TWENTY-FIVE finalists were selected, instead of the usual 20, at the Miss Jamaica World 2013 Elimination Show held at the Jamaica Pegasus hotel in St Andrew last Saturday.

The winner will be selected at the Montego Bay Convention Centre in St James on July 21 and will represent Jamaica at the 63rd staging of the Miss World pageant in Indonesia on September 28.

Under new franchise holder Laura Butler, the evening began with 50 hopefuls parading in swimwear being judged in personality, poise, beauty of the face, and beauty of figure.

The judging panel of nine included four former queens, Joan McDonald (1978), Christine Straw (1998), Desiree Depass (1999), and Regina Beavers (2001).

“The quality of the crop was such that the elimination task was arduous. Choosing 20 was just impossible,” McDonald told the Jamaica Observer.

Co-hosts for the evening Kerie-Ann ‘Kiki’ Lewis and Samuel Gordon worked overtime to contain the excited audience as the judges deliberated.

Attendees were treated to live entertainment which included an opening number from Emotion Dancers, an energetic 20-minute set from international recording band Rootz Underground, among others.

Miss Jamaica World 2013 will walk away with over $15 million dollars in cash and prizes which will include scholarship options, the Miss World wardrobe, film and photography training, Spartan Health Club membership, Fly Jamaica airline tickets, and a new 2013 Suzuki Kizashi valued at approximately $5 million.