Twenty-two-year-old Sara Lawrence, Miss Jamaica World 2006, is expecting a baby this September and has relinquished her title with immediate effect. Her reign was scheduled to end in August.
In a statement released yesterday, Ms. Lawrence said, "I relinquish my position as Miss Jamaica World 2006, having taken a deeply personal decision to face up to my responsibilities as one who expects to become a mother later this year. I believe that it is my moral obligation to do what I believe to be ethically correct and will follow what I believe to be right."
Abortion not an option
Speaking with The Gleaner, Ms. Lawrence said for ethical reasons, having an abortion was not an option, and her boyfriend fully supports her decision. "I will continue pursuing a career in medicine after the birth of my baby," she said. She is 12 weeks pregnant.
Steve and Beverly Lawrence, parents of the queen, have also thrown their full support behind their daughter, and said, "... as parents our responsibility will remain to provide support and assist her with guidance and understanding through this difficult time."
Miss Jamaica World franchise holder, Mickey Haughton-James, issued a statement saying: "Sara Lawrence, the reigning Miss Jamaica World, is a fabulous young woman who did Jamaica proud at the 2006 Miss World contest and has performed outstandingly as Miss Jamaica World since then. Unfortunately, Miss Lawrence has made an error of judgement and is now facing up to the consequences. It has caused her great anguish".
Haughton-James continued: "Sara's role in all of this cannot be ignored; her actions could potentially harm the tradition that is the Miss Jamaica World pageant and past and future winners. I know that she intends to do all within her powers to mitigate this potential harm through her future endeavours and Spartan intends to give her 100 per cent support. I hope that all Jamaica will be understanding and do likewise".
Miss Lawrence won the crown from a field of 15 contestants last year and has been focusing her attention on children left orphaned by HIV/AIDS. She placed in the top six out of 104 in the Miss World competition and was also voted Queen of the Caribbean at the Miss World finals held in Poland on September 30, 2006.
Who will serve
When asked who will serve out the remaining months of Miss Lawrence's reign, Mr. Mickey-Haughton said: "With only five months to go before the selection of Miss Jamaica World 2007, I am not sure it will be necessary to appoint a replacement, and I may very well ask Terri-Karelle Griffith, Miss Jamaica World 2005, to participate in this year's event and to crown the winner."
In a statement released yesterday, Ms. Lawrence said, "I relinquish my position as Miss Jamaica World 2006, having taken a deeply personal decision to face up to my responsibilities as one who expects to become a mother later this year. I believe that it is my moral obligation to do what I believe to be ethically correct and will follow what I believe to be right."
Abortion not an option
Speaking with The Gleaner, Ms. Lawrence said for ethical reasons, having an abortion was not an option, and her boyfriend fully supports her decision. "I will continue pursuing a career in medicine after the birth of my baby," she said. She is 12 weeks pregnant.
Steve and Beverly Lawrence, parents of the queen, have also thrown their full support behind their daughter, and said, "... as parents our responsibility will remain to provide support and assist her with guidance and understanding through this difficult time."
Miss Jamaica World franchise holder, Mickey Haughton-James, issued a statement saying: "Sara Lawrence, the reigning Miss Jamaica World, is a fabulous young woman who did Jamaica proud at the 2006 Miss World contest and has performed outstandingly as Miss Jamaica World since then. Unfortunately, Miss Lawrence has made an error of judgement and is now facing up to the consequences. It has caused her great anguish".
Haughton-James continued: "Sara's role in all of this cannot be ignored; her actions could potentially harm the tradition that is the Miss Jamaica World pageant and past and future winners. I know that she intends to do all within her powers to mitigate this potential harm through her future endeavours and Spartan intends to give her 100 per cent support. I hope that all Jamaica will be understanding and do likewise".
Miss Lawrence won the crown from a field of 15 contestants last year and has been focusing her attention on children left orphaned by HIV/AIDS. She placed in the top six out of 104 in the Miss World competition and was also voted Queen of the Caribbean at the Miss World finals held in Poland on September 30, 2006.
Who will serve
When asked who will serve out the remaining months of Miss Lawrence's reign, Mr. Mickey-Haughton said: "With only five months to go before the selection of Miss Jamaica World 2007, I am not sure it will be necessary to appoint a replacement, and I may very well ask Terri-Karelle Griffith, Miss Jamaica World 2005, to participate in this year's event and to crown the winner."
