SACHA WALTERS, Staff Reporter
Yendi is a burst of energy. Between her duties as TV host, writing her thesis, giving graduation speeches and charity work, the reigning Miss Jamaica World is a typical 22-year-old.
Last year, she spearheaded Fashion Xplosion - The Charity Show which raised over $300,000 for victims of Hurricane Dean living in Portland Cottage, Clarendon and Old Harbour, St Catherine.
"I did a quick drive to Old Harbour Bay recently," she said. "There have been some improvement."
Restoring lives
The Jamaica Red Cross, to which she donated the proceeds, is planning the unveiling of model home. The event will acknowledge the beauty's contribution in restoring the lives of those affected.
While she did not win Miss World 2007, she did Jamaica proud doing well in the overall competition. Yendi was a finalist in the top model, sport, talent and Beauty with a Purpose competitions.
Phillipps placed second in the Beach Beauty competition and, even though a bit disappointed in not having won the Miss World crown, she has maintained her commitment to her local obligations.
Yendi Phillipps is The STAR newspaper's Star of the Month.
Facts FileDate of Birth: September 8, 1985
Height: 5 feet 10 inches
Academic achievements: Bachelor's degree, in dance and pursuing a masters degree in Recreation and Leisure Management
Miss World achievements: She placed in the top 16 (usually a top 15 but there was a tie in one of the categories)
Placed in the top seven of the top model competition and also placed in the top five in beauty, top five in the Beauty with a Purpose, top five in sport and top five in talent.
'Fast Track' for Miss Jamaica World
Contestants in the 2008 Miss Jamaica World Beauty Pageant will have a new 'in-road' to help them land a spot in the top 10.
Mickey Haughton-James, pageant director, announced last week that the 2008 pageant will feature the 'MJW Beauty With A Purpose' Fast Track Competition. The competition will give the contestants a chance to earn a place in the top 10 by winning one of the now five events before the coronation.
The pageant's other events are the Supreme Ventures MJW Sports, SoftSheen/Carson MJW Model, Jergens MJW Talent and Aqua-Essential MJW Beach Beauty competitions.
Charitable works
Jamaica has always featured well in all sectional prizes at the Miss World event. Yendi Phillipps, the reigning Miss Jamaica World, was one of three contestants selected at last year's Miss World Beauty Pageant held in Sanya, China, to vie for the Beauty with a Purpose Award.
This special annual award programme singles out and recognises the Miss World contestant who is shown, through charitable works, to have made a real difference to people in need in her homeland.
Charity work is integral to the Miss World ethos and part of the brief to contenders in each country is that they volunteer their time to raise funds for charity.
Phillipps' project was focused on raising funds for victims of Hurricane Dean, after she had been crowned Miss Jamaica World.
This year, however, young ladies who have been involved in charitable activities prior to entering the contest will be able to submit those projects to vie for the 'MJW Beauty With A Purpose' award.
Spartan Health Club is presently organising the 2008 Miss Jamaica World Pageant and final is slated for Saturday, August 16.
