AMONG the guests attending Saturday’s Miss Universe Jamaica grand coronation inside the ballroom of the AC Hotel in Kingston was Miss World 2019 Toni-Ann Singh.

Singh was there in support of her cousin, 26-year-old Toshami Calvin, who eventually took the title. She literally jumped out of her seat upon the announcement of Calvin, who wore the sash Gijay Naturals Gift and Body Shop, who was named winner from a field of 20 contestants.

Singh, who held her title for an additional year due to COVID-19, said her cousin was deserving of the title.

“I am grateful to say that my cousin is the new Miss Universe Jamaica. For me, it was a bit tense because I had blood in the game, so I was a bit overwhelmed and nervous. We’re not only cousins, but we are also friends. So, we got a lot of opportunities to talk to each other and to go through what this process would be like. In any area that she needed support, I would show up. St Thomas is strong!” Singh told the Jamaica Observer shortly after her cousin was crowned.

Like Singh, Calvin hails from Bath in St Thomas. Calvin attended the St Thomas Technical High before attaining associate degree and master’s degree in health studies, with a minor in health service administration, from the University of Central Florida in Orlando.

She currently works as a registered behavioural technician with autistic children.

The occasion also saw crowd favourite Rachel Silvera, who was sponsored by Millennium Paving Stones Ltd, finishing in second place, while med student Shanique Singh, finishing third.

The 2020 Miss Universe Jamaica winner Miqueal Symone-Williams and Shannon Dale Reid were hosts for the evening.

The entertainment package comprised saxophonist Van Creed and veteran show-stopper Gem Myers performing Rufus and Chaka Khan’s classic I’m Every Woman. Singer Sevana also graced the stage belting out her songs including Mango, Nobody Man, and Low Mi.

Calvin will move on to represent Jamaica at the Miss Universe pageant scheduled for early 2023.