It was the summer of 1986 and Donna Matthews had just completed a business administration course at the Excelsior Community College (EXCED). She started a job as an accounting clerk and was heading to the bank when she was approached by someone who was scouting for contestants in the 1986 Miss Jamaica Universe (now known as Miss Universe Jamaica) beauty pageant.

The shy Matthews had no intention of entering a pageant and when she shared this with her friends, they encouraged her to enter to build her self-confidence.

“Entering a beauty pageant was the last thing on my mind. I was heading to the bank and I was approached by scouts. You see, I was a shy youngster and when I was approached, I didn’t think it was anything serious. I told a few friends and we laughed about it, but they also suggested that I should do it to improve my confidence. It was summer so I said, why not,” Matthews (her married name is Levy), mother of Miss Universe Jamaica 2023 Dr Jordanne Levy, told the Jamaica Observer.

Matthews-Levy said the pageant back in those days is different from what it is today.

“It was way different back then. It was about building you as a person, how to walk, walk in a swimsuit and put the book on your head while trying to walk in heels, going to lunch with your sponsor, networking and trying to push yourself to the next level. Now it’s about using your platform and your voice to change lives, to help those who are less fortunate, and bring awareness to situations. It’s about being a change agent to society,” said Matthews-Levy.

Matthews-Levy was sponsored by Nadinola and she competed against 15 other young ladies, finishing as second runner-up. First runner-up honours went to Yana McDaniel, while Liliana Cisneros was crowned the winner and Miss Jamaica Universe 1986.

She said after the pageant, several opportunities came her way. She got a job as a flight attendant with then national airline Air Jamaica, and she also did television commercials for corporate brands. She also completed a Bachelor of Arts in English and Economics at The University of the West Indies and later a master’s degree in business at the University of New Orleans.

Said Matthews-Levy: “The opportunities that I got while working with Air Jamaica opened my eyes to another world. I got to travel and meet people from different walks of life. I got married and had my first child [a daughter named Janelle who is currently studying for a PhD in university] while flying. It afforded me certain opportunities but after nine years with the airline, I decided to pursue other opportunities.”

Matthews-Levy said she didn’t play a role in her daughter Jordanne’s decision to enter the Miss Universe Jamaica 2023 pageant.

“She [Jordanne] tells you what it is that she wants to do, and she pursues it. She is not a child that you push. Before she became the head girl at Hillel, she said she wanted to be the head girl. Later on, she came to me and said she wanted to be a doctor, and when she came back home from boarding school, she decided to study medicine at The University of the West Indies. She did two years of CAPE in one year, got a scholarship and got into med school. She goes after her dreams,” Matthews-Levy explained.

Matthews-Levy said she gave Jordanne support during her bid for the Miss Universe Jamaica crown.

“Yes, I’ve been her biggest supporter in terms of helping her to remain focused, working on her body, the things that she needed to work on, as well as building her confidence, being on stage and not being nervous. She worked very hard.”

Jordanne Levy was crowned Miss Universe Jamaica in August at the AC Hotel in Kingston. Matthews-Levy said she wasn’t surprised when Jordanne was announced as the winner.

“No, not at all. Knowing Jordanne, I knew she was going to win. Jordanne is self-driven and she’s self-motivated. When she was younger, she wrote in her journal that one day she will be Miss Jamaica Universe. My three girls are amazing, Jordanne is the middle child,” said Matthews-Levy. Her youngest daughter, Justine, who is 18 years old, is about to pursue studies at the University of Florida in January.

Jordanne will leave the island on November 2 to participate in the grand coronation of Miss Universe, which will be held on November 18 in San Salvador, El Salvador.

Matthews-Levy, who will be travelling to El Salvador with her husband and a group of friends, had some advice for Jordanne.

“You’ve done the work, and a lot of training, so stay focused. Continue to be you. Just let them see, and it will show right through. Be bold, beautiful and the rest will shine through. Don’t worry about the noise or who is in the competition, be the best you and put God first.”