Jarmila Jackson, Features Writer

Current Miss Jamaica World, Yendi Phillipps, will retire her crown on Saturday, August 16.

IN KEEPING with the growing buzz over Saturday's historic Olympic race between Asafa Powell and Usain Bolt, the organisers of this year's Miss Jamaica World Beauty Pageant have chosen the theme 'In Search of Gold'.

This year's competition will see 16 contestants vying for the title of Miss Jamaica World, and a chance to represent the island internationally.

The Gleaner tried to find out whether the organisers of the pageant had concerns of being upstaged by Olympics, but managing director of Spartan, Mickey Haughton-James, seems unperturbed.

"We have an exciting show planned," said Haughton-James without divulging any details of the event. Spartan Health Club has had a 32-year association with the event.

Best to date

"It should be our best production to date and I'm sure the audience will enjoy it," he added.

Saturday's competition is the 23rd staging of the event and will see the current title holder, Yendi Phillipps, hand over her crown to a new queen. All Miss Jamaica Worlds are encouraged to undertake various charities during their year's reign and live by the motto 'Beauty with a Purpose'.

In 1976 and 1993, entrants Cindy Breakspeare and Lisa Hanna, respectively, matched strides with their international counterparts and brought home the enviable Miss World crown.

In between these victories, according to Spartan's website, there have been two third-place winners; two fourth places; one fifth place; two sixth places and several winners of the Caribbean Queen of Beauty title.

Prior to Spartan's involvement, Jamaica had produced its first Miss World when Carol Crawford won that title in 1963.

The grand coronation show will be at the Hilton Kingston hotel, beginning at 8:00 p.m.