Miss Jamaica Universe 2010 Yendi Phillipps has cut off her flowing mane for a worthy cause, having donated her hair to the 'Locks for Love' charity.

The model/beauty queen surprised and delighted a number of fans when she posted pictures of a short haired version of herself on social networking sites Twitter and Facebook yesterday.When contacted by The STAR about the transformation and the charity, Phillipps, however, had little to say. She commented, "I did cut my hair and it is being donated but I don't want to do a PR thing about it."

On Phillipps official Facebook page she, however, had this to say to her fans, "To be free of what society tells you to be, as you were created. Rid of the face mask painted, no chemicals to strip my mane, returned to the kinks and curls of my DNA.This is me ... as I was made to be ... a beauty. B.E.A.U.T.Y.- Being exceptional and unique through you. (For those asking: my hair will be donated to Locks for Love)." On her Twitter page she also added, "If hair defines who you are then consider me 'Redefined'!"

'Locks of Love' is a non-profit charity based in the United States. The organisation accepts donations of human hair and money with the intention of making wigs for needy children who have lost their hair due to a medical condition in Canada and the USA. According to the organisation's website, www.locksoflove.org, "Locks of Love is a public non-profit organisation that provides hairpieces to financially disadvantaged children in the United States and Canada under age 21 suffering from long-term medical hair loss from any diagnosis."

It further explained, "We meet a unique need for children by using donated hair to create the highest quality hair prosthetics. Most of the children helped by Locks of Love have lost their hair due to a medical condition called alopecia areata, which has no known cause or cure. The prostheses we provide help to restore their self-esteem and their confidence, enabling them to face the world and their peers."

On Facebook the responses to Phillipps' decision was mostly positive, as one person commented, "Yendi it is your hair to cut and beauty is far more than just skin deep."

This isn't Yendi's first effort when it comes to charity work, she has established 'The Yendi Phillipps Foundation' which is dedicated to work with various charities. Phillipps is almost at the end of her Miss Jamaica Universe reign and is purposing an international career in modelling, media and film.

Yendi sports her new look on Facebook fan page.