Zahra Redwood, Miss Jamaica Universe 2007. - contributed

Undoubtedly, Jamaica has produced some of the most intoxicating rhythm-driven beats, world- class athletes and beautiful women. There is, indeed, a certain charm, a swivel in the hip, a unique warmness and distinctive sexiness about our exquisite 'daughtas, empresses and young women'.

As Zahra Redwood, Miss Jamaica Universe 2007 prepares to hand over the crown, the search for the most beautiful young women to compete in the Miss Jamaica Universe 2008 Beauty Pageant is on in earnest with a stop at this weekend's Air Jamaica Jazz and Blues Festival.

All eyes on her in 2007, Zahra Redwood did the isle proud as she journeyed to Mexico City as the first Rastafarian beauty queen to appear in a major international pageant. The 5'8" biochemist was strongly highlighted and heavily praised for her individualism, beauty, eloquence and intelligence.

Great sponsors this year

Sponsored by several service providers, World Wise in association with the Hilton Kingston, CVM TV and The Gleaner, the 2008 staging of the Jamaica preliminary to the Miss Universe pageant promises to be the best yet. The planned prize package will help to increase the event's attractiveness to Jamaica's best talent.

The Pulse scouts will be out in full force at the Air Jamaica Jazz and Blues Festival this week as the rest of Jamaica descends on to the second city, to find the best young women between ages 18-26, to compete for the most prestigious beauty title in the Universe.

A Miss Jamaica Universe booth will be mounted and interested applicants may visit the booth while enjoying the best of the music beginning on Thursday. The current Miss Jamaica Universe Zahra Redwood and a number of other fashion and beauty celebrities will be on hand to meet and greet the public.

Following the jazz festival, the Pulse team will continue its quest for the most attractive and articulate young women across Jamaica. As the excitement builds for the grand coronation show, a series of road shows are in the works for Ocho Rios, Mandeville, Portmore and Kingston.

Jamaica has had significant success at the Miss Universe pageant claiming four top ten finishes - Sandra Foster, Nicole Haughton, Christine Straw and Kimberley Mais. Viewed by close to a billion viewers around the world, the glamorous live event features some of the world's most beautiful women from approximately 85 countries.

Airing from the Crown Convention Center, on NBC and Telemundo this summer from Nha Trang, Khanh Hoa, Vietnam, Japan native, Riyo Mori, Miss Universe 2007 will crown her successor at the conclusion of the telecast.