Forty girls moved into the semi-final stage of the Miss Teen Portmore Scholarship Pageant during an elimination show last Friday.

The show was put on by Octron Promotions, organisers of the pageant, in association with CVM TV and Care Furniture Limited, on the roof of the Portmore Pines plaza. The MCs for the evening were promoter and local cable channel host, Flex, and Nishka Waite, one of the pageant's organisers.

thrilled the audience

There were more than 70 contestants vying for a semi-final spot. They performed and strutted down a 25-ft runway dressed in the pageant's 'Lady Butterfly' Tees.

The performers included Mickayla Laing, a past contestant who thrilled the audience with a gospel song a capella style; Von Globe, an eclectic artiste who gave a rendition of oldies favourites; and Natalie Robinson, another past contestant and aspiring artiste who did a breathtaking execution of Rihanna's Diamonds. Clordecia Burrelle, a 2012 contestant, along with a partner, performed a dance to a dancehall medley.

hopefuls

After the display by the hopefuls, the 40semi-finalists were announced as well as the selection of the winner of the Fast Track Competition, Camara Ellis, for most tickets sold for the event. The award guaranteed her a spot as a finalist in the pageant.

The show closed with an incredible performance by Deyes, a soulful artiste with mystical island flavour, who delivered his 2013 single, Body Talk. Jaboo Muzik then entertained the patrons with music for the after-party segment.

The finalists have a chance to win more than $500,000 in scholarships and prizes. The grand coronation show will be on August 18 at the venue.