The highly anticipated Miss Jamaica Festival Queen Grand Coronation will be held today, Emancipation Day, Thursday, August 1 at the National Arena, starting at 8:00 p.m. and will see 13 talented and creative young women compete for the coveted crown. The coronation is being held under the Jamaica 57 Independence Celebration theme, “One Nation, One People”.
Organized by the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission (JCDC), The Miss Jamaica Festival Queen Competition has catapulted the careers of countless young Jamaican women for over 50 years. The programme focuses extensively on the pivotal role of women in society in various capacities. Some of the more notable past queens include Dr. Marsha Barnett, Jennifer ‘Jenny-Jenny’ Small, Jacinth Hall-Tracey, Dahlia Harris, Krystal Tomlinson and Kaysia Johnson.
“Each year, the young women who are selected are those who best represent the brilliance and resilience of the Jamaica woman. Our theme for the competition this year is ‘Strong Jamaican Woman: Woman of Culture’, which is fitting as I believe our 13 parish queens are indeed strong women of culture,”said Andrew Clunis, Director of Marketing and Public Relations at the JCDC.
Not only are the potential Festival Queens intelligent and culturally aware, but they also represent the many different elements that speak boldly of the strength of the Jamaican woman. Clunis says each contestant brings their own flavor from their own home parishes and together they are a melting pot of the very best Jamaica has to offer.
Clunis is confident that the 2019 lineup is sure to produce a Festival Queen for the history books.
“That this competition should produce well rounded and progressive thinking young women is tradition at this point. However, I believe each year, these young women never cease to amaze. It is remarkable that for over 50 years, we have seen this programme groom and showcase such upstanding businesswomen and cultural figures,” he added.
Among selected queens are AnnaKay Hudson, Miss Kingston and St. Andrew; Khamara Wright representing St. Catherine, and Chantalle Bryan from St. Ann.
Trelawny will be represented by Nordi-Kaye Wiggan, while Tamara McPherson will represent St. Elizabeth. St. Mary’s Queen is Sashique Williams, while St. James will be represented by Chardonnae Parkins, and Isha Nation will represent Manchester.
Also crowned was Dru-Lissa Grant hailing from St. Thomas, Reneise Johnson representing Hanover, and Elieza White from Portland. Westmoreland’s Kimona Roache will be representing the parish at the Grand Final, while Alecia Byfield was selected to represent Clarendon.
Tickets for the Grand Coronation are adults $1000 presold and $1200 at the gate; and children $400.
Presold tickets may be purchased from the JCDC Head Office at 3-5 Phoenix Ave, Kingston 10, between 8:30 am and 3:30 pm daily and at the Independence Village at the JCDC’s booth between 12 noon and 5:00 pm daily.
This event will also be live-streamed on the JCDC’s website: www.jcdc.gov.jm, on Youtube: JCDC Jamaica and on Facebook: Miss Jamaica Festival Queen Competition.
