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REALISING HER DREAM
Posted on 01/05/2008
P. Klein
A 25 year-old MBA student with the University of Leicester School of Management decided to seize the opportunity to realise a dream to compete in the Miss Jamaica Universe pageant - and was delighted to find herself one of the finalists.
Lauri-Ann Ainsworth had always wanted to enter a pageant of this nature and so after returning from teaching English in South Korea she decided that she didn’t want to have any regrets by not entering the competition.
“I’ve heard many positive things about the experience and publicity young women receive by being involved with these competitions and so I saw no harm in trying,” commented Lauri-Ann.
“Most importantly, however, I’ve always wanted to be an ambassador for Jamaica, as I am a very proud Jamaican and I believe this is an opportunity to realize that dream. In the process of this competition I hope to forge great lasting friendships and grow as an individual in terms of personal confidence.”
Lauri-Ann was raised in Kingston Jamaica with her brothers and sisters, Mickey, Dianne, Tanya and Robert. In 200I she moved to Toronto to take a degree in Spanish and Literature. When she returned home, she took a year off to work and then decided to pursue a masters degree with the University of Leicester.
She said: “I decided to take an MBA because I became very involved in marketing and business while working, and I wanted to see if this is what I really wanted to do. After completing the certificate course I knew for sure that business was definitely in my future.
“It was while I was working on my MBA course that I moved to South Korea to teach English to students ranging from elementary to University level. I then returned to Jamaica and entered the Miss Jamaica Universe pageant.”
Life, she says, has become quite hectic, with long days and nights of rehearsals, photo shoots and interviews, but she feels the experience so far has been priceless and hopes the interaction with the media and various business professionals will help her in her future business endeavours.
Lauri-Ann has received full support from her family. “They have been very tolerant of me constantly walking up and down in the heels trying to perfect my walk. If my family and friends were not a part of this experience I would not have been able to function thus far,” she said.
Along with the other finalists, she received lessons in walking, voice and speech, as well as taking part in photo shoots, rehearsals for the grand coronation show and interviews.
With such a demanding programme she was aware that she was stretching herself, trying to cope with work, studying and the pageant, but now the pageant is over she is confident that she will stay on track.
“Unfortunately I didn’t win the crown, but it was a great experience and I have no regrets in having entered,” said Lauri-Ann.