congratulation to you April, i think this is the best set of girls we have seen in along time. well with the patrons being angry that's a usual jamaican way of thinking by the next day them forget about it

i was at the event and i think she deserve to win it was either going to be between april or doneika there is no way that brown girl could have won she shouldn't even be in the top three

human being will change the will always be racism, i don't care who doesn't believe this it's remarks to say the girl should not have won because her hair is long, and what is surprising i can bet most those other girls in the audience who are saying this and that bet you any money that them hair original short but yet they put in fake hair to have their long, we are all women lets work together and stop the fighting

Jamaica is slowly becoming a country full of bigots and racists

According to Yvette, an avid fan of the competition: “mi did want the girl with the afro (Doneika Plowright) to win because it would be fitting for Sara Redwood to hand over the crown to her because she looks more like a Jamaican.” The angry patron went on to say, “Everytime a some long hair girl them give the crown,” she told OutAroad.com.

Haha so what youre saying is....Jamaicans dont have long hair?? Trying to fight "supposed" prejudice with bigger prejudice ...Ignorance to the 10th degree...

May the best man win....

you know what i can't understand if April Jackson is of dark complexion what would have happened if the brown girl had won, there would have been mayhem in the venue. it's time for us to put behind our old fashion of how a jamaican woman should look like

I am not even going to get my self mix up in this crap of who should won. congrats girl i don't matter what colour you are or race i just wnat to know that you are an jamaican

hey when yuh cna please jamaicans it's more than pleasing the world

i am not even going to talk about the show what I am more concerned about is the fact i spent my 4,000 for vip to watch keyshia cole and did not vene got to enjoyed the show because these unruly patrons who decided to bomb rush the stage that was not fare at all mi want back mi blastid money

We are completely loosing the plot regarding pageants these days.
Now it is total reverse racism.
In the 70's, 80's and early 90's, one almost had to have long hair and fair skin to win, now being light-skinned is a strike against you.
Even by the same people who were doing the selecting then.
Shouldn't we just be trying to win the international crown.
Think "international appeal"

FROM DAY ONE I FIRMLY BELIEVE THIS YOUNG MISS WAS THE ONE. THESE PEOPLE ARE TALKIN BOUT AFRO LIKE HAIR COUNTS.

OF THE 25 GIRLS(LORD KNOWS WHY THEM EVEN DID NEED SO MUCH) SHE HAD THE WELL ROUNDED LIFESTYLE AND PERSONALITY A QUEEN SHOULD. THE GIRL HAS THE EDUCATION aND THE EXPERIENCE SO PPL SHUD JUST BACK OFF.

MOST OF THE OTHERS NEEDED TRAINING IN DICTION AND SPEECH CUZ THEY WERE POOR IN THE INTERVIEWS.

hail to the queen and stop the fussing and the fighting, if the people of jamaica decided who to win the competition then I would advise pulse to let them because them would of certainly select some really idiots fi represent Jamaica.

Congrats to April Jackson and please don't let voice of the negatives get you down

This is a competition not a place where we as black people find ourselves. This is not about culture it is beauty. If the international standards are brownings with long hair......tell mi now.......how waan black dry foot smaddy ago win. Stop trying to find yourselves in these competitions. This is only a competition dont take it personal...lol

the girl who win look good oh god!!
ok the brown girl look nice too.....but ....watz the fuss??

unnu ppl love fi argue fi every ting.......and a*soles like nikki -z and wh*rin dangel dem
a spread propaganda in the streets pon the nice girl.......true dem could a neva walk inna her shoes.......april 'big up"

They are all winners.Im a brownin with long permed hair and if we are focusing on beauty then I feel Doneika Plowright should win I mean look at that face.That is beuatiful young girl.And her hair look damn good if you ask me.

yow the girl educated bad for a 19 years old and evidently she can handle interviews very well.
congrats young one.

Okay, I always scratch my head after these politically correct beauty contests in Jamaica.

Is the purpose to select the contestant most likely to win on the International Stage who also happens to represent what a Jamaican looks like?

If this is indeed the case as I think it is, why of late are the judges selecting women with no chance in hell of ever winning the Miss Universe or Miss World?

I'm sorry to break it to all the bitter dark skin women who are forever complaining about light skinned women with good hair.

The fact is, they represent the international standard of beauty. And as a mixed person of Jamaican parentage I'm personally offended by dark-skinned individuals who feel they alone represent a true Jamaican.

Get over your insecurities!

^ Do you see this comment above the "Okay, I always scratch my head after these politically correct beauty contests in Jamaica...." Talk about narrow minded and completely lost.And no Im not dark skin.Im a brownin with so called good hair. First of all if you knew anything. You would know that beauty is in the eye of the beholder. And second of all regardless of what the world considers international beauty. We as Jamaican don't follow fashion. We are leaders. And no not all dark skinned women are insecure, just like not all brownins are secure.Lastly in case you miss the motto "out of many one people."Lastly as far as browning and dark skin go. Dark skin is a rare complexion to come by especially these days. And the most rarest are usually seen as exotic, and timeless. My girl haven't you notice it, most brown people do commercial modeling and dark skins do runway modeling.They want the rare commodity so sit down. Girl I feel sorry for you cause international beauty means as close to looking white as possible and for filling their standards. Lastly, you should pat yourself on the back you really do exemplify the stereotype of being brown and stuck up. Good thing there are brownings like me to show that it is just a stereotype

You did a wonderful job and the others too

I have had the distinct pleasure of attending Hillel Academy High School with April and I can say without a doubt that she reflects the poise, vigor and natural beauty of a true Jamaican woman. Though I am now studying in The United Kingdom, Jamaica is indeed my home and I am proud to say that April is our Queen. I have no reservations about April's ability to represent Jamaica to her truest and fullest potential at The Miss Universe 2008 Competition. I encourage us all to support her in her endeavors. Unity has always been Jamaica's problem. Let us for once embrace what we have and in true Jamaican spirit rise up.

