Left: Kerry-ann Brown, Miss St. Elizabeth Festival Queen 2009.

The parish of St. Elizabeth was again well-represented by a beautiful group of young ladies at the JCDC Festival Queen Crowning, held at St. Elizabeth Technical High School in Santa Cruz on Saturday May 9.

The group of nine wowed the audience with their beautiful gowns and talent pieces, ranging from drama, song, dance to poetry and were received with haughty applauses from the audience.

However, it was Kerry-Ann Brown, Delone Foster, Vanessa Warren, Makeda Russell and Ashoya Robinson who were left standing in the top five position.

The interview section was one of the most anticipated of the competition. Miss Delone Foster and Kerry-Ann Brown seemed to have made the strongest impression on the audience. Miss Brown, who was seemingly the crowd favourite and the most dominant contestant, took the prizes for most culturally aware, most poised and best performance. Delone Foster took the prize for most congenial, while Makeda Russell walked away with the prize for most improved.

It was then time for the announcement everyone was waiting for - the three finalists. The 2nd runner up was Ashoya Robinson, and the 1st runner-up was Makeda Russell. And finally, the MC, the 2007 winner for St. Elizabeth, Miss Kennise Watson declared Kerry-Ann Brown the 2009 St. Elizabeth Festival Queen!

Miss Brown, a 25 year old teacher at Maggoty, won for herself a cash prize of $20,000, along with other prizes. She will represent St. Elizabeth at the JCDC Festival Queen Nationals to be held in July at the Ranny Williams Entertainment Center in Kingston.

Miss St. Elizabeth Festival Queen flanked by (R) first runner up Makeda Russell and (L) second runner up, Asoya Robinson