The Jamaica Cultural Development Commission (JCDC) selected the final set of parish festival queens who will go on to compete in the national coronation show in July. The parishes of Westmoreland, Hanover, St Elizabeth, St Thomas, St Catherine, Clarendon and Kingston and St Andrew all selected their cultural ambassadors at a total of seven coronation shows held across the island over the weekend (May 15 and 16).

In the west, 22-year-old agricultural sciences teacher, Sharna Gay Brown copped the Miss Westmoreland title while also taking the sectional awards for being the Most Culturally Aware, Most Congenial and Best Performer.

Hanover’s 18-year-old Angelita McDonald, a past student of the Green Island High School took the crown and copped sectional awards for “Best Performer, Most Congenial and the Most Involved in Her Community.

In central Jamaica, 19-year-old Monique Foster copped the St Elizabeth title and the sectional prizes Most Poised, Most Culturally Aware and Best Performer, while 25-year-old, Shelleann Pinnock took the Clarendon crown and four other awards including Most Poised, Most Culturally Aware, Best Performer and Most Congenial.

Kingston and St Andrew’s Tyesha Turner, a 25-year-old Foreign Service Officer, took the title for the capital city as well as copping a total of four sectional awards, including Most Culturally Aware and Most Poised.

Also winning in eastern Jamaica was 22-year-old Kenisha Allen, who swiped the St Catherine title along with the sectional prizes for being the Most Culturally Aware and the Most Involved in Her Community.

St Thomas saw 22-year-old Tasha Gaye Wilson, a teacher at the Morant Bay High School taking the crown as well as the Most Culturally Aware sectional prize.

Each queen took home prize packages inclusive of cash awards, cellular telephones from Claro, and 21-inch flat screen televisions courtesy of Singer as well as other gifts from competition sponsors Softsheen Carson and Springtime, with COK and VMBS providing the sectional awards.

All parish queens will compete at the national coronation show scheduled for the National Indoor Sport Centre on July 17. This years’ competition will be hosted under then theme: Jamaican Women, Shaping Our Culture.