Miss Teen Portmore auditions on today

The 2009 Miss Teen Portmore pageant will kick off today with an audition at the Burger King, Portmore Mall, at 3 p.m.

Among the celebrity judges will be Munair Zacca (Jason 'Sonny' Tavares of Royal Palm Estate fame), international reggae singer Lovindeer, Pat Harris, chairman of the judging committee, among others.

Octron Promotions has promoted the Miss Teen Portmore pageant for the past five years. The event has been very successful, and has captured the interest of even persons outside of the Sunshine City. This pageant is now a calendar event and people of all walks of life have made the event their own.

Last year's pageant was won by Jodi-Ann Campbell, who will be in attendance.

positive vibe

The concept for the Miss Teen Portmore (summer) pageant came out of the need to facilitate and assist teenage girls in Portmore, who had nothing positive to occupy their time during the summer.

The matter was discussed with George Lee, former mayor of Portmore, and Millicent Lynch, former president of the Portmore Chamber of Commerce and Industries, who endorsed the idea.

The pageant deals primarily with the applicant's knowledge of current affairs, Jamaican culture and history. It aims to assist the personal development of young ladies through grooming sessions, public speaking and social development. It also contributes to their educational development.

One major criteria is for applicants to have at least a C+ average, as the organisers promote educational growth and vision for the teens. The girls must be 14-17 years old, and must exhibit a talent. The grand coronation show is scheduled for August.