St Ann boasts new Festival Queen

Marcia Rowe, Gleaner Writer

They were already parish queens when they arrived at the National Indoor Sports Centre in St Andrew. However, being crowned National Festival Queen would have been the ultimate achievement, especially in this jubilee year.

And so, all 13 contestants gave their best queenly walk in nicely designed gowns and delivered creative pieces as well as answered questions.

But after several appearances for various reasons, it was the queen from the Garden Parish of St Ann, Kemesha Kelly, who came out triumphant - and deservedly so.

She not only took the crown, but was awarded the prizes for two of the strongest sections: Most Active in Her Community and The Most Culturally Aware.

Second place went to crowd favourite, Miss Kingston and St Andrew, Rasheen Roper, while Miss St Mary, Sasheen Douglas, ended up third. Douglas was also the recipient of two of the sectional prizes, Best Performance and the Talent Best Depicting the Path Programme.

Miss Clarendon, Vanessa DaCosta, and Miss Manchester, Victoria Cole, were also recipients of sectional prizes. Cole received a prize for the Most Poised (walk, presentation, and stance), and DaCosta for the Most Congenial and Best Gown.

DaCosta and Miss St Elizabeth, Jillian Watson, completed the top five.

The lively Jamaica Cultural Development Commission (JCDC)-oragnised pageant began with a dance by the Wolmer's Preparatory Dance Troupe. The dancers were followed by the 13 contestants, all in similarly designed dresses, boasting the black, green, and gold.

Before going through a choreographed dance routine, each contestant put a philosophical spin to their introduction.

The group of 13 returned for the talent section. Except for Roper, who performed the dance 'Chains to Change', and Miss St James, Rochelle Lee Fagan, with a steel pan selection titled Jamaica Medley, poetry was the popular medium.

Most pieces were tastily delivered, but none as creatively written and delivered as Douglas' Heroes Circle.

After a tepid performance by Abbygaye Dallas, the 2012 Festival Song Winner, with her song Real Born Jamaican, the queens returned, this time for the evening gown section.

The designers of the gowns included Natoya Dulat, Andrea Lindo, and UZURI International. The section, however, came with a little drama as Miss Hanover, Delaine Drummond, did not make her scheduled appearance.

The audience was informed by MC Paula-Ann Porter-Jones that she had a wardrobe malfunction. Thankfully, she was able to make her mandatory walk before all regrouped for their final walk.

Then it was on to the sectional prize presentation. And before the top five were announced, Jamaican musician Chino performed a medley of his hits.

Roy Rayon, winner of several Festival Song competitions, was the last entertainment act. He, too, resorted to the medley route and had the audience dancing and singing along. After his departure, Krystle Daley, National Festival Queen 2011, who was preceded by her video presentation, made her final walk.

This was followed by the announcement of the winner of the title of National Festival Queen 2012.

The other contestants were Miss St Thomas, Trezawnah Gordon; Miss Portland, Anna Kay Bromfield; Miss St Catherine, Kimberly Carr; Miss Trelawny, Kimeka Campbell; and Miss Westmoreland, Jessica Davidson.

The theme for the well-attended pageant was 'Jamaican Woman - Shaping Your Culture'.

The event was presented against the backdrop of a beautifully decorated stage boasting a large hibiscus flower and the Doctor Bird.