PANACHE: People see the glitz and glamour, but tell us about the work that you and the team put in behind the scenes from speech sessions with Paula Ann and more... The hard work and guts begin the glitz... DB: It was a team effort that involved so many individuals. I had plenty of speech sessions with both Paula-Anne PorterJones and Fabian Thomas, Hard-core gym time with Debbie Hall from Spartan Health Club, Dance & Movement with Marlon Simms of NDTC, Stage Presentation & Runway sessions with Yendi Phillipps, Etiquette sessions with Angelie MartinSpencer, Current & World Affairs Training with National Directors Mark McDermoth and Karl Williams and even makeup classes with Oneil Baugh and Dawn Lindo from D'Marie Institute. Styling was also vital and so we had a few fittings that created the perfect wardrobe. Karl and Mark also did an excellent job in getting local designers and boutiques to contribute to the wardrobe as well as putting the pieces together.
DB: I have faced many challenges, medical problems, a struggling career, robbery et al... I overcame all the adversaries because I had a good support system from both family and friends.
PANACHE: On August 27, you posted " I did it" with a portrait of tears of joy... What was that moment like for you...being crowned Miss Universe Jamaica 2017 now that you reflect on it. DB: It was a wonderful feeling to have won the Miss Universe Jamaica title because I felt like I was always losing and needed that victory to prove to myself that I could do anything once I worked hard and I did just that. PANACHE: You once said you knew what it meant to "fail and work twice as hard". What major challenge(s) have you faced in life and how did you rise above it?
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