Newly crowned Miss Universe Jamaica 2026 Celene Hall is hoping her reign will be remembered for more than what she accomplishes on the international stage, as the Portland native sets her sights on using the increased visibility of the crown to expand her philanthropic work across Jamaica.

Hall, 25, who was crowned on Sunday after competing against 32 other contestants, told Observer Online that a major focus of her year of service will be expanding the work of her Hummingbird Effect Foundation and its education initiative, NEST — Nurturing Educational Spaces Together.

“The work started before the crown, so it will most definitely continue after the crown and with the crown,” Hall said.

“I never underestimate the power of this platform, and what this is going to bring now is increased visibility, increased impact.”

Through NEST, Hall said the foundation focuses on creating more conducive learning environments while helping to bridge essential resource gaps in schools. Its work has already begun in her home parish of Portland, including the most recent gifting an installation of fans inside her alma mater Boundbrook Primary, but the beauty queen is hoping to take the programme much further.

“We have started in Portland already, but we want to eventually branch out across broader Jamaica,” she said. “Jamaica itself is very invested in the development of education, so we think it’s a great opportunity to collaborate and see how much of an impact we can make together.”

The Hummingbird Effect Foundation’s work extends beyond education. According to Hall, it supports underserved communities and vulnerable individuals through outreach, youth empowerment and family support. The organisation has previously worked with the Jamaica Cancer Society, Portland Rehabilitation Centre and Portland Women’s Centre.

Hall said the philosophy behind the foundation is captured in its motto, “Small wings, big impact”, inspired by Jamaica’s national bird and the idea that seemingly small acts can create meaningful change.

“I want to leave through my reign [the message that] Celene Hall never underestimated the power of what she can do with what she had,” she said.

Hall’s reign will also be about encouraging young women who may not see themselves as traditional pageant contestants to give themselves an opportunity.

She admitted that she was once hesitant to enter pageantry and described herself as having grown up somewhat sheltered and accustomed to staying “in a shell”.

The Miss Universe Jamaica experience, however, pushed her to open up.

“It’s okay to show your personality. It’s okay to be yourself,” Hall said. “That’s one of the things that the brand really pushes you to do, be yourself, because if you fake it, everybody will see.”

Hall now wants other young women to understand that pageantry can be a vehicle for personal development, even if they believe they do not look or behave like the stereotypical beauty queen.

“A lot of the times we look at it and we say, ‘Oh, I don’t look a certain way. I don’t act a certain way.’ But that space actually develops you to become, or get closer to being, the best version of yourself,” she said.

“I used to be scared to enter it, and through my experience, I can tell them: Go for it.”

Hall said she has already seen some of that influence among her fellow contestants. Following her victory, one contestant told her that watching her journey had inspired her to enter the competition again next year.

“That actually touched my heart so much,” Hall recalled.

Before becoming Miss Universe Jamaica, Hall was already balancing several roles.

The 25-year-old is an executive manager at ESPEX Express Limited, where she manages the company’s Portland branch. She is also an artist specialising in hyperrealism and founder of the Hummingbird Effect Foundation.

Preparing for the pageant while maintaining her professional and personal responsibilities forced her to develop another skill— time management.

“One of the key takeaways from this competition is that you must learn how to manage your time, especially if you know you have to balance work [and] your personal life,” she said.

That work ultimately paid off when Hall’s name was called at the coronation show at AC Hotel Kingston.

She recalled intertwining hands with eventual first runner-up Tianna McDaniel and resting her head on her shoulder as they waited for the final announcement.

“We actually did it. The hard work has paid off,” Hall recalled thinking. “Everything, all of the experiences, everything that I had gone through, all of the challenges, all of the fun too, everything just came rushing to me. It was like a gush of emotions.”

Hall walked away with a successful five sectional prizes: Essence of Style, Best in Swimwear, Best in Evening Gown, Most Aware and the Altruism Award, before securing the overall title. McDaniel finished first runner-up, while Kadejah Anderson was second runner-up.

Now, Hall will turn her attention to representing Jamaica at the Miss Universe finals in Puerto Rico in November.

And when she heads overseas, there are a few pieces of Jamaica she jokingly said she would like to carry with her, her Jamaican flag, patties and coconut drops.

Hall, a lover of her Jamaican food who lists chicken foot soup topped with a green Scotch bonnet pepper among her favourite dishes, said she hopes to introduce more people to the country’s cuisine during her international journey.

Asked what being a Jamaican woman means to her, however, Hall’s answer was simple.

“Being a Jamaican woman is being bold,” she said. “Wherever we go in the world, we stand out.”

Now, with the Miss Universe Jamaica crown on her head, Hall hopes to ensure the impact of her reign stands out too.