Davina Bennett swelled the hearts of Jamaicans worldwide with pride last night when she placed third in the prestigious Miss Universe 2017 pageant in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Twenty-one-year-old Bennett — who works with deaf students and is working on a new sign language app — had Jamaicans screaming and cheering her on from the minute she stepped onto the stage through to her selection to the top 16, 10, then the top five, and ultimately the top three.
Miss South Africa, 22-year-old Demi-Leigh Nel-Peters, was crowned Miss Universe, while first runner-up was Miss Colombia, actress Laura Gonzalez.
Bennett emerged from a field of 92 contestants to become only the second Jamaican beauty to crack the top three at Miss Universe joining Yendi Phillipps, who finished one spot higher, second place, in 2010.
Sporting her signature afro, Bennett dazzled in a buttercup yellow evening gown designed by the team from Uzuri International, whose principals, Karl Williams and Mark McDermoth are franchise holders for the local competition.
Among the other Jamaican queens who have made it to the top 10 at Miss Universe are Kaci Fennell, Christine Straw, Nicole Haughton, Sandra Foster, and Kimberly Mais.
