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How she Served, How She Grew
Fun, opportunity, service and development—these were the main features which came to the fore as Miss Jamaica World 1989 Natasha Marcanik reflected on her reign as it drew to a close.
“Being Miss Jamaica has much more advantages than disadvantages,” she felt, “your whole cultural development is so great: spiritually, mentally and physically. You became aware of what is going on in your country and overseas. You get the opportunity to mix with people you would not normally meet. It also taught me to appreciate and manage my time.
“And I must say, I am a different person today. A lot of people thought I was too shy; they were surprised when they saw me on stage at the contest. I have blossomed and gained confidence. I’m sure of myself now, and literally able to handle any situation.”
Natasha’s most serious challenge, she confesses, came early in her reign—her entry in the Miss World Contest. This took place in November 1989, and was held outside of London for the first time in the history of the contest. Although she was thrilled with the trip to Taiwan where the show was filmed, and to Hong Kong where the finals were held, the contest itself filled her at first with what she describes as a fear of the unknown.
“It was so much larger than the Miss Jamaica Contest – there were 75 girls from all over the world. Then there was the communications barrier; we had different chaperones, and I just didn’t know what to expect.”
Once she got there, however, Natasha says things went just fine. And on her return, she put all her efforts—including a lot of boning up on Jamaica and on effective interview techniques—into being among the most respected beauty queen-ambassadors to wear the crown.
All in all, it was an exciting and demanding year for Natasha and the other two Miss Jamaica queens, Miss Jamaica Wonderland Raquel Hernandez, and Miss Jamaica Maja Anna-Kay Pullen. Their schedules included numerous promotional assignments coordinated by the Jamaica Tourist Board, endorsements of a host of fashion shows, charity benefits and other events, and a social agenda worthy of a busy diplomat.
Major highlights of Natasha’s contributions included participation in the Caribbean Tourist Conference in Nassau in September 1989, a major promotional tour of the U.S. Midwest in January, and attending the International Tourist Board’s Trade Fair in Berlin recently. She modeled Jamaica fashions at the Nassau Conference, and was
thrilled to visit the remains of the Berlin Wall in between promotional assignments in Germany. The U.S. tour included dozens of interviews with all media, in Milwaukee, Chicago, Detroit and St. Louis, which reached millions of potential visitors to Jamaica.
At home she took part in various events such as the Best of the Beach promotion,
which included participation by members of the US National Football League. There was a shoot for Swimsuit International Magazine and well known American photographer Todd Ferron, and sessions with top Jamaican photographers. Showing the work of leading local designers included gala events such as the Many Moods of Summer and the recent Fashion Escapade Show in aid of The Lester Mair Gilby School for the Deaf.
Other assignments ranged from joining the Wolmers Old Boys in their September
1989 Tribute to the Governor General - to fund raising and treats for the Kingston Public Hospital and groups of senior citizens and children.
As she wound up her reign with a flurry of last minute fashion shows and
Promotional duties, Natasha was looking forward to going straight into an exciting business venture of her own by the end of this year. However, she had a special word of advice to young Jamaican girls who aspire to the Crown in coming years – “If you really want to be Miss Jamaica” she says, “you have to work for it yourself – don’t wait for anybody else to take the initiative. Start grooming yourself early, start reading up on your country, talk to people and absorb all the advice you can get.”
Source: 1990 Miss Jamaica World Souvenir Magazine
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