Yendi Phillips, Miss Jamaica World 2007 was not the young lady her mother thought she had birthed, not at all. Yendi acknowledges that she was once the proverbial tom boy. This stunningly beautiful young woman, was not one to admire herself in the mirror, decked out in her mother's high heels, and jewelery.

Instead Yendi was once quoted as saying "the thug would always come out." But interesting is the fact that when interviewed, her high-school peers refused to place her in the tom boy category. Instead, all agreeing that her beauty was something which could never be denied.

They saw her as a young woman with a magnetic, laid back, natural persona, down-to-earth, wholesome, and not at all class conscious, mixing with people from all walks of life. Always remembering exactly where she came from, and not at all ignorant to anyone.

An old friend Hilda Cunningham was quoted to have said. "I was not even sure she remembered who I was, until I saw a surprise message in my in-box. She doesn't seem to have forgotten her beginnings!" It certainly shows a woman with depth.

Deemed as "A beauty with a purpose," Yendi has never been lost for words, never failing to appear knowledgeable, relaxed, and extremely bright and confident, when interviewed during pageant segments. Always having an answer, which has been delivered with a broad vocabulary, sincerity, and clarity.

So often contestants bring about their own demise once they open the mouth to speak, some so nervous that they trip and stumble verbally, while responding. Yendi stands proud and knows exactly what she wishes to say and what message she hopes to project. In actual fact she has been said to have "showed off" her intelligence.

And why shouldn't she? So often there is a misconception that brains and beauty can not walk hand in-hand. Not for one minute, did she need to pause and think about here responses. Instead Yendi said "I want to use this platform to affect changes."

Yendi the youngest of two children, has a Bachelor Of Arts degree, who wishes to assist in the development of her country. She wishes to introduce art to inner city children. Yendi hopes to give the unfortunate children development opportunities. This is her future mission and vision. She also has a degree in Entertainment Management.

After Hurricane Dean passed through Jamaica, this compassionate Miss Jamaica toured the island, in hope of seeing for herself, what the extent of the damages truly was. She staged a Celebrity

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