Carolyn Yapp - Miss Jamaica 2009 :: Missosology Beauty Talks

The personal charm & special spice of Carolyn continues to conquer more and more missosologists. Although she was crowned Miss Jamaica just a couple of weeks ago, she has easily stolen the limelight from several frontrunners. Embodying all the qualities of a true beauty queen, her popularity grows by leaps and bounds.

If you are the answer, what is the question?

Who is self-assured, driven and persistent with excellent rapport with people from all walks of life?

In the sea of beautiful universal women who will set foot in the Bahamas, what should make you stand out?

Girls that have stood out at Miss Universe in the past have consistently worn incredible outfits. But, the ones that are most memorable have had the most incredible personalities that are complimented by their wardrobe. I think that my genuine and magnetic charm will make me stand out. I have been told that there is a sparkle in my eyes so I hope that differentiates me from the 83 other beautiful contestants for the title, since we will all be well dressed.

I think that the modern Miss Universe should be street smart and educated so I am particularly proud of my academic achievements over the years. My humble beginnings and the challenges I have faced in life have made me a more rounded woman and they have not prevented me from dreaming big and pursuing my ambitions without reservations.

I have obtained degrees in Business Management & Human Resources and Interior Design. It is very important to me to have achieved academic success in these areas. I still have much more that I want to accomplish, but I think these are excellent first steps in obtaining that 'X' factor that judges seem to look for every year.

If you could trade places with any other famous person for a week, real or fictional, with whom would it be & why?

There are many influential and successful people that I admire, particularly Princess Dianna when she was alive. But, since I have the option of an imaginary person, I would love to trade places with someone with a personality as influential and wealthy as Mr. Donald Trump, as charismatic as President Obama and as giving and gracious as Mother Theresa. The reason I would want these qualities to be combined is so that I could invincibly champion charitable causes and usher global support as a Miss Universe and a goodwill ambassador.

What is your worst quality?

My worst quality is probably that I compare myself with 'the perfect person'. It isn't so much that I want to be perfect, although most women secretly want it, but that I constantly strive to be a better me. This quality keeps me aspiratory and humble but at the same time, it causes me to put a lot of pressure on myself when I really want to achieve something.

Describe your fashion sense & style.

I've never really thought about my style in detail because I am adventurous and try not to be academic about it. I like feeling pretty and feminine so maybe I'm mostly city-chic, I guess. Contemporary, young designers dresses are what seem to catch my eye when I window shop. I usually dress comfortably.

What's inside your bag right now?

My BlackBerrys (Pearl and Javelin), my Prada purse, a Chanel compact, my make-up bag, some moisturizer, a small bottle of evian water, The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success by Deepak Choprah and my Miss Jamaica sash. You can tell it's a big bag right?

Any beauty secrets that you would like to share the readers of Missosology?

The best accessory one can ever put on is a warm smile that is coming from a happy heart. And, I think that someone is happiest when they are at peace with themselves and love who they are and how they look. Along with self-love, drink lots of water to stay hydrated because water makes your skin glow naturally. I also exercise to maintain health and fitness.

I’ve always been interested in sports and how it promotes healthy living. I grew up playing badminton and I have more recently discovered the virutes of yoga. I have been practicing Bikram Yoga for the past two years and it has had an extraordinary impact on my life spiritually, physically & emotionally. And sleep! We need it to look beautiful and all nighters ruin your eyes and skin. Going under the knife is too common these days and I am a fan of 100% natural beauty. However, to each his own.

What is your personal quote or motto that you live by?

Every man's success is written in his destiny but every journey has a map with different routes. We road we take depends on our choices. So, make healthy choices everyday!

What would your friends say to describe you?

That I am a down-to-earth goof ball who likes to have a good time. They probably would speak of how much I want to develop a niche business in high fashion living spaces as well as pursue an acting career. Oh, they would tell you that I am a beach bum too!

Tell us about your preparations for the Miss Universe contest.

Although I was crowned Miss Jamaica only two weeks ago, I have been preparing for this moment for a long time. I entered the Jamaican preliminaries of Miss Universe 4 yrs ago, placed third as well as Miss Jamaica World, with a second place finish in 2004. My pageant experience has brought me a long way off the stage. The unique thing about this experience is that from it, I’ve a learned a valuable lesson about ambition and timing. Styling and a sassy presence is said to be part of my natural mannerisms, so luckily I only needed some refinement in that area.

I also have worked as a sales associate in one of the most exclusive fashion stores in Florida. The job was very competitive and demanding. However, I managed to be the best performing team member and constantly exceeded my targets throughout the entire period of my employment. My love of fashion and people helped me to embrace my responsibilities and excel. I enjoyed working with people from different cultural backgrounds and although it seemed to be simple opportunity, I learnt so much from it. Looking back, I feel like it, and many of my life experiences contributed to my preparation for Miss Universe 2009. I also had to do more strength training to boost my endurance so I can 'bring it' when the time comes. (chuckles)

If Hollywood made a movie about your life, whom would you like to see play the lead role as you?

Well, if I am crowned Miss Universe 2009 then I would love to go to film school on scholarship so that I can be equipped to play myself in a movie. However, if the movie has to be made today, I think Penelope Cruz or Jessica Alba would do an incredible job.

One of your co-candidates decides to visit your country, where would you take her?

If she likes the adrenaline rush of adventure sports then she has to go parasailing in Montego Bay. The azure ocean is so beautiful from up high. And if she is a dare devil, I would take her to Rick's Cafe for awesome Jamaican cuisine then we jump from the 50m cliff into the chilly water below us. Many tourists love it there. Dunn's River waterfall is a high way up but she will love the way her legs look when she gets to the top.

If you were a type of food, what type of food would you be?

I would be water, the master nutrient. Crisp, refreshing and impossible to live without.

If you were written about in the newspaper, on the front page, what would the headline say?

My dream headline would say "Carolyn Yapp is Miss Universe 2009!"

Lastly, what's your special message to the worldwide visitors of Missosology, most specially to your fans & supporters?

I would like to thank everyone for their support and hope it continues during my reign as Miss Jamaica and hopefully, as Miss Universe. It has been really amazing. To fans and supporters, never give up on your dreams because it all starts in your mind. Always see yourself winning but never think about the success as only for yourself. If you have a genuine interest in helping others, then the universe will help you attract the success you need to make it happen. Hopefully, I will be Miss Universe 2009 and have the official capacity to send a message to all the people of the world.