Miss Jamaica World 2006, Sara Lawrence. - file

Sara Lawrence, the reigning Miss Jamaica World and Caribbean queen of beauty, is to be stripped of her title. Sara, who has issued a statement to the media, has admitted that she is three months pregnant.

Pageant rules dictate that a contestant/eventual winner should "be a person who has never been legally married and who has never given birth to a child".

Sara yesterday issued a statement in which she said: "I relinquish my position as Miss Jamaica World 2006, having taken a deeply personal decision to face up to my responsibilities as one who expects to become a mother."

She was to have passed on the crown to another winner in September, when the local leg of the pageant is staged.

Efforts made by The STAR to contact pageant organiser Mickey Haughton-James, director of Spartan Health Club, proved futile. However, a statement was posted on the organisation's website www.missjamaicaworld.com in which Haughton-James praised Sara's attributes as Miss Jamaica World and commended her for dealing with her 'predicament' "with class and in keeping with her moral dictates".

Potential effect

He, however, did not ignore the potential effect Sara's defection may have on the competition. "Her actions could potentially harm the tradition that is the Miss Jamaica World Pageant and its past and future winners," the statement said.

Criteria for the pageant, as dictated by the Miss World Organisation, expressly forbids becoming a mother during the course of the reign. Rules stipulate, among other things, that a contestant, and therefore winner, "Shall be a person whose background is not likely to bring into disrepute the Miss Jamaica Beauty Pageant or Miss Jamaica World title, or promoter or any person associated with them".

However, Jamaican's have mixed views on whether Sara should be allowed to keep the crown. Shaunette March, a 21-year-old student of the University of the West Indies, says though she supports Sara's decision to have her child, she believes that she should not continue to wear the crown.

"We all know the rules before, therefore, she entered into an agreement and she failed to hold up to the agreement. Whatever consequences that follow are fair," she said.

However, Monique Russell, 21 and a former pageant contestant, believes that Sara should continue her reign despite her pregnancy. "I think she's deserving of the title. I think it would not hinder her duties. She has done us proud in the Miss World pageant and it is our time to give back to her and allow her to continue with the title and continue her reign."

Though there has been no official word, either Kristelle Harris, second-place winner of the pageant or Miss Jamaica World 2005, Terri-Karelle Griffith, is likely to assume the responsibilities of Miss Jamaica World 2006.