Kingston, Jamaica, August 1, 2023: 19-year-old student at the Edna Manley College of the Visual and Performing Arts, Makalia Benjamin, who was first runner-up in the 2023 Miss Portland Festival Queen competition has assumed the title and duties as Parish Queen. This is consequent to the decision of the winner, Miss Shashanique Beckford, to relinquish the title and no longer be recognized in that capacity. As the newly appointed Queen, Benjamin will compete against 12 other culturally aware, poised and talented Parish Queens for the coveted national crown. The Grand Coronation will take place on Tuesday, August 1, 2023, inside the Independence Village at the National Arena, Kingston beginning at 8:00 p.m.
Executive Director of the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission Mr. Lenford Salmon, in acknowledging Beckford’s request to relinquish the title said, “Given the reasons proffered by Beckford, the JCDC not only understands, but also fully appreciates the need for her to focus on her own personal wellbeing at this time. So in keeping with the rules of the competition, we offered the opportunity to the 1st runner-up, Makalia Benjamin to assume the position of Miss Portland Festival Queen 2023 and she gleefully accepted. She has since stepped into the role with aplomb and has been representing her parish with distinction. We wish her and all the other 12 parish queens all the best at the National Coronation tonight, August 1, 2023.” Salmon also encouraged all Portlanders to rally around Beckford as she goes for the national crown.
Since its inception, the Miss Jamaica Festival Queen Competition and its accompanying programme of activities has been the platform through which the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission (JCDC) honours the complete beauty, intelligence and talent of the Jamaican young woman. It began in 1963 as the “Miss Jamaica Beauty Contest,” but the need for a greater emphasis on cultural awareness prompted a shift in 1975 to what has become the Festival Queen Competition. The JCDC is proud of the rich legacy of the programme, which continues to unearth, showcase and celebrate so many outstanding Jamaican women.
Winners at both the parish and national levels are selected based on the independently tabulated scores provided by a qualified set of adjudicators. The subsequent calculations and the adjudication process, in general, are meticulously reviewed, observed and approved by a credible set of auditors from outside the parish.
Festival Queen contestants are judged based on several criteria including walk and poise, talent, community involvement and cultural awareness. Community involvement and cultural awareness are determined by the panel in a pre-show assessment.
This year’s Competition is being staged under the theme, "The Jamaican Woman: Strong, Dignified and Creative." The public is encouraged to attend the Grand Coronation on Tuesday, August 1 at the Arena to cheer on their Queen. Admission is free. However, persons attending are required to have tickets to enter the venue. These are available at:
- Kingston Bookshop- 74 King Street, Springs Plaza and Boulevard Supercentre
- Sangsters’ Bookstores-33 King Street, Portmore Pines and Springs Plaza
- Kingston Jerk- 2 Chelsea Avenue
- Pier One Montego Bay
- Fontana Pharmacy- Waterloo and Barbican
- Liguanea Drug and Garden Centre
- Tastee Jamaica-Cross Road & Papine
- Genus Pharmacy- Portmore
Portfolio Minister, the Honourable Olivia Grange wants all Jamaicans to come out in their numbers to the Independence Village at the National Arena in Kingston all week this week. “We have a fantastic slate of entertaining events being put on by the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission, an agency of the Ministry of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, and there is something in there for everyone, young and the not so young. So come on out and celebrate Jamaica 61, Proud and Strong,” declared the Minister.
The Jamaica Festival Queen Grand Coronation will also be aired live on Television Jamaica (TVJ), the Public Broadcasting Corporation of Jamaica (PBCJ) as well as the JCDC’s website (www.jcdc.gov.jm). Live posts will also be made on the social media pages of the JCDC, Honourable Minister Olivia Grange, and the Ministry of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport.
