Sandals Ochi Beach Resort crowned its Festival of Arts winners at the resort in St Ann, on Thursday.

The competition is aimed at providing exposure for the large number of talented performers among the ranks of people at the various Sandals and Beaches resorts.

Garett Bailey, entertainment division manager at the resort, said he was impressed with the standard of the competition and was looking forward to the regional and national finals.

The entertainment department’s Rosane Murray and Romario Brown from housekeeping walked away with the two Male Model slots, while Althia Sinclair and Hannah-Kay Smith, both from entertainment, wowed the judges in the Female Model segment.

The vocalist categories were the most competitive of the evening. However, the front office’s Neisha Henry and Patrice Byfield from EPIX Photo Studio emerged the top performers in the Female Vocalist section. Akeen Fennel from the bar and entertainment department’s Ricardo McCook were judged top Male Vocalists.

Chad Roache, another member of the entertainment department, won the Solo Dance category, thanks to his artistic and intricate movement which had the audience roaring in appreciation. That department’s Shavaughn Sewell and Renaldo Gray emerged victorious in the Group Dance category while Sigail Raymond, from Club Sandals, was star in the Spoken Word category.

The Ocho Rios Regional Finals will take place on September 1 at Sandals Ochi, with contestants from Beaches Ocho Rios, Sandals Royal Plantation and Sandals Ochi vying to represent the regional in the national finals.