by
Portia
*The original version of this article incorrectly stated that Sanneta Myrie was the first Miss World contestant to wear locs.
Miss Jamaica World Sanneta Myrie is one of the first to wear locs as a contestant in the Miss World pageant. Myrie follows in the footsteps of Jamaican Zahra Redwood, who was the first to wear locs in the Miss Universe pageant in 2007.
Myrie, 24, says that her culture plays a major role in her decision to wear locs.
“My life has always been rooted in the arts and culture which has significantly impacted my own personal style. So even when I select glam, it has to have an ethnic urban twist to it” – Jamaica Observer
In 2001 Miss Nigeria won the competition, becoming the first black African to win since the competition began in 1951. Myrie placed 5th in the Miss World pageant this Saturday.
In addition to slaying pageants with her beautiful locs, Myrie is a medical doctor and volunteer counselor for the University of West Indies. Not only is she beautiful, but she’s clearly got the brains to match.
Beautiful!!
14 Responses
@ShawnaD Yes we must all fact check before going around correcting each other as well as practice what we preach. We’re all guilty of this at times. In this case @elodie_careme:disqus and BGLH were specifically speaking of the first to wear locs in the Miss World Beauty Pageant not the Miss Jamaica or Miss Universe Pageant.
According to your links “Zahra O. Redwood was crowned Miss Jamaica Universe on March 25, 2007. She is the first Rastafarian to enter and win a beauty pageant in Jamaica and also the first Rastafarian beauty queen to represent Jamaica internationally in the Miss Universe pageant held in Mexico City on May 28, 2007.” Hopefully you see the difference.
Maybe BGLH can do a separate article for Zahra O. Redwood, Miss Universe as well as other Beauty Pageants, this way everyone is included.
Go Dr. Myrie you embody beauty with a purpose!
She looks gorgeous!
@ElodieCareme is correct. According to Wikipedia it was indeed Miss World pageant 2009. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miss_World_2009 And her instagram is https://www.instagram.com/ing_Be/
Thank you
Victoria, Elodie’s information is incorrect. It is another Jamaican Zahara Redwood who first wore dreadlocks at a pageant, as she was of the Rastafarian faith. Today’s article in Madam Noire and Wiki will really update this information. and . We must all fact check before going around correcting each other.
Beautiful woman.
Sorry I was not able to find an English article but you can check the info on Miss World 2009 wiki. So French 101: “monde” in French means world in English. Miss Monde is Miss World. Miss Universe would be Miss Univers.
I know this is an American website dedicated first to English speakers but I want to think Natural hair and more broadly Black issues are not specific to US but a concern shared by Africa and its diaspora. This is something I have always regretted, the lack of Interaction between countries in the Natural community. For example, on Saturday, the 1st runner up in Miss France pageant was a Martinican lady with Natural hair. She had been designated favorite contestant but she unfortunately did not win. They usually relax BLack contestant s hair so it is a real victory to see her go that far with her 4 something mane. I hope BGLH will feature her soon.
Thank you.
Elodie, it is actually another Jamaican who first wore dreadlocks in pageants back in 2007 – Zahara Redwood – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zahra_Redwood. She was the first Rastafarian and won Most Congenial and Most Aware at the Pageant that year. Not the person you are claiming from Martinique who wore it in 2009, 2 years later. Correct that one.
Thank you for finally doing a post about Sanneta
The first Black woman to wear locs at the Miss World Beauty Pageant is actually Ingrid Littré. She is Caribbean as well but from Martinique. She represented the island very well as she ranked 3rd. She paved the way so I hope you re gonna correct the article and make her justice.
http://www.martinique.franceantilles.fr/actualite/culture/ingrid-littre-8-eme-merveille-du-monde-14-12-2009-54652.php Here is the information.
Thank you, she’s beautiful.
I don’t work for the site, but was this a Miss World or Miss Universe pageant? I don’t think it was translated well enough for me to fully understand what level of pageantry it was?
Actually, you are incorrect, the woman from Martinique competed in 2009, but another Jamaican Zahra Redwood competed in Miss Universe in 2007 – http://madamenoire.com/605048/sanneta-myrie-dreadlocks-miss-world/.