SANYA, China--The first ever dreadlocked Miss World contestant, Miss Jamaica World Dr. Sanneta Myrie, finished in the top five of the 2015 Miss World Competition in China over the weekend.
Myrie, a medical doctor, had joined Spain, Russia, Indonesia, and Lebanon in the top five, but the 65th edition of the pageant was won by Spanish model Mireia Lalaguna on Saturday.
The Jamaican beauty, who also finished third in the talent section of the competition, earned her place in the top five finalists from a field of more than 120 contestants.
According to her bio on the Miss World website, 24-year-old Myrie grew up in the rural parishes of Jamaica. Now a fully qualified doctor, she is committed to helping others, and is passionate about the work she does, with aspirations of joining Doctors without Borders, an organisation providing medical care to the most marginalized worldwide.
Aside from her duties, she loves the Jamaican lifestyle, embracing all facets of its culture, from reggae music to fresh fish cuisine.
In her spare time she enjoys long distance and cross country running, loves to dance, and volunteers as a counsellor for the University of the West Indies (UWI).
After making the top five cut, Myrie was asked why she should be named Miss World 2015, to which she responded that she was already grateful for the opportunity to be in China representing her country.
“My story is one of a little girl whose life was transformed with charity and love and my quest in life is to give that back to as many people as I can, and to inspire the world with my story, that no matter where you are from, your skin type your hair colour, your situation –your dreams are valid.
“And I believe that beauty with a purpose embodies my quest and if I was blessed with the crown tonight, I would dedicate my essence to give back to the world in a purposeful and beautiful way with charity and love,” she said.
The Caribbean made a good showing at this year’s pageant with Miss Guyana Lisa Punch placing in the top 10. Miss Guyana also won the talent segment of the event.
Miss World 2015 hit a sour note last month, however, when officials in Hong Kong stopped Miss Canada, Anastasia Lin, from boarding a plane bound for Sanya, telling her she would not receive a visa.
The 25-year-old actress claimed the decision was due to her stance on China’s human rights record, including its persecution of Falun Gong, a Chinese spiritual group of which she is a practitioner. ~ Caribbean360 ~
