It’s been three years instead of the usual one year, but Lindsay Japal’s reign as Miss Cayman has been worth every minute of it.
Most pageant titleholders are contractually responsible to represent their country for one year before handing over their crown, but the Miss Cayman pageant has been on hold since Japal won in September 2011.
The pageant is now being scheduled for 2015, and 10 contestants were recently selected.
Japal will continue her duties and obligations with grace and style until the evening when she crowns the new recipient, but if given the choice, she would hold onto her crown forever.
“People always jokingly ask if I’ll keep it forever, and I joke back that I would if they’d let me, because truthfully I consider myself to be very blessed,” she says.
“Contractually, I was never obligated to continue my reign. However, I understood the importance of being a representative and ensuring that the Cayman Islands continued to have a face behind it. It has been three years of hard work, but I felt compelled to maintain my title, and will continue until I crown my successor in January 2015.”
Japal’s advice for the young hopefuls is to maintain an easy-going mind-set throughout the process and keep a thick skin. She adds that contestants have to be able to adapt and to thrive under pressure.
Once-in-a-lifetime opportunities
After winning the title in September 2011, Japal’s first year was a nonstop roller coaster. Immediately she began to train for the 2011 Miss World pageant, which took place in London and Scotland in November that year, and then she began training for the 2012 Miss Universe pageant in Las Vegas in December 2012. In between and since, she has traveled the world, and as of January 2013, she has been able to put her own spin on things, lending her appearances and support to worthy causes close to her heart. In the back of her mind, she also knew she had to focus on her next phase of life, after her Miss Cayman journey comes to an end.
Some of her favorite memories include shooting with fashion photographer Fadil Berisha, the official photographer of Miss Universe and Miss USA, and modeling for designer Sherri Hill. She has also been featured on the cover of magazines; went on casting calls in New York for a television movie for producer Rick Schwartz; and has modeled for various campaigns, including an entire catalog for a Cayman-themed swimsuit line by designer Tosca Delfino, then modeled on the runway at a Miami swim show.
You also may see her face on television as she is in a commercial advertising the Cayman Islands, which features regularly during the “Today Show.” She has also brushed up next to stars such as Damian Marley and Kelly Osbourne.
Japal describes her experience competing for Miss Universe: “Once you arrive, you are thrown into a one-month, nonstop, roller coaster ride with almost a hundred of the most beautiful girls you have ever seen by your side. There are few instances in life that afford you the opportunity to interact with that many cultures at once. At the end of it all, I made genuine friendships with people from all over the globe.
“During our training, we formed a sisterhood; we all knew we were there for a purpose though and once those cameras were on, it was show time! I had the opportunity to meet Donald Trump [the pageant’s owner] and his talented team, and see what goes on behind the scenes of a production such as Miss Universe. It was truly incredible. There is no feeling that can compare with competing on behalf of your country. I was proud yet humbled.”
The confident Japal was surprisingly hesitant about running for Miss Cayman in the first place. She wasn’t sure she had what it took or if her personality was fit for the job. Fortunately, she had the encouragement of family and friends, which helped her build up enough courage to take the leap. “I knew it was a great opportunity and honor, but it definitely took some convincing! Best decision I ever made, though, so I am really grateful for those who pushed me,” she says.
Her family includes a Cayman-born mother who was raised in the U.S. and a Grenadian father who came to Cayman in the 1970s as a member of Caribbean band The Tradewinds. She credits her parents for much of her success. “My parents are extremely strong, compassionate people who have taught me, along with my three siblings, the importance of integrity and hard work. I come from a very closely knit family and am extremely thankful to God for such a blessing.”
Born and raised in Cayman, Japal graduated from John Gray High School, then received her associate’s degree from University College of the Cayman Islands. Currently, she works at Caledonian Group Services Ltd. as an executive coordinator. She is also the company’s sponsor liaison, meeting with charities and organizations and advising on the ways the bank can lend their support. She has an aptitude for finance, and started working in the industry when she was 17.
“When I decided to run for Miss Cayman, I was entering my final year of my bachelor’s in finance at York University in Toronto, Canada,” Japal says. “When I was crowned, I began leading almost a double life, moving between finance and tourism on a day-to-day basis, concentrating both on being Miss Cayman and also on my progress as a professional. My position allows me to both learn and explore the in’s and out’s of the financial industry, and hone my people skills through our business development and marketing sectors as well as international conferences.”
Looking forward
So, what is her next step? Since she has never been much of a planner (Japal considers herself more of a “seize the day” type of person), she had decided to change course again.
“This type of personality tends to make some people uncomfortable, but it is who I am. I believe in finding purpose while being open to new opportunities and adventures. On a professional level, I have found myself at a crossroads, somewhere between possibility and stability. For now, I intend to find a balance between the two, in search of what makes me truly happy.”
That happiness will find her in Florence, Italy, at the end of September, attending the international arm of the New York Film Academy. The film academy is one of the official sponsors of the Miss Universe pageant, and contestants receive a certain level of training from there and are encouraged to continue with the education afterward.
Although Japal did not originally explore this opportunity, she had a change of heart after being cast in a local short film, “The Devil You Know.”
“The course is meant to reflect the culture and history of the city. Students write, direct, shoot, edit and act in their own films and acquire a deep understanding of Italian culture. Florence is a repository of some of the greatest works of art in the world, and the program takes advantage of this. It is focused, intensive, and extremely hands-on. Needless to say, I am extremely excited!” she says.
For Japal, being Miss Cayman has not only awarded her opportunities she never dreamed of, but it also allowed her to grow as an individual.
“Miss Cayman has ensured me a confidence and comfort that you can only learn from being in the spotlight. It has taught me to appreciate who I am, both on a stage and off, all made up and all natural. It has also instilled the real definition of beauty – which inspire my words of wisdom. Never attempt to be somebody else’s definition of beautiful, it is a losing battle as one could never fulfill them all. Instead, be yourself, be happy, be genuine and be open-minded.
“As cliché as it sounds, beauty really does come from within.”
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