Hannah Collings-Myers, who wore the sash Miss Digita Properties Limited, was last Saturday night crowned the first-ever Miss Universe Jamaica Kingston & St Andrew inside the Douglas Orane Auditorium at Wolmer’s Boys’ High School.

The 20-year-old The University of the West Indies medical sciences student was just as surprised as many of the patrons inside the venue when her name was announced as the winner.

Collings-Myers was encouraged to enter the pageant two years ago by Jermane Blair, franchise manager for Miss Universe Jamaica Kingston & St Andrew.

“Surprise, yes, I am. This journey has been terrifying; I have been so scared to do everything, but I’ve put my best foot forward, and I don’t know why I’m so surprised to see that it came with good results. But I guess that it just wasn’t what I was expected, but I’m extremely happy with the results,’ Collings-Myers told the Jamaica Observer shortly after the coronation show ended at minutes after midnight.

Reflecting on the training and preparation leading up to the finals, Collings-Myers said: “The training was definitely hard, lots of long days, but it was worth it. I have taken away a new sense of self, I was so unsure about coming into this competition, and the fact that I came here, put my best out and could win, it shows me that I am much more than I think I am.”

She added: “It was Jermane who encouraged me to enter this pageant, but I chose to continue with it because I saw an opportunity for growth, and opportunity to get out of my shell, and that’s certainly what I’ve gotten out of it.”

Blair said he saw the potential in Collings-Myers when he met her at an event two years ago.

“I met Hannah at a fashion show two years ago and I thought that she was so beautiful. Her way of communicating was just so mature, and her responses were so intellectual. I reached out to her and encouraged her to enter, but she decided to enter this year, and she did the work, and look at her now — she is the new queen tonight,” Blair gushed.

Collings-Myers is originally from Manchester but later relocated to Montego Bay. She moved to Kingston to attend sixth form at the Immaculate Conception High School in St Andrew.

The coronation of Miss Universe Jamaica Kingston and St Andrew got under way at minutes after 8:00 pm with a spectacular opening number that wowed the audience.

After the 21 ladies introduced themselves, the number was slashed to a top 14.

Those making the cut were Leighann Dacres-Jones (Miss Mt Sinai Dental and Implant Centre), Shanika Scott (Miss Island Gully Falls Ltd), Rachel Newman (Miss Carefree), Collings-Myers, Shaniece Douglas (Miss Janga’s Soundbar and Grill) Daenya Anderson (Miss Covenant Insurance Brokers Ltd), Shanya Francis (Miss Caribbean Glass Company), Claire Schwapp (Miss STL Solar), Ottavia Bradshaw (Miss Jarrett Auto Parts), Tiyana Mowatt (Miss Saxby), Ruesheen Ricketts (Miss Advance Integrated Systems), Akanke Scott (Miss VM Group), Calethia Campbell (Miss Orion Loss Adjusters), and Tenneil Sewell (Miss Legend Beer).

After the swimwear segment, which saw the ladies dazzling the stage in swimwear courtesy of Atelier Dermoth Williams, the Top 11 was announced. Dacres-Jones, both Scotts, Sewell, Schwapp, Ricketts, Mowatt, Douglas, Francis, Newman, and Collings-Myers moved onto the next round.

The Laud Dance Ministry and singer Alicia Taylor delivered noteworthy performances before the ladies strutted the stage in evening wear.

And then there was another elimination.

But it was Collings-Myers, Mowatt, and Douglas who survived the gruelling interview segment to advance to the final top 3 where they again faced the judges for the final interviews.

Sectional prize winners went to Most Congenial – Abigail Barnes (Miss Bailey’s Food and Beverage); Altruism Award – Calethia Campbell; People’s Choice Award – Leighann Dacres-Jones; Best in Swimwear – Shanika Scott; Best in Evening Gown – Leighann Dacres-Jones; Most Photogenic – Shaniece Douglas; and Essence of Style Award – Tiyana Mowatt.

At the end of the night, Collings-Myers took the crown, while Mowatt, a medical doctor, finished in second place (first runner-up), and Douglas came third.

It was announced that, aside from the newly crowned queen, her runners-up will also automatically advance to the finals of the national Miss Universe Jamaica beauty pageant.