OCHO RIOS, St. Ann — A University of Technology student emerged winner on Saturday night of the Miss St Ann Festival Queen competition, and will represent the parish in the national finals at the National Indoor Sports Centre in Kingston on July 17.

Twenty-three year-old Davia Wilson, whose special interests include mentoring, doing voluntary work, gardening and modelling, won from a field of seven strong contestants during the contest staged at the Sand Castles Resort in Ocho Rios.

Wilson’s win came as a surprise to many, as crowd favourite Sasha Gay Benjamin, who also took two section prizes — Most Congenial and Best Performance — was not selected among the top three.

Second place went to Micaela Lunan, 24-year-old nursing student, who also copped the Most Aware sectional prize while Jannel Alexander, a 21-year-old guidance counsellor, took the third place.

Wilson said she was elated, yet humbled and will be working hard to ensure that the national title stays in the garden parish.

After 18 years out in the cold, last year’s winner Kamesha Turner beat the 12 other contestants during the national finals to take the national title to St Ann.

“I’m really excited, I am overwhelmed, I was very confident and I knew I had it in me to take the crown,” Wilson told the Observer.

She admitted though, that she was a little concerned when she wasn’t selected for any of the sectional prizes, but said she knew she did well in the prejudging section earlier.

“I was extremely confident until the sectional prizes were announced. When I didn’t hear my name I became a little worried because I was consistent throughout, but even then, I knew I could still win based on my consistency.

Wilson said she sees the title of Miss St Ann Festival Queen as a platform to launch her career in philanthropy and also to continue her work with children.

A past student of William Knibb and St Jago High schools, Wilson — who is studying to become a child care officer at UTech — urged child abusers to turn to God during her talent piece. She said children are the future and begged that they be loved and cared for.

Among her many gifts were a flat screen television set, $25,000 and several gift baskets. The second and third place winners were awarded $15,000 and $10,000 respectively, baskets, among other gifts.

Entertainment for the evening was provided by high school music ensemble, Positive Music Band, and entertainment manager at Sunset Jamaica Grande, Eladio Garth, kept the audience’s attention glued to the stage. On May 1, St Mary will select their cultural ambassador at the Anglican Church Hall in Port Maria.