Jolesa Hardie is Mini Miss Negril

Claudia Gardner, Assignment Coordinator

WESTERN BUREAU:Ten-year-old fifth-grader Jolesa Hardie is the new Mini Miss Negril.

The Sheffield All-Age School student walked away with the title at the 2014 Mini Miss Negril Talent and Awareness Pageant at the MXIII Lawn in West End in the resort town last Friday night.

Miss A&F Haberdashery, Renae Rankine, was the first runner-up and Miss Samuel's Hardware, Brintae Byfield, was second runner-up.

Jolesa, who sported the sash 'Miss Colour Variety Store', won a trophy, a tablet computer, a $5,000 back-to-school voucher, day passes for two to Kool Runnings Water Park, and passes for four to Dolphin Cove.

First-runner up Renae also won a trophy, $5,000 cash, a $3,000 back-to- school voucher, and passes for two to Dolphin Cove. Brintae took home a trophy, passes for two to Kool Runnings Water Park, a $2,000 back-to-school voucher, and dinner passes for two at the 3 Dive Jerk Centre.

Ten girls participated in the competition, which consisted of five major segments: an introduction segment; a talent segment; a question-and-answer segment; an evening gown segment; and a creative costume-design segment.

The other contestants were Miss Smart Choice Hardware, Shanay Byrd; Miss Seashli Entertainment, Taliecia Brown, who also made the top five; Miss AMB Entertainment, Julia Coke; Miss Everfresh Girls, Jodian Sutherland; Miss AMB Records, Olivia Taylor; Miss Yellows Computer Repair and Services, Aleisha Lewis; and Miss Banark Bike Rentals, Onesha Murray.

other awards

Jolesa, who also copped the Best Talent and Best Creative Design sectional awards, said her hobbies included dancing, acting, reading, and watching television. The Most Aware sectional prize went to Brintae Byfield, while the Most Improved Contestant went to Jodian Sutherland, and the Most Intelligent to Taliecia Brown.

"I feel wonderful and special," Jolesa told Western Focus. "I entered the competition wanting to know more about Negril, and I wanted to be a princess."

Her mother, Icylin Clarke, who also received the Most Supportive Mother award on the night of the event, told Western Focus that she was very proud of her daughter, who is the last of her four children.

"I feel very, very good. I was always with her right throughout. I practised with her and stayed with her for the entire month until it was over. She is very active. She always enters JCDC competitions and is very talented," Clarke said.

Sponsors of the event included Travellers Beach Resort, Xtabi Resorts, 3 Dives Jerk Centre, Sunset on the Cliffs, Negril Tyer Centre, Wappy King Entertainment, Game Cell, Talrich Book Store, Claj.com, Double Take Production, Faithful Weddings and Services, Avalon Entertainment, Sterling Cut Fashion Designing, and H2O Distribution.

Judges at the event were Nekeshia Myrie Kozer, Carlean Clarke, and Dacordie Vickers.