Jamaica’s top thirteen most intelligent, culturally aware and poised young women will each proudly represent their home parish on the Miss Jamaica Festival Queen stage as they compete for the national crown during the competition’s Grand Coronation this Emancipation day, Sunday, August 1.
The grand televised showcase will begin at 3:30 p.m. and will be broadcast live on TVJ and PBCJ and will also be live-streamed on the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission’s website – www.jcdc.gov.jm, Facebook - Jamaica Cultural Development Commission, and Youtube - JCDC Jamaica1 pages.
The Miss Jamaica Festival Queen Competition is a staple of the annual Independence Festival celebrations, and seeks to find the nation’s most forward-thinking, talented and inspiring young women to give them a chance to be crowned as a national cultural ambassador, while giving them a platform to inspire nation building.
“This competition focuses on the complete development of the Jamaican woman, her intellectual and advocacy development, and the development of her mental and emotional strength as a cultural and youth ambassador. I know that the standards to which you are being held by this competition are reflective of your very own personal standards. I am therefore confident that each and every one of you will continue to excel far beyond the charming and articulate young women who are in front of me today, you are all winners in my eyes," said the National Festival Queen Patron, the Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport Hon. Olivia Grange while addressing the Parish Queens during a recently held courtesy call.
Executive Director (Acting) at the JCDC, Marjorie Leyden-Kirton said that she is exceedingly proud of this year’s Festival Queens, and that she knows that they will each represent their home parish well on the national stage on Emancipation day.
“This competition is known for finding our nation’s top young women who emulate the strength and grace that Jamaica’s leading women are known for, and exposing them to the guidance and training necessary for them to become the best versions of themselves. Each of our 13 parish queens are sure to impress our at home audiences with their charm, charisma, talent and intellect at this Sunday’s show, and so we are encouraging Jamaicans both at home and abroad to tune in at 3:30 p.m. with pot covers in hand to cheer on their favourite parish Queen through this nail-biting final!” Leyden-Kirton said.
The 13 parish queens competing for the 2021 National Crown are Miss St. Elizabeth - Kaydian Taylor a 24 year old Social Worker; Miss St. Thomas - Ashagaye Mullings, a 24 year old Communications Director and Media Correspondent; and Miss Trelawny - Shelice Anderson, a 20 year old tertiary student, Miss Hanover - Danielle Miller, a 20 year old, tertiary student; Miss St. Mary - Claudia Campbell, a 25 year old teacher; Miss Kingston & St. Andrew - Tamoy Campbell, a 21 year old, Law student; Miss Manchester - Dominique Reid, a 25 year old Dentist; Miss Clarendon - Dennae Mills, a 21 year old tertiary student; Miss St. James - Morganne Kellier, a 23 year old, Law student; Miss St. Ann - Amanda Marsh, a 21 year old tertiary student; Miss Portland - Olecia Robinson, a 24 year old, Customer Service Agent; Miss St. Catherine - Kemoy Perry, a 21 year old Law student and Miss Westmoreland - Nakinskie Robinson, a 21 year old tertiary student.
The 2021 Miss Jamaica Festival Queen Competition is sponsored by: the CHASE Fund, The Civil Aviation Authority, Lasco Financial, Excelsior, Massy Distribution, Belle Amour Designs, EtAl Store, The New Green House Radio Jamaica/ TVJ, Jamaica Observer, IRIE FM, Suncity 104 FM, and PBCJ.
Since its inception in 1963, the Miss Jamaica Festival Queen Competition has provided opportunities for outstanding young women to leave their mark on not only Jamaica’s culture but all spheres of our nation’s development. Some of the past queens include Dr. Marsha Barnett, Jennifer ‘Jenny-Jenny’ Small, Jacinth Hall-Tracey, Dahlia Harris, Krystal Tomlinson and Kaysia Johnson.
