The annual Miss Teen Portmore pageant 2009, is set to have its elimination and sashing on Friday, July 10, at the Portmore HEART Academy starting at 6 p.m.

The auditions for the girls hopeful of making the cut, was held last Saturday at Burger King, Portmore, where more than 100 girls participated. Preliminary judging was done by Munair Zacca (Jason 'Sonny' Tavares of Royal Palm Estate fame), Pat Harris, chief judge of the Miss Teen Portmore pageant, Jean Small, educator and actress, and Owen Pinnock of the Jamaica Association of Vintage Artistes and Affiliates (JAVAA).

sponsors

Confirmed sponsors for the pageant, include, major sponsors, Burger King, Jamaica Money Market Brokers (JMMB), Progressive Grocers and Shoppers Fair, Spike Industries, H20 water, and It's OK Corporation. Associate sponsors are Air Jamaica, Portmore Bone and Eye Clinic and Champion Betting. Octron Promotions have promoted the Miss Teen Portmore pageant for the past five years.

The event has been very successful, and has captured the interest of not only Portmore residents but people all over Jamaica. This pageant is a now 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, and she will be in attendance.

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, and both welcomed and 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 between the ages of 14-17 years and must exhibit a talent. The grand coronation show is scheduled for next month.