Catherine Harris is Miss Earth Jamaica 2020.
Harris, who was the second runner-up in the 2018 Miss Jamaica World competition, was crowned in a virtual coronation, dubbed ‘Jamaica’s first virtual national pageant’ and streamed live on Miss Earth Jamaica’s Instagram, Facebook and YouTube pages last night.
The 23-year-old topped a field of five finalists vying for the opportunity to represent Jamaica at the 2020 Miss Earth pageant.
She will be Jamaica’s first representative at the international pageant in 10 years.
The island’s last Miss Earth was Kerry Moxam, who won the competition in 2011. Moxam, however, did not represent the island in the Philippines, where the grand coronation was held.
The last Miss Earth Jamaica to represent the island at the international competition was Kai McDonald in 2010.
PAST WINNERS – MISS EARTH JAMAICA
- 2005 – Juel Daisi Pollard
- 2008 – Simone Burke
- 2009 – Jenaae Jackson
- 2010 – Kai McDonald
- 2011 – Kerry Moxam
Miss Earth Jamaica will act as an ambassador and spokesperson in matters relating to the environment and tourism. Throughout her reign, Harris will pursue a number of environmental projects and initiatives, guided by the three Rs — reduce, reuse and recycle.
Virtual Miss Earth 2020
The 2020 Miss Earth pageant will be held on Sunday, November 29. Owing to the impact of the global coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, the final will be a grand but virtual coronation.
“We decided not to skip this year so we can continue with our mission to raise awareness on the state of the environment,” stated Lorraine Schuck, co-founder of Miss Earth, earlier this year via the organisation’s official website.
Schuck said the virtual event could be effective in showing the global community to be resilient in the face of a crisis, and that it is possible to cope with the challenges through the creative use of technology.
Miss Earth is not the only pageant impacted by COVID-19.
The 2020 Miss World pageant was postponed in July, and the reign of Miss World 2019, Jamaican Toni-Ann Singh, extended.
The 70th staging of the competition will be held in late 2021.
