Rasheda Green, Jamaica’s representative at the 2026 Miss Supranational pageant, has described her experience as transformative.

Green who hails from St Thomas, made it to the Top 24 in the finals and she also secured one of the five continental queen titles, the Continental Queen of the Caribbean.

In an interview with the Jamaica Observer shortly after she returned from competing in Poland, Green said that hearing her name announced as one of the continental queens was a surreal moment.

“When I heard my name announced as the Continental Queen for the Caribbean, I thought about my journey from St Thomas, Jamaica; the two previous pageants that didn’t go as I had hoped; and the point when I almost decided not to enter another pageant. I thought about my family, especially my mother and friends, who constantly encouraged me to believe in myself and to try again. Seeing my mother in the audience after she had flown from Jamaica to support me, and hearing her scream and cheer for me, was incredibly emotional. In that moment, I knew I wasn’t standing on that stage alone, I was carrying the love and belief of everyone who had supported me along the way,” said Green.

She shared that growing up, she was extremely shy, and pageantry and modelling became a way to build confidence.

Reflecting on the experience, Green said: “It was an incredible, challenging, and transformative experience. Competing in Poland allowed me to meet women from different cultures, learn from their experiences, and represent Jamaica and the Caribbean in a way that I am extremely proud of. The preparation was intense, and I had to push myself mentally, emotionally, and physically. Throughout the experience I kept coming back to the motto of my alma mater, The Hampton School, ‘Summa Virtute et Humanitate (With utmost courage and courtesy).”

She said the pageant allowed her to form friendships and tap into different cultures.

“We came from different countries, cultures, and backgrounds, but we quickly discovered that we shared many of the same dreams, challenges, and aspiration. I was especially close to my roommate, Deyounce Lowenfield, Miss BVI [British Virgin Islands], as well as I-Shilah Benita, Miss Bonaire; Tracy Nabukeera, Miss Tanzania; and Veronica Pichardo, Miss Curaçao. I came to Poland competing for a title, but I’m leaving with friendships and memories that will last for a lifetime” said Green.

Miss Supranational Jamaica 2026 Rasheda Green (right) enjoys the company of (from left) Miss British Virgin Islands, Miss United Kingdom, and Miss Netherlands..

A logistics coordinator at Acado Limited (formerly Massy Distribution), she hopes her achievement will inspire others.

“I want to use this platform to inspire young women, especially those from Jamaica and the Caribbean, to believe in themselves and pursue opportunities beyond what they may think is possible,” she said. “For now, I’m simply grateful, excited, and ready for what comes next.”

The Miss Supranational finals (the 17th edition) took place on July 31.

Delegates from 67 countries competed for the title which was won by Katrina Llegado of the Philippines. Eve Gilles of France and Lara Marina of Brazil finished in second and third.

Nigeria’s Ndah Eno was fourth, while Czech Republic’s Karolina Gorylova finished in fifth place.

The other continental queens were Miss Tanzania (Africa), Miss Venezuela (Americas), Miss Indonesia (Asia & Oceanic), and Miss Poland (Europe).

— Kevin Jackson