Five Questions With MUJ Miqueal-Symone Williams

Leading a career in the fashion industry, Miqueal-Symone Williams has been in the eyes of the public for a few years. From magazines to international runways, her experiences in the spotlight have helped reinforce the values her parents instilled in her. The new Miss Universe Jamaica has many disarming qualities; the most obvious is her striking figure. She stands at 5’ 10” – a fact she says made her father consider having her pursue a career path as an athlete – and her eyes appear to stare into a person’s soul. But most talked about since she claimed the crown at the recent Miss Universe Jamaica (MUJ) pageant is her dynamic presence. Her initial experience competing in the pageant three years ago meant she was exposed to the criteria and returned in 2020 with a mission to win.

“The biggest difference between modelling and pageantry is that I get to share a lot more of myself with the people who see me. The focus of modelling is on how you look, but the focus of pageantry is more about who you are. I am very happy to get the chance to share more of myself with the people who I hope to inspire,” Williams told The Gleaner.

As a student and professional model, much of her life has been about balance. She’ll take the same measured approach to her reign. “Both duties are important to me and I hope to be able to properly balance them with the help of my teams at Pulse Jamaica and the Miss Universe Jamaica organisation,” the 23-year-old said.

She is also committed to her altruism project and sees the MUJ platform as another jumping-off point for her Bloom Initiative. She shared, “I am still accepting sponsorship [and] donations for my venture to provide five children with MiFi modems for the upcoming school term while I lend support to the projects of my sisters from the pageant.”

In this week’s Five Questions With, Williams talks about being teased as a child, grief and her plans to make a positive impact.

1. What does a regular day look like for Miqueal-Symone Williams?

Well, for most of my life, I have been going to school. I prioritise my schoolwork, especially on weekdays. I do my best to keep abreast of my coursework because once it touches 8 p.m., 9 p.m. the latest, I will be asleep. I’m not the type of person to stay up late at night. Since the pandemic, I can say I have gotten a lot more time to myself. You wouldn’t believe how much time you save by not having to get ready to leave the house for classes. I also used the extra time to pursue new hobbies, like trying to sew (operative word: trying). I learnt how to braid my own hair and did a lot more reading and writing.

2. Were you ever teased about your name (pronounced: my kuhl)? If yes, how did you handle it, and what advice would you give to young girls who are facing the same teasing or bullying in their school or communities?

You guessed right; I was teased in primary school about my name. However, as an adult, I couldn’t be prouder of it, because it is so unique. My advice to young girls is always to endeavour to embrace your flaws and insecurities. I promise [you] everyone has them. Ensure that you form your opinions about yourself without the input of other people. If you ever want to change anything about your personality or appearance, it should be because of your own opinions on yourself and no one else’s. You will find that the standards of beauty change often, but the persons who learn to value, love and respect themselves will always be the most beautiful people among us.

3. How do you plan to use the platform as the new Miss Universe Jamaica, especially in a time where we are experiencing a pandemic?

I think this is a challenging time for the world and we all wish the pandemic would have been over by this time, but if we work together, we can conquer it sooner. I want to use my platform to encourage Jamaicans to continue to do their best to follow the protocols in place and cooperate with the government officials who’ve been working tirelessly. Mental health awareness is a passion of mine. I want to stress the importance of taking care of your mental health, the same way you take care of your physical health.

Though I expect some obstacles, I want to be there, physically, for my country as much as possible. I hope to connect with as many people as possible and touch lives across our nation. I want them to know that they have a queen who is reachable and approachable, though this might seem more complicated [while] observing social distancing. Luckily, we have social media to help bridge that gap. So, having a virtual reign is not such a bad thing. Social media has been one of our saving graces throughout this pandemic. I know many of us would’ve been uninformed and bored without it. I’m grateful that I at least have a platform to connect with my fellow Jamaicans and still give back and represent my community and country, without putting myself or others at risk.

4. What is the biggest misconception about you?

One of the biggest misconceptions about me is that I’m [what people believe to be a] typical millennial. There’s a thought that millennials are generally disorganised, untidy and undomesticated. However, I thrive in situations where I am extremely organised, and I enjoy having a clean home and workspaces. I also love to cook and bake. My parents were separated for most of my life, but they did an amazing job at co-parenting. I kind of grew up as an only child (since my brother, who is 13 years older than me, moved out by the time I was 10), but I was not spoiled. My father is a stern and focused parent who believes in results. My mother was a religious woman who believed in the power of hard work.

5. A lot happened in 2017, you lost your mother at the start of pursuing your modelling career with Pulse. You were also in the middle of your tertiary studies and entering the MUJ pageant for the first time. How did you deal with those challenges? Being a victim of crime and violence, how do you plan to use your voice to inspire youths exposed to similar negatives?

Anyone who has ever lost a parent will tell you that it’s not something that you truly get over. The emotions come in waves, and I have accepted that some days will be good, and some days will be bad. It always helps to think that she is not really gone, and though the body dies, the love will remain. I think one of the biggest triggers of violence is the under-representation of youth that society deems as being at risk. I think we need to give young people and their communities sincere chances to express their concerns and fears. No one truly wants to risk their lives by turning to crime. However, many criminals may feel that they have limited options. It would make a difference if we could give young people equal platforms and opportunities to explore their interests, talents and academics. I would love to explore this during my reign, especially with children, by giving them avenues to express themselves.

Bonus: Do you have any special Christmas traditions?

I bake fruitcakes with my stepmom for Christmas, and we actually sell them to several supermarkets in Kingston and St Catherine. That’s our Christmas tradition. I think that once we’re done baking, we are usually too tired to be festive or decorate. We may put up a couple [of] lights around Christmas Eve because we feel bad (laughs). As for Christmas Day, I go to St Ann to spend time with my extended family and, of course, eat Christmas dinner.

stephanie.lyew@gleanerjm.com