Four young ladies have now secured automatic top 10 placement in the 2025 Miss Jamaica World beauty pageant.
On Saturday, October 18, University of Technology freshman Halima Haughton became the latest fast-track winner, walking away with the Miss Jamaica World Top Model title.
Her runners-up are second-placed Kalea Roman, Miss Rituals Coffee House, and third-placed Nevaeh Allen, Miss Reggae Jamaica Village.
The previous fast-track winners are Asia Wright, Miss Jamaica World Fitness; Nevaeh Allen, Miss Jamaica World Beach Beauty; and Danece Jacas, Miss Jamaica World Talent.
In a keenly contested fast-track competition, 19 ladies competed for Top Model inside the Alfred Sangster Auditorium at the University of Technology.
Fashion designer Bill Edwards, who served as chief judge for the panel, told Observer Online that it was difficult to select a winner.
“It was a bit challenging because we had about five girls in the Top 5 who were competing for the #1 spot. The criteria that we used to select the winner included poise, confidence, the x factor and the look. We were not looking for beauty,” said Edwards.
Haughton, who came into the national Miss Jamaica World pageant after winning the regional round for Northeastern Region, shared that she prepared physically and mentally.
“Preparation for me has always been holistic. I stay active, keep a balance diet and practice my stage confidence. Then I come out on the stage and deliver,” said Haughton, who studies environmental science.
“This win is such a pivotal moment for me, knowing that I am a professional model outside and putting in all that training and it’s fueled by passion and everything that I do here. So, I’m just over the moon. It just shows that hard work does pay off,” Haughton added.
Haughton, who wears the sash Birdshack Fried Chicken, finished in second place in the Fitness fast-track competition and third in the Beach Beauty competition.
It has been an amazing turnaround for Haughton who competed in last year’s Miss Jamaica World pageant and did not make it into any of the fast-track competition neither did she place in the Top 10.
“I’m returning from last year, but I’d say my main mandate for entering was to inspire others and to push forth my advocacy. The Miss Jamaica World pageant offers so much more than just a crown – it gives you a platform, it gives you a community, so I believe it was important for me as a person, to develop. It drives me and makes me want to deliver,” she disclosed.
The five feet, five inches tall beauty, who is originally from Falmouth in Trelawny, moved to St Ann where she attended Westwood High school. She earned an associate in environmental studies at Moneague College before transferring to the University of Technology and moving to Kingston three months ago.
“Being a part of the regional pageant has helped me tremendously and I have grown so much. The fast-track competitions also play a significant role in challenging my inner self and made me braver,” Haughton reasoned.
The Jamaica Observer is one of the sponsors of the 2025 Miss Jamaica World pageant.
