New titleholders for the inaugural Miss Universe Jamaica Clarendon, Manchester and St Elizabeth joint pageant were announced last night inside the auditorium of the Golf View Hotel in Mandeville.

Returning pageant competitor, 28-year-old construction forewoman Suzan Dowdie, was crowned Miss Universe Jamaica St Elizabeth, while Mickalia Suckie, a 23-year-old University of Technology pharmaceutical student, took the title of Miss Universe Jamaica Manchester.

The Miss Universe Jamaica Clarendon crown went to 23-year-old human resource management student at the University of the West Indies, Taniquia Francis.

Twelve young ladies competed for the three titles, which guaranteed each titleholder an automatic spot in the national finals of the Miss Universe Jamaica beauty, fashion and wellness pageant. A fourth young lady, Alanda Newman, was selected by the judges for an automatic placement in the national finals.

The coronation got underway minutes after 7:00 pm, with the contestants in their opening number. After they introduced themselves to the audience, it was time for the swimwear segment, which saw mostly the male members inside the jam-packed auditorium whistling and showing their approval.

The evening gown segment was next, followed by the announcement of the top six, which included Dowdie, Suckie, Francis, Kaithlyn Lindsay, Ashaurah Campbell and Alanda Newman.

After the question-and-answer segment, the sectional awards were announced.

Nicole Tucker was judged Most Photogenic, while the Altruism Award went to Suzan Dowdie. Dowdie also won Best in Swimwear and Most Congenial.

Mickalia Suckie won both the People’s Choice Award and Best in Evening Gown.

Commenting on being crowned Miss Universe Jamaica Manchester, Suckie said the journey had been an amazing experience.

“I feel all sorts of emotions but I am definitely happy that we’ve finally done this and all the girls were amazing,” Suckie told Observer Online. “We formed a sisterhood and the experience was really amazing.”

While she was being crowned on stage, Suckie got emotional with tears streaming down her cheeks.

“I just got emotional because we finally did it. It was three months of training and preparation, and I worked hard to actually get to be in this position and to know that I did it, and to know that I am now Miss Universe Jamaica Manchester, it really means a lot to me,” the Marshalls Pen resident shared.

Dowdie shared that she was not surprised at her win.

“No, I wasn’t surprised at all. I put in the hard work and I came back strong. I have seen the growth, and I would just like to give back to my community. I want to shine a light on my community of Giddy Hall in St Elizabeth, which is still badly affected by Hurricane Melissa,” said Dowdie.

For Francis, her decision to enter the pageant came from a need for personal development.

“I am shocked that I won, but most of all, I am just very happy, and I am proud of myself,” said Francis. “I decided to enter the pageant because I felt that it would assist me in growing as a woman, and not just growth for myself, but to also impact my community. I want to serve and I also want to leave a lasting impact.”

Keitho Nembhard, general manager for Golf View Hotel, which hosted the event, described the hotel’s association with the pageant.

“We are all about community development and nation building. The hotel is owned by proud Jamaicans, and they are solidly secured when it comes to empowerment of women, empowerment of men and also giving back to the community. We support all the contestants in whatever way we can and even after the competition has ended, we continue to support them,” Nembhard told Observer Online.

“We have now enhanced the partnership, where they have found a space and a home where they can always flourish and develop along their pageant journey,” Nembhard said.