Ashlie Barrett is Miss Ja World 2016

Twenty-year-old university student Ashlie White Barrett walked away the winner at Sunday's Miss Jamaica World 2016 pageant.

Barrett, who is from St Elizabeth, topped 14 other beauties from across the island to win the coveted crown during the grand coronation show, held at the Iberostar Hotel in Rose Hall, St James, for the first time.

"I am very excited yet very humble for this position and I really cannot wait to represent Jamaica and bring home the crown," said Barrett, who wore the sash of Miss French Connection. "I am still in awe, still in shock, but it definitely has been an amazing journey and I am highly appreciative of the Miss Jamaica World organisation for giving me this opportunity of a lifetime."

First runner-up was Whitney Levy (Miss S & G Road Servicing), while second runner-up was Milinda Smith (Miss Deja Resort).

The contestants were judged by an eight-member panel on a number of attributes, ranging from poise and figure to intelligence and conduct. They also got the opportunity to strut their stuff in a showcase of Brand Jamaica swimwear and designer dresses.

The judges selected the top 10 before moving on to the top five contestants, which also included Shanique Singh (Miss Maxie Department Store) and Gillian Parague (Miss Optical Solutions). They then made the hard selection of the winner, to much praise from the crowd.

Laura Butler, Miss Jamaica World franchise holder, said she was pleased with the winner, as Barrett has been consistent and pleasant to work with throughout the competition. "Next is to step up our preparation. I'm going to meet up with the team and go into full preparations for the Miss World pageant. We are going to work and move together as a family," Butler explained.

Barrett will represent Jamaica in the 66th edition of Miss World, which will be held in Washington, DC, in the United States, on Tuesday, December 20.