Danielle wore 2002 queen show gown

Miss Trinidad and Tobago, Danielle Jones, who placed fifth in the Miss Universe Pageant 2004 on Tuesday night in Quito, Ecuador, chose to wear a gown that was worn by Daniella Wade at the 2002 local leg of the Miss Universe pageant. Jones was originally expected to wear a Claudia Pegus item, but somehow chose to don the Linhurst Cole design of two years ago instead. It was described by globalbeauties.com as “a dress that was a mess (wrong colour and ill fitting)” but it didn’t really hurt her performance as she carried it well and ended up placing fifth overall. Standing at 5’ 9”, Jones carried the gown with thigh high slits and peek-a-boo sides that found enough favour with the judges for her to cop the position. Jones had been a favourite at the pageant since placing third in the national costume competition.
 
In making it to the top five, Jones left her regional competitor, Miss Jamaica, behind. Jones and Miss Jamaica were the only two Caribbean competitors to make it to the top ten. New franchise holder for the local leg of the competition, Peter Elias, and Jones’ father, Hugo Mc Farlane, were among the Trinidadians supporting Jones in Ecuador on Tuesday night. But it was Danielle’s mother, Denyse Jones, who passed away last month after a battle with breast cancer, that Jones was hoping to win the crown for. Danielle and her father are expected in Trinidad by the weekend. The 26-year-old Howard University student also resides in St James.

The two-hour pageant, which was held in the Andean capital, was won by 20-year-old, blue-eyed Australian Jennifer Hawkins. Miss USA, Shandi Finnessey, was first runner-up in the field of 80 beauty queens, while the third, fourth and fifth positions were captured by Miss Puerto Rico Alba Reyes, Miss Paraguay Yanina Gonzalez and Jones respectively. The finals were broadcast live around the world and were seen by an estimated 1.5 billion television viewers in 180 countries.

PM: Danielle boosted TT’s profile

TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO’s international profile has been given a significant boost by Danielle Jones, even though she did not win the Miss Universe title in Ecuador on Tuesday night, Prime Minister Patrick Manning said yesterday. Jones placed fifth in the pageant, which was eventually won by Jennifer Hawkins of Australia. Speaking with reporters at Crews Inn, Chaguaramas, the Prime Minister said: “I am really very pleased with the way that competition turned out last night. Any number could have played in the final analysis. Even though she did not come first, she served TT very well in this competition.” Manning said by placing in the top five of the pageant, Jones “put TT on the international map once again at a time when we are trying to raise the profile of our country internationally.”

He said Jones’ performance demonstrates to tourists and business people alike “that TT is a proper destination either for recreation or investment dollars. “Danielle has made a significant contribution in that regard last night. All of TT is proud of her,” the Prime Minister declared. Asked if he felt Jones faltered in any part of the pageant, Manning replied: “I can’t say. She is just beautiful.” Manning added that Government would consider how best it could honour Jones for her achievement.