Leanne Williams, who is pursuing a degree in accounting at the University of the West Indies (Mona), was on Sunday night crowned Miss SoSci 2026.

A total of eight young ladies, who are students of the Faculty of Social Sciences, participated in the coronation, which took place at the faculty’s lecture theatre.

Jermaine Francis, the current Faculty of Social Sciences representative for the Guild, told Observer Online that the pageant’s success was attributed to sponsorship received from corporate entities.

“We couldn’t have done this without the support of corporate companies including Lasco Curves, Best Dressed Chicken, Lifespan, Kotch and Sophie Sam cologne store in Spanish Town,” said Francis.

The event was supported by students from the university as well as family members of the contestants.

Rheanna Williams, who won the sectional prize for Most Popular on social media, was named 1st runner-up, while Jannel Watson finished as 2nd runner-up.

Leanne Williams took home sectional prizes for Best Talent, Most Culturally Aware, and Best in Evening Gown, while Lisa-Gaye Mills was named Most Congenial and Most Poised, while Kelisha Francis won Best Community Project.

The contestants were judged on talent, their evening wear as well as the question-and-answer segment.

In a post pageant interview with Observer Online Leanne Williams shared why she decided to enter the pageant.

“Interestingly, I have always been involved in leadership within the university space, but pageantry presented a different kind of challenge for me. My late grandmother often complimented my physique and my walk and would jokingly ask if I had ever considered becoming a model,” she said.

“That stayed with me, and over time I realised that pageantry is more than just appearance. It is about confidence, voice, and influence.”

She added: “I decided to enter the Miss SoSci pageant because I wanted to use my platform to empower other young women to step out of their comfort zones and become the best versions of themselves.”

She noted that she also wanted to challenge herself.

“Pageantry requires discipline, intelligence, and resilience, and I wanted to test whether my confidence and intellect could carry me through that experience,” said Leanne.

She described the experience as “honestly amazing.”

“I learned a lot throughout the journey, both about pageantry and about myself. What stood out the most was the sense of sisterhood among the contestants. It never felt like a harsh competition,” she said, adding “instead, it felt like we were all women growing and learning together. Because of that, we built genuine relationships, and the entire experience felt very supportive and seamless.”

She also disclosed her biggest takeaway from the pageant.

“My biggest takeaway is the importance of confidence and authenticity. Throughout the journey I realised that when you remain true to who you are and stay grounded in your purpose, and values you are able to perform at your best.  It also reinforced the value of discipline, resilience, and sisterhood, because preparing for a pageant requires commitment and support from those around you,” she said.

The former St Catherine High student who is from the community of Burke Hill in Watermount, St Catherine said that growing up in a rural community helped to shape her into the person that she has become.

“Growing up there taught me resilience and the value of hard work.  I attended St Catherine High School, which played a major role in shaping my character and ambition. Those early experiences helped lay the foundation for the person I am today and the values I continue to carry with me,” she argued.

“During my reign, I hope to begin executing my community initiative focused on financial literacy within the Faculty of Social Sciences,” she pointed out.

She said as an accounting student she strongly believes that financial education is essential for young people as they transition into adulthood.

“Through this initiative, I hope to educate students on how to manage their finances, build savings, understand credit, and begin investing early. I also want to guide students on practical steps for major life decisions such as purchasing or financing a home, buying a car responsibly, managing student debt, building emergency funds, and planning for long-term financial stability,” said Leanne.