Miss Universe Jamaica
National beauty pageant selecting Jamaica's Miss Universe representative
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Miss Universe Jamaica (formerly Miss Jamaica Universe) is a beauty pageant that selects the contestant to represent Jamaica at the Miss Universe competition.
Gabrielle Henry, Miss Universe Jamaica 2025 | |
| Formation | 1961 |
|---|---|
| Type | Beauty pageant |
| Headquarters | Kingston |
| Location | |
| Membership | |
Official language | English |
National Directors | Karl Williams and Mark McDermoth (Uzuri International / Atelier Dermoth Williams Limited) |
| Website | missuniversejamaica |
| Miss Universe Jamaica 2025 | |
|---|---|
| Current titleholder | Gabrielle Henry (2025) |
| Crowned | 9 August 2025, Kingston |
| Predecessor | Rachel Silvera (2024) |
| Successor | TBD (2026) |
| Affiliation | Miss Universe |
| Broadcaster | Television Jamaica (TVJ) |
| Title sponsor | Hyundai Jamaica |
| Highest placement | 1st Runner-Up – Yendi Phillipps (2010) |
History
Although Jamaica started competing at the Miss Universe Pageant in 1961, the Miss Universe Jamaica pageant officially started in 1982 and was organised by Ed Wallace to select the official representative. This was won by Nancy Martin who was slated to compete at the Miss Universe pageant, but was unable to do so. The contest was again held from 1986 to 1988, and in 1989 Pulse was asked to host the Jamaica preliminary to Miss Universe. They went on to post an outstanding record, producing 4 top 10 finalists (Sandra Foster, Kimberley Mais, Nicole Haughton and Christine Straw) at the international Pageant.[1] The pageant was then promoted by Invyte Promotions (2010–2011), hotelier Dimitris Kosvogiannis (2012).
2013–present
Uzuri International assumed the Miss Universe Jamaica franchise in 2013, acquiring the licence from Dimitris Kosvogiannis shortly before the March 2013 staging of the national competition.[2] Uzuri International was founded in 1998 by Karl Williams and Mark McDermoth, who had designed for the Miss Jamaica World and Miss Universe Jamaica pageants since its inception.[3] Prior to acquiring the franchise, the company had established an international profile: in 2008 Williams and McDermoth designed the opening number gowns for all 112 contestants at the Miss World pageant in Johannesburg.[4] The franchise is operated through Atelier Dermoth Williams Limited, the formal management company identified in 2026 reporting as the official Miss Universe brand administrator in Jamaica.[5]
The organization has sent several of Jamaica's most successful Miss Universe representatives, including Kaci Fennell (2014, 4th runner-up),[6] Davina Bennett (2017, 2nd runner-up),[6] Miqueal-Symone Williams (2020, Top 10),[7] and Jordanne Levy (2023, Top 20).[8]
Format
The pageant is broadcast nationally by Television Jamaica and has been title-sponsored by Hyundai Jamaica in recent editions. Contestants compete in swimwear, evening gown, and interview segments, with sectional awards including personality, media challenge, and altruism categories.
2026 changes
In March 2026, Atelier Dermoth Williams Limited announced a shift from a regional to a parish-level preliminary model for the 2026 edition.[5] Thirteen parish titleholders will qualify automatically for the national finals, scheduled for 23 August 2026 at AC Hotel Kingston, with additional places available through eliminations on 5 July 2026.[5] Parish directors were appointed for each competition area.
Notable titleholders
Yendi Phillipps (2010)
Yendi Phillipps was crowned Miss Universe Jamaica 2010 under Invyte Promotions and placed first runner-up at Miss Universe 2010 in Las Vegas, Nevada, Jamaica's highest international placement.[9]
Kaci Fennell (2014)
Kaci Fennell represented Jamaica at Miss Universe 2014 in Doral, Florida, placing fourth runner-up. Her natural hair presentation attracted significant international media coverage during the competition.[6]
Davina Bennett (2017)
Davina Bennett represented Jamaica at Miss Universe 2017 in Las Vegas, placing second runner-up, Jamaica's second-highest international finish.[6]
Gabrielle Henry (2025)
Dr. Gabrielle Henry was crowned Miss Universe Jamaica 2025 on 9 August 2025 at the AC Hotel Kingston. An ophthalmology resident at the University Hospital of the West Indies and founder of the See Me Foundation, she won four sectional awards alongside the overall title.[10]
Henry represented Jamaica at the 74th Miss Universe in Nonthaburi, Thailand. On 19 November 2025, during the preliminary evening gown round at the Impact Challenger Hall, she fell through an unguarded opening in the stage floor and was hospitalised in intensive care in Bangkok.[11] On 8 December 2025, the Miss Universe Organization and the Henry family issued a joint statement confirming she had sustained an intracranial haemorrhage, a fracture, a collapsed lung, and facial lacerations, and that the Organization had assumed full and immediate responsibility for the incident.[12] The statement confirmed the Organization had never attributed blame to Henry.[12] She was repatriated to Jamaica in December 2025 under medical escort and remained under outpatient supervision as of March 2026, unable to return to her residency.[13]
Titleholders
- : Declared as Winner
- : Ended as runner-up or top 5/6 qualification
- : Ended as one of the finalists or semifinalists
- : Ended as special awards winner
- The Miss Universe Jamaica organization is responsible for sending representatives to Miss Universe. On occasion, when the winner does not qualify (due to age) for either contest, a runner-up is sent.
