Terry-Ann Virtue St Catherine's culturally aware queen

Rasbert Turner, Gleaner Writer

Terry-Ann Virtue walked away with the coveted Miss St Catherine Festival Queen Competition for 2011.

The 23-year-old research assistant at the University of Technology wearing the sash Miss Twin Sister Caves, virtually left her competitors in her wake.

On her way to winning the crown, the Eltham View resident won most of the sectional prizes.

She won Most Poised, Most Culturally Aware, and Best Performance.

Great prizes

For her effort she won a total of $44,000 from main sponsor St Catherine Cooperative Credit Union.

Among her other gifts were a music system from Singer Jamaica Limited, gift baskets from Soft Sheen Carson and Springtime, and a trophy from Moneygram.

First runner-up Lotoya Forde earned $15,000 while third place Sophia Bryan received $10,000 along with gift baskets.

The winner told The Sunday Gleaner, that while it was a great feeling to be victorious, it was the fact that she had learnt a great deal that was important to her.

It was a contest that saw the organisers competing with the rain, though, that did nothing to dampen the spirits of those who cheered their favourites throughout.

Many said it was a great set of contestants in this year's competition.

"I am very pleased with the competition. It is for the first time that there were no clear favourites, a very bright set of young ladies," said Celia Innerarity, a patron.

It was a view echoed by others who attended the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission-organised (JCDC) event.

Virtue was crowned by Miss St Catherine 2010 Kemisha Allen,who said the competition had given her immeasurable success.

"I am really impressed with the young ladies and I am pleased to have been a part of the competition and I wish my successor well, "Allen told The Gleaner.