New Manchester Festival Queen creates ‘wow’ moment for family, community
Published:Tuesday | June 13, 2023 | 12:34 AMTamara Bailey/Gleaner Writer
MANDEVILLE, MANCHESTER:
What started out as hope that she would receive a return on the invested time and effort ended in the most favourable outcome for 23-year-old Donale Bryan, who copped the crown and title of Miss Manchester Festival Queen 2023.
The graduate of the University of Technology, who now works as a human resource practitioner in the aviation industry, was all smiles at the coronation show, held at the Belair High School Auditorium on Sunday, as she topped six other contestants.
The second runner-up title was copped by data entry clerk and university student Jade Fearon, who also won the sectional prize of Most Poised, while the first runner-up went to Shennell Espeut, a teacher at the Bishop Gibson High School for Girls, who received the sectional award for being Most Popular on Social Media.
One of the crowd favourites from the start, Bryan not only copped the crown, but three out of the six sectional prizes for being Most Active in Community, Most Culturally Aware, and for Best Performance.
She indicated that this had always been among her goals despite the rigours of the competition’s preparation process.
“I was a bit nervous, but I left it in God’s hands … . I have been preparing from last year. My friends they asked me questions. For my talent piece, it was the same and it was a lot … . I participated in my hall pageant during my tertiary studies and came third, so this would have been my second experience in a pageant.” Bryan shared.
“My family and friends were there right throughout the process. Every day they texted me, asking if I am practising as yet. They need me to repeat the words. They were there for me,” Bryan stated as she credited family support as one reason for her win.
With a love for aviation, children, and content creation, Bryan said she is most looking forward to executing a project geared at the development of children.
Among the persons who basked in Bryan’s win on Sunday was her grandmother, who travelled with other relatives and residents of the Knox Hill, Spaulding community to support their queen.
“I feel overjoyed; I feel so good … . I just tell her she must have courage and she mustn’t be shy and just have faith in herself. I told her even if she doesn’t win that she would get the exposure, and she work very hard, and I am very happy for that,” said Bryan’s grandmother, Sybil Rose.
“Knox Hill wowed, and me brethren them wowed,” Rose said laughing as she described the celebratory mood of family, friends, and their community.
Rose said she is looking forward to seeing what her granddaughter will accomplish with projects geared at children and even adults.
To every child with a dream, Bryan gave a message of encouragement and hope.
“Step out of your comfort zone. Don’t be afraid to try something new because growth happens outside of comfort zones.”