| Year | Parish | Miss Universe Jamaica | Placement at Miss Universe | Special Award(s) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Kingston | Gabrielle Henry[14] | Withdrew (injury) | Fell through unmarked stage opening during preliminaries, 19 November 2025; hospitalised in Bangkok ICU. Miss Universe Organization assumed full responsibility.[15] | |
| 2024 | Saint Mary | Rachel Silvera | Unplaced | ||
| 2023 | Kingston | Jordanne Levy[16][17] | Top 20 | ||
| 2022 | Saint Thomas | Toshami Calvin[18] | Unplaced | ||
| 2021 | Saint Elizabeth | Daena Soares | Unplaced | ||
| 2020 | Saint Andrew | Miqueal-Symone Williams | Top 10 | ||
| 2019 | Saint James | Iana Tickle Garcia | Unplaced | ||
| 2018 | Kingston | Emily Maddison | Top 20 | ||
| 2017 | Clarendon | Davina Bennett | 2nd Runner-up | ||
| 2016 | Saint James | Isabel Dalley | Unplaced | ||
| 2015 | Kingston | Sharlene Rädlein | Unplaced | ||
| 2014 | Kingston | Kaci Fennell | 4th Runner-up | ||
| 2013 | Kingston | Kerrie Baylis[19] | Unplaced | Karl Williams & Mark McDermoth (Uzuri International) directorship. | |
| 2012 | Portland | Chantal Zaky[20] | Unplaced | Dimitris Kosvogiannis directorship. | |
| Miss Jamaica Universe | |||||
| 2011 | Kingston[21] | Shakira Martin † | Unplaced | ||
| 2010 | Kingston | Yendi Phillipps[22] | 1st Runner-up | Invyte Promotions directorship. | |
| Miss Jamaica Universe | |||||
| 2009 | Saint James | Carolyn Yapp[23] | Unplaced | ||
| 2008 | Kingston | April Jackson[24] | Unplaced | ||
| 2007 | Kingston | Zahra Redwood[25] | Unplaced | ||
| 2006 | Kingston | Cindy Wright[26] | Unplaced | ||
| 2005 | Kingston | Raquel Wright[27] | Unplaced | ||
| 2004 | Kingston | Christine Straw[28][29] | Top 10 | ||
| 2003 | Saint James | Michelle Lecky[30] | Unplaced | ||
| 2002 | Kingston | Sanya Hughes | Unplaced | ||
| 2001 | Kingston | Zahra Burton | Unplaced | ||
| 2000 | Clarendon | Saphire Longmore | Unplaced | ||
| 1999 | Kingston | Nicole Haughton | Top 10 | ||
| 1998 | Kingston | Shani McGraham | Unplaced | ||
| 1997 | Saint Catherine | Nadine Thomas | Unplaced | ||
| 1996 | Kingston | Trudi-Ann Ferguson | Unplaced | ||
| 1995 | Kingston | Justine Willoughby | Unplaced | ||
| 1994 | Saint James | Angelie Martin | Unplaced | ||
| 1993 | Kingston | Rachel Stuart | Unplaced | ||
| 1992 | Kingston | Bridgette Rhoden | Unplaced | ||
| 1991 | Kingston | Kimberley Mais | Top 6 (4th Place) | ||
| 1990 | Kingston | Michele Hall | Unplaced | ||
| Miss Jamaica Universe | |||||
| 1989 | Kingston | Sandra Foster | Top 10 | Kingsley Cooper (Pulse Org.) directorship. | |
| 1988 | Kingston | Leota Suah | Unplaced | ||
| 1987 | Kingston | Janice Sewell | Unplaced | ||
| 1986 | Kingston | Liliana Cisneros | Unplaced | Ronald Waite (Monocot Television Network) | |
| Did not compete between 1983 and 1985 | |||||
| 1982 | Kingston | Nancy Martin | Did not compete | Miss Jamaica Universe org. – Ed Wallace directorship. | |
| Miss Jamaica | |||||
| Did not compete between 1977 and 1981 | |||||
| 1976 | Kingston | Angela Ruddock | Did not compete | ||
| 1975 | Kingston | Gillian Louise Annette King | Unplaced | ||
| 1974 | Kingston | Lennox Anne Black | Unplaced | ||
| 1973 | Saint James | Rita Faye Chambers | Unplaced | ||
| 1972 | Kingston | Grace Marilyn Wright | Unplaced | ||
| 1971 | Clarendon | Suzette Marilyn Wright | Unplaced | ||
| 1970 | Kingston | Sheila Lorna Neil | Unplaced | ||
| 1969 | Kingston | Carol Gerrow | Unplaced | ||
| 1968 | Kingston | Marjorie Bromfield | Unplaced | ||
| 1967 | Kingston | Elham Warwar | Did not compete | During rehearsals, Miss Jamaica, Elham Warwar was informed she had to leave the pageant because neither she nor her national sponsor had shown proof she had won a national competition, which was in the pageant rules. | |
| 1966 | Kingston | Beverly Savory | Unplaced | ||
| 1965 | Kingston | Virginia Hope Redpath | Unplaced | ||
| 1964 | Kingston | Beverly Elaine Rerrie | Unplaced | ||
| 1963 | Kingston | June Maxime Bowman | Unplaced | ||
| 1962 | Kingston | Marlene Murray | Did not compete | The First Miss Jamaica 1962 in the year that Jamaica got its Independence, she was not a Jamaica Festival Queen but the first Miss Jamaica Independence Queen. | |
| 1961 | Kingston | Marguerite LeWars | Unplaced | Miss Jamaica org. – Ken Rhino directorship. | |
See also
- Miss Jamaica World
- Miss Universe 2025
- Gabrielle Henry
- Nawat Itsaragrisil