Beauty Pageant Organiser Among Jamaican-American Community Leaders Honored

Marcia V. Deans, CEO of the annual Miss Tropical Paradise Beauty Pageant boasted an ear to ear smile last week at York College in Queens, NY where she was honored at the NYC Council’s Annual Celebration of the 49th Anniversary of the Independence of Jamaica. Other Jamaican-American community leaders who were honored at the gaga included Dr. Gladstone Orlando “Bunni” Byfield, Hall of Fame Soccer Coach; Karen Arlene Clare, Senior Associate, BNY Mellon; Frank Cadogan, owner of Vital Health Foods and Shrikant Jhaveri, owner, Joy Ice Cream & Caterers.

Deans, who has been very active in the Caribbean community for almost two decades, launched the first Miss Tropical Paradise Pageant in 1999. That year twenty-two young women, ages 21-30 took center stage to compete for the title. The Pageant has since been held in various locations, including Barbados, Trinidad, Jamaica, New York, Washington D.C., and Florida. The Final of the 2001 pageant was held and co-sponsored by Hedonism III. The pageant was so successful that the hotel chain hosted the event in 2002 and 2003.