Khdrea Jones was crowned the winner of the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission (JCDC) Miss St Catherine Festival Queen held at the G C Foster College Auditorium in Spanish Town on Sunday night.

The 23-year-old production assistant was an early crowd favourite and managed to impress the judges during the competition’s various segments.

Jones’ talent piece, a dub poem calling Jamaicans to “come together” as the nation approaches its 60th anniversary, received a thunderous applause from the packed auditorium.

She also shone in the question-and-answer segment, when asked: What she would do to improve cultural knowledge within Jamaica’s schools?

“I would make sure that all high schools on the island teach Jamaican culture as a required subject,” she responded.

After the competition, Jones told the Jamaica Observer her passion for Jamaica was one of the main inspirations for entering the festival queen competition.

“I have always loved my country, its people and culture, so this time around I decided to enter so that I could learn and discover what I can do with this platform so that I can I contribute to our culture,” she said.

Jones shared details about her community project, which, she said, will focus on the needs of the people.

“In relation to my community project, I just want to find out what the people need and work towards that goal. I am still fine-tuning that. However, I want it to impact the younger and the older generations and the amalgamation of both,” Jones shared.

Before the announcement of the winner, second and third, respectively, were Osheeka Buchanan, who was also awarded Most Poised and Kavelle Bromfield, who walked away with the Most Active and Most Cultural Aware Contestant awards.

Other sectional prizes went to Yanique Brown, Best Performance; Krystal Crosdale, Most Popular on Social Media; and Gabrielle Thompson, Most Congenial.

Singer Nadine Sutherland and the St Catherine High School Drummers gave exciting performances.

The theme for this year’s show was ‘Reigniting the Power of the Jamaican Woman’.

The Miss Jamaica Festival Queen Competition has become the premier forum for culturally aware, intelligent, and poised young females seeking an opportunity to contribute to the development of their community and country.

Past winners include broadcaster/playwright Dahlia Harris, radio personality Jennifer “Jenny Jenny” Small, Dr Marsha Barnett, and former president of the People’s National Party Youth Organisation Krystal Tomlinson.