I had never planned to enter a beauty pageant but one doesn’t always know what’s around the corner, the opportunity that comes our way and sometime the life changing experiences, fate may have a lot to do with this. I decided to compete for the title of Miss Jamaica Universe (MJU) because I wanted to use this platform to make a difference in my country. And maybe because of my own experiences, I wanted to impact young people’s lives.

April Jackson-Miss Jamaica Universe

I am not sure I will ever get used to the warm feeling I get inside when someone recognises me in public without my sash. Since being crowned MJU I have founded Give Children A Future Foundation (GCAF), so that I could use my new found “celebrity status” to improve the awareness of the needs of children in care, raise funds for projects that will better the education and counselling services provided for these kids and most importantly, to ensure that they are not lost in the system but have the opportunity to realise their full potential.

People get involved in community service for different reasons, some may participate because they feel that through overcoming obstacles in their own lives they are able to contribute to others; some believe that ‘giving back’ is a moral principle; while others may be looking for another means to socialise; I fall into the first two categories. Just as there are many unique reasons for giving to the less fortunate there are just as many unique ways to make a difference. Most people, I believe, give in the form of cash or kind and some may volunteer their time. We must not forget that there are numerous genres of community service, I work with young people but others may dedicate their spare time to improving the environment, advocating for the rights of animals or organising food drives for the homeless; the list is endless. We are all individuals and therefore our motives may vary but the common denominator should be that we add value and are passionate about what we do.

During my reign, I have spoken at countless number of schools to motivate young people; I have organised events to raise money to be used to improve the facilities at the homes that I currently work with. I have had a few memorable moments; one that comes to mind is when the Prime Minister called me to ask that I be a board member of Denham Town High School. I have created a weekly programme at Glenhope Place of Safety, a remand centre, to empower the teenage girls to look to the future and achieve their goals; every week I walk away having learnt something from them.

April Jackson-Miss Jamaica Universe

Last Sunday I brought a friend with me who expressed an interest for volunteering; we spoke to the girls about what they had done for them to be sent to Glenhope, how they were changing their lives to get themselves on the right track and other life issues. We then spoke to those who felt they needed one-on-one time, they needed privacy. We had arrived at 2 o’clock in the afternoon and by the time we were finished speaking to everyone it was minutes to 6 pm. The time had flown and once I stopped talking I realised how parts of my body had become numb from sitting in one place for so long and how hungry I was but that’s besides the point; the fact is that it was beautiful to see girls who started off shy and reserved, open up in a relatively short space of time. Despite the hunger, I was happy to see that in one session they were able to discuss issues that were important to them but would not be able to speak freely about in any other forum. I think that the first thing that comes to a lot of people’s mind when they think of giving back is money. Especially in these financial times, I cannot stress enough that your time is more valuable than gold, particularly when making a difference to the lives of young people.

April Jackson-Miss Jamaica Universe

The reality is that because of the MJU title, I have been able to accomplish some of my many targets for my charity. Although it’s sad, people do respond to me better because I am MJU. For example, I am able to meet people in high places, get media coverage more easily and allow my voice to be heard. However, I do not believe that these factors are essential to making a valuable contribution, we can see this from many stars who actually prefer not to attract attention to charity work they do behind the scene.

I believe that because I am fortunate enough to be Miss Jamaica Universe, in a sense I have a duty to pass on something valuable to young people and I think it is important for those in a position of power to use their influence to give back to those who are less fortunate. When people are looking up to you, whether consciously or subconsciously you are affecting their lives through your own actions. This is evident when celebrities set the latest fashion trends but it goes deeper than clothing, when someone has a role model they aspire to be like that person, people in the public eye are impacting the lives of others and its important that they are doing so in a positive way. Luckily for me I really enjoy this aspect of MJU as the truth is that there is no greater feeling than when I have made a positive impact on someone else’s life. The other day, I was in the supermarket and an employee told me how everyday her daughter talks about my visit to her school and the things I spoke about; she keeps the book I signed for her safe because it is her most valuable treasure.

Becoming a successful model (or being successful in any field), is not just about becoming rich and famous and enjoying a life filled with glamour, one must also consider what is the legacy he or she will leave behind and I hope somewhere in the story it will include not only what was achieved for one’s self but also what he or she did for someone else. Personally, I have come to terms with the fact that I cannot change the world alone but I know that collectively if everyone did something positive for someone else, we can make a difference.

April Jackson-Miss Jamaica Universe