Member of Parliament and Minister of State in the Ministry of Industry, Investment and Commerce Delano Seiveright has announced the LaToya Malcolm Scholarship for Resilience in memory of the 2024 Miss Bikini Jamaica International titleholder and former Miss Universe Jamaica contestant.

The announcement came amid emotional scenes as the mother, family and friends of Malcolm wept and paid their final respects at her funeral on Saturday. Seiveright, a friend of Malcom, said the scholarship will see two high school students each receiving $100,000 to assist with their educational development.

Malcolm, 35, whose sudden passing in July shocked her family, friends and the wider entertainment and pageant communities, was remembered during the deeply emotional service as an exceptionally kind, loving and good-hearted young woman.

News of her passing also attracted international media attention, including coverage by major US entertainment outlet TMZ, reflecting the reach she had achieved beyond Jamaica.

An actress, entertainer and dance instructor with more than a decade of experience in entertainment, Malcolm competed in the 2024 Miss Universe Jamaica competition and later captured the Miss Bikini Jamaica International 2024 crown, also winning Best Figure, Best Legs and Best Condition.

Her pageant success was itself a story of resilience. Malcolm lost her father, Winston, earlier in 2024 but persevered through months of demanding fitness and dance training to capture the title, which she dedicated to his memory.

Tributes at Saturday’s service reflected not only on Malcolm’s accomplishments, but on the person behind them — a loving daughter who relatives and friends remembered for her warmth, kindness, ambition and generous spirit. Her mother, family members and friends were visibly overcome with grief as mourners gathered to celebrate a life cut painfully short.

The LaToya Malcolm Scholarship for Resilience will honour her memory by assisting young people facing challenges while pursuing their education. For this year’s award, two deserving high-school students will each receive $100,000 towards their educational development.

Seiveright said: “LaToya was special, she was loved, and she will not be forgotten. I hope this assistance in her name will give two young people an opportunity to keep pushing forward despite the challenges they may face.”