Krista Henry, Staff Reporter
Smiling host Yendi Phillipps shares a moment with these two contestants at the Digicel Rising Stars auditions, held at Manchester High School. - Peta-Gaye Clachar Photos
New host of the STAR-sponsored Digicel Rising Stars, Yendi Philipps, was in her element last Saturday at the Mandeville auditions of the show at Manchester High School.
Looking young, beautiful and vibrant in pink, Yendi was all smiles talking with contestants, making jokes and taking in the scene. This is Yendi's second audition as host and theSTAR caught with the current Miss Jamaica World as she took a break from her hosting duties. Yendi said, "It's going good, I like the interaction with everybody and the variety of people coming out."
Taking over
Yendi is taking over from the previous host of the last four years, Denise Hunt. The reigning Miss Jamaica World beat out other popular personalities such as 'Rising Stars' chill room host Kiki, TV host Lady Renae, past Miss Jamaica World Terri-Karelle Griffith, among others, at the auditions to get the coveted new spot. The anticipation is high as to what kind of host Yendi will make and, while Yendi looked calm and collected, the young starlet claimed to be very nervous.
"I'm more nervous for this than I was for the Miss Jamaica pageant. This is very interactive and you can never tell what Jamaican people are going to do ... I can't even count how many marriage proposals I've got or people telling me I'm their lost love. But I haven't heard any negative reactions, always people wishing me well and telling me 'Miss Jamaica we like yuh, now we're gonna see you more on TV'." she said.
According to Yendi, compared to St Thomas' auditions, the persons in Mandeville were a lot more disciplined and meditative as they prepared for the stage.
Positive
TheSTAR heard only positive remarks from persons at the auditions about the new host.
One of the contestants, Quad-Ann, said, "I think she's a great person, great personality not stuck up at all. She interacts with every and anybody. When you're around her, you get the feeling that she's a very real person, she's just a colleague and down to your level."
One male onlooker commented on how beautiful Yendi is, comparing her to a doll. One woman stated, "She's cool but Denise was fun, but wi just haffi get used to her."
Right There, Right There: A contestant gets her ID number stapled at the start of the Rising Stars audition at Manchester High School last Saturday.
Audition Schedule
Come out for the Rising Stars auditions this coming weekend:
✰ Saturday, May 10
St James, Club Inferno
✰ Saturday, May 17
Portmore, Portmore Heart Academy
✰ Saturday, May 24
Ocho Rios, Hibiscus Lodge Hotel
✰ Saturday, May 31
Kingston, Young Women's Christian Association.
Do
you have a problem? Is something bothering
you? Write to