KINGSTON, Jamaica— A 23-year-old born-again Christian, Troy Ann Anderson, who worships at the Parks Road New Testament Church of God in West Rural St Andrew, was on Saturday night crowned Miss Universe Jamaica East.

The keenly-contested pageant, which was held inside the auditorium at the Wolmer’s Boys’ High School in Kingston, saw attorney-at-law Simone Gardner and Shiann Excell finishing in second and third places, respectively.

All three were crowd favourites.

The pageant started with 29 young ladies, and it was quickly whittled down to a Top 17.

The Top 10 also included Sylene Walker, Ashleigh Kates (who won the Altruism award), journalist Kwela Cole, Esther Moore, Kennya Young, Nastassia Haughton (winner of the sectional prize for Most Congenial) and Keandra Wellington.

Joining Excell, Anderson and Gardner in the Top 6 were Wellington (4th place), Haughton (5th place) and Moore (6th place).

Jody Ann Daley was named Most Photogenic, Gardner was adjudged Best in Evening Wear, while Excell was named Best in Swimwear.

The pageant got started more than an hour after its advertised start time, but once it got going, the entertainment delights were delivered. The patrons inside the jam-packed venue cheered on their favourite contestants with whistles, catcalls, horns and drums, while some people hosted placards and images.

The winner received a cash prize of $200,000 plus other prizes. She is also an automatic finalist in the national Miss Universe Jamaica beauty pageant.

-Kevin Jackson