What does a real Jamaican look like? Arawak Indians, Africans, Indians, Chinese, Bi-racial, or Caucasian? Let's not forget our Motto ppl. "Out of many one People"

Sorry if people see it as "reverse racism." It can't be reverse racism if we have not yet begun to love and appreciate the almost 90% of us who don't have the stereotyped long hair and light skin women are SUPPOSED to have. It is an indictment against us that our women still feel they have to bleach and put in fake hair to be appreciated as beautiful women...And it's not just what they "feel" it's what our society still expects and respects

Hmmmm...Well, I am a very open-minded person. I understand everyone's point-of-views. Even the ignorant ones. As I watched the competition...especially the interviews, my heart was wrenched and my critical point was on overload. I was disappointed on how little or no intelligence was portrayed. The focus, obviously was on the looks alone. The speech and representation of themselves was so maddening...I wanted to cry. As for April Jackson...Being that she had the experience, and more importantly she showed intelligence...I felt somewhat relieved. All was not lost. Young and intelligent(reminds me of myself at 13) This whole 'Afro-centric' and 'Browning wid long hair' ting nah sit well wid mi at all. Mi did dun kno seh Jamaicans ignorant....but nevah know seh dem a racists and bigots dis badly. Mi shoulda know still...from the whole 'Michael Jackson syndrome' AKA 'Bleaching' tek ova dem nogging....Mi sorry fi oonu... I mean, it is a beauty pageant...And I'm sure it's not just the outter beauty that the competiton requires but also, the inner beauty that is the true Jamaican.

"Out of many...One People"
"One love"

I dont April should win. There we go again taking someone who does not live in the country. We are always doing this A TIME WE STOP THIS. Yes she is well educated but she was educated in London and live in London. I am feeling a bit sorry for our own girls. I dont care if you all want to slate me we will forever try to do this to a REAL JAMAICAN WOMAN.
Bless

Mi nuh support the ("If the international standards are brownings with long hair......tell mi now.......how waan black dry foot smaddy ago win")
argument above

None a the girl dem foot nuh dry.
And I don't know if the person mean black as in color are race
But, to hell wid international standard, cause the standard weh some people
here refer to is a anti-black people racist standard anyway.
Time fi black people set our own standard
There are many beautiful dark skin females in Jamaica
as beautiful as any other ..period.

“mi did want the girl with the afro (Doneika Plowright) to win because it would be fitting for Zara Redwood to hand over the crown to her because she looks more like a Jamaican.”

Can somebody please explain to me what somebody who is "more like a Jamaican" looks like, because it seems that some of us are vehemently upholding todays racist stereotypes. Last time I checked our national motto was...

Out of MANY One People (as a number of people also pointed out)

translation...Jamaicans come in all shades and colors...hence the rich HERITAGE. Come on now people don't start forgetting that. And if you must, go do a little recap of our history. Take a look at the national heroes & heroine, They are not all afro-centric dark skinned individuals with solely African heritage. I think there is a reason for that. Don't you???

...tsk, tsk

I'm just happy that somebody who is well deserving of the crown won. And after all of that cass cass and negative criticism, the fact that she is still able to hold her head up proudly and gracefully is commendable. Some of the aspects of a true Jamaican...or so I'd like to think.

"Out of Many One People for life"

"Can somebody please explain to me what somebody who is "more like a Jamaican" looks like"

It mean that the dominant cultural aspect of Jamaican culture that it is
known and reverence for is a African derived one.
And that the majority of the Jamaican population derived and look like
the majority of people on the African continent.

Therefore the "more like a Jamaican looks" are expected to be an
Afrocentric one as opposed to a Eurocentric one

People it is high time we stop this foolishness about who should or shouldn't win because of skin color or hair texture. The last time I checked, most Jamaican women have permed hair or extensions to mimic same. The girl won because she was the most deserving contestant. I had to ask someone if most of the contestants went to high school or can read. My five year old son has delivers himself better in a conversation. What a shame! Dem caan talk, dem nuh have nuh grace, dem jus nuh refine at all. With all due respect to Zara, girl mi nuh nwo which miss universe you did expect fi win.

LOL! I love the last comment: With all due respect to Zara, girl mi nuh nwo which miss universe you did expect fi win. I cannot stop laughing. Poor Zara fit the typical Jamaican stereo-type. All she needed to do was walk on stage with a stick of ganja. Wake up all of you who think that a Jamaican is only of African decent. Taino Indians are the original Jamaicans. Black people came to Jamaica just like every other ethnicity in the country. I think it is time for the government to change the coat of Arms to, Out many African nations, one people. Maybe that would make some of you happy.