Joan McDonald, the first beauty contestant to win the Miss Jamaica World pageant and Olympian Devon Harris have been tapped to host Jamaica’s 57th Independence Black Tie Gala, slated for the Hilton Westchester Hotel, Rye, New York on August 10, 2019.

McDonald who was crowned Miss Jamaica World in 1978, has distinguished herself as an event planner and a personal development coach who has groomed consultants for the Miss Jamaica World and Miss Jamaica Festival Queen pageants. She has extensive public service experience having worked with Jamaica Red Cross, the Lions Club of Kingston and Citizens Action for Free and Fair Elections (CAFFE).

Harris, an author and motivational speaker was an original member of the 1988 bobsled team that represented Jamaica in the Winter Olympics in Alberta, Canada. He captained the 1992 and 1998 bobsled teams. He is the founder of the ‘Keep On Pushing Foundation’ which supports the education of kids in disadvantaged communities. At the 2018 Olympic Games in PyeongChang, he was inducted as an ‘Olympian For Life’ by the World Olympians Association in recognition of his contribution to society in inspiring other never to give up.

The Black Tie Gala – Jamaica’s marquee Independence celebration in New York – is being held under the distinguish patronage of the Minister of Tourism, the Hon Edmund Bartlett. Also in attendance and acting as ‘Brand Ambassador’ will be the Hon Lisa Hanna, Shadow Minister of Foreign Affairs & Foreign Trade. The Keynote Address will be delivered by United States Federal Judge, the Hon. Norman Hemming. The event will be attended by over 1,000 celebrants under the theme ‘Celebrating Brand Jamaica.’