My daughter, Sara Lawrence, Miss Jamaica World 2006, recently traveled to Poland to represent our country in the Miss World Beauty Pageant. She was eventually selected in the World’s top six (6) and named Miss World Queen of Beauty (Caribbean).
Entering Miss Jamaica World
My “journey” from her entry in Miss Jamaica World to her triumph at the Miss World competition was a very transforming and enlightening experience. First of all, let me tell you that myself, and her mother, my dear wife Beverly, were not enthused when she timidly revealed to us that she had signed up for the Miss Jamaica Eliminations. After all, we’re creatures of the radical seventies and knew that these competitions had a reputation of not being exactly judged by the standards of beauty that the majority of us Jamaicans identify with. In addition, which father loves to see his lovely daughter parading in a skimpy swimsuit, like cattle on the cat(tle)walk?
I was not amused and “maliced” her for a few days. Beverly, displaying her true motherly instinct, relented first and attended the Eliminations in late July 2006. But, oh no! not me! I still could not digest the thought. Shortly after, on recounting the situation to a good friend of mine, he advised me to just “rope-in”, as twenty years hence, when nobody will even remember that Sara had entered Miss Jamaica, she would remember that her dad did not support her. What a sobering piece of advice! Instantly my passive resistance turned to mild, then growing, support. What the heck! It was nothing dishonest and as long as Sara knew what she was getting into, then might as well I jump on the bandwagon.
Having been selected as a finalist in the Miss Jamaica World contest, the pageant activities began and I found myself being sucked into errands like dropping Sara off to radio and TV interviews, and courtesy calls on dignitaries. My transformation had begun! By this, her support from the rest of the family and good friends was growing and we all turned out to the Miss Jamaica World Finals at Pegasus Hotel to cheer on our contestant. When she was announced as the winner, you should have seen how high I jumped! Sara was Miss Jamaica!
The Polish Experience
Having achieved her new title and crown, Sara would have to leave Jamaica within ten days to for a grueling month-long sojourn in Poland, as Jamaica’s contestant at the Miss World Beauty Pageant. She would have to compete with 103 other national queens for the title of Miss World. Things got hectic with media interviews, preparing and exhibiting her wardrobe, photo shoots, and sorting out travel documents, arrangements etc., for her to arrive in Poland by September 1, 2006. She made it to Warsaw by the deadline, but as fate would have it, none of her four pieces of luggage arrived with her and she did not get them until one full week afterwards! What a calamity! No dresses, no shoes, no jewelry for the first week of such an important contest with so many appearances scheduled! Here was a test for Sara’s Forti(s)tude. But my girl, buttressed by her faith in God, admirably kept her composure and benefited from real Caribbean solidarity, as some of the West Indian girls there (notably Miss Trinidad) lent her their own clothes and shoes to wear to the various events during this period.
Miss World Contestants host Children’s Party in Gdynia
During the first three weeks in Poland, Sara did much touring. Although based in Warsaw, she went to cities like Gizycko, Gdansk, Gdynia, Wroclaw, and Krakow and developed an appreciation for the varied physical beauty of the country and the warmth of its people. The contestants also visited hospitals and children’s homes. One of her most enduring memories was meeting Lech Walesa, Solidarity Leader and Former President of Poland, at the historic Lenin Shipyards in Gdansk. Being the representative from Jamaica meant she was constantly reminded of its tropical “paradise” image, and of icons like Bob Marley and Asafa Powell. Sara became one of the most interviewed girls at the pageant and often represented the Caribbean group in press conferences and debates.
Last Lap and First Impressions
Miss World Finals - Six Continental Queens
Steve and Beverly Lawrence in Old City, Warsaw
For the final week in September 2006, six of us family members traveled to Warsaw to give Sara our support and witness the Finals of the Miss World Beauty Pageant on September 30, 2006. We also wanted to observe the changes behind the “iron curtain” since the fall of Communism in Eastern Europe. The Finals of the Miss World Beauty Pageant was held at Sala Kongresowa, the main auditorium of the Palace of Culture and Science – Stalin’s gift to Poland. Never, in our wildest dreams, could we envisage Sara doing so well, but she stepped up to the plate and delivered by being selected in the top six of 104 contestants and crowned Miss World Queen of Beauty (Caribbean). I must say thanks to the very significant number of people throughout the Jamaican diaspora, who voted for Sara on the Miss World Website. The “Fortis Massive” played a big part in mobilizing these votes.
Warsaw is a city with a history of struggle and adversity. Over eighty percent of it was totally destroyed by the Nazis in World War II. The predominantly religious Poles have also suffered much persecution and suffering from brutal invaders in the past, and more recently from communist controlled regimes. When one walks the streets of Warsaw, the first impressions of the place seem so paradoxical. There is new hope and style in the younger generation, who has been exposed to western influences since the fall of communism. Yet, the youth exist side by side with the older generations who have experienced much misery in their life. However, Poland’s citizens have an enviable and admirable discipline. One way in which this strict disciple is manifested is that there is absolutely no jay walking. No pedestrian ventures to cross the road on a red signal, even if the road is perfectly clear!
Generally the economy seems to be looking up and the cost of living is much more affordable than in Western Europe. The Poles are also very skilled workers and are making a big impression in the European Union workforce. Like Jamaicans, these migrant workers remit much funds to family back home in Poland.
Sara’s initial experiences and eventual triumph in Poland, and the resilience of the Polish people, both aptly demonstrate that in the face of adversity, the struggle to succeed must continue. After all, “The brave may fall but never yield.”
