 2012 pageant in China.

Miss Jamaica was also named one of five continental queens of beauty, representing the Caribbean in a line-up that also included Africa, the Americas, Asia and Europe.

She was the only Caribbean contestant to win a place in the top seven, which was narrowed down to talented beauties from Brazil, South Sudan, India, China, Australia and Wales, in addition to Jamaica, all of whom addressed the judges and audience in a 30-second speech.

The annual pageant took place in Ordos, Inner Mongolia, China on Saturday and featured contestants representing 116 countries.

Robins outclassed much of the competition from the start, placing second in the talent segment while earning significant points in several other categories including the Top Model and Beach Beauty competitions to score a place in the top 15.

Miss Jamaica went on to showcase her elegance and poise, donning everything from a swimsuit to traditional costume as she bagged one of the seven coveted spots in the finals.

Any hope that Robins would deliver a birthday present for Jamaica’s 50th year of Independence was nevertheless dashed as Robins, who aimed to become the pageant’s first Jamaican winner since Lisa Hanna in 1993, fell just shy of the top three.

Jessica Kahawaty (Miss Australia), Sophie Moulds (Miss Wales) placed second and first runner-up respectively before crowd favorite Yu Wenxia (Miss China) won the Miss World crown in front of her home fans.

Yu, a 23-year-old music student, became the second Chinese woman to win Miss World and the first since 2007. Miss China took home the Miss World title after topping the talent competition while impressing in several other events and outlining why she deserved to win the pageant by stating, “When I was young I felt very lucky because so many people helped me, and I hope in the future I can help more children to feel lucky.”

Yu was officially crowned by Miss World 2011 winner, Ivian Sarcos of Venezuela, the country with the most Miss World winners to date (six).

The Miss World 2013 pageant will stay in Asia at a venue in Indonesia. Jamaica had reportedly been in the running to host the internationally acclaimed pageant. Click here to receive free news bulletins via email from Caribbean360. (View sample)