Miss Jamaica Festival Queen Aundrene Cameron ‘wants to continue the greatness’
Published:Thursday | August 3, 2023 | 12:09 AMYasmine Peru/Senior Gleaner Writer
On Emancipation Day, August 1, Aundrene Cameron entered the National Arena as a parish queen wearing the sash Miss St Catherine, but hours later, the 21-year-old law student was beaming and holding court as the newly-crowned Miss Jamaica Festival Queen.
It was a moment that she had long envisioned, and the reality proved to be a tear-jerker.
“When they called my name, I started crying. I dreamt about this moment for so long … it is a huge accomplishment,” Cameron shared.
Although she had an inkling that she would win, after the second-place winner was called, and the other contestants started telling her “Aundrene you did it!”, for her nothing would be sealed until the announcer called her name. That set off many memories of her journey to queendom, which started with submitting her application for the Miss St Catherine pageant the night before it closed.
“Sometimes nerves, feeling shy, afraid or unsure can stop you from entering, but somehow this year, I felt compelled,” the Campion College graduate said.
Admitting that she was still experiencing “a roller coaster of emotions” the morning after the pageant, Cameron added that she was still “in shock and exhausted” but supremely happy.
“I am going over everything that has happened. I even watched the live video twice. This was a dream of mine, and actually being in the moment, it’s a little hard to take in.”
Cameron speaks passionately about the impact that previous Festival Queens have had on her and of wanting to follow in their footsteps while also carving out her own mark.
“I want to continue the greatness,” she said simply.
Awarded the sectional prizes for Most Culturally Aware and Most Active in Community, Cameron had, earlier in the evening, mastered the talent section in which she showcased her creative dancing techniques in a powerful tribute to the Jamaican woman. The piece was written, voiced, and choreographed by her, and she did exceptionally well to stand out among queens whose creativity was turned all the way up, even more so than at last year’s finals.
FAMILY AFFAIR
It was definitely a full-on family affair at the arena for the winner, whose parents, two grandmothers, siblings, a host of cousins, aunts, and uncles were present. And not to mention what sounded like truckloads of well-wishers from the parish who made their voices heard very loud and proud at every given opportunity and even created some extra ones for themselves.
“I am elated … my baby won!” said a delighted Claudina Cameron, the mother of the queen. “We have watched her grow. We have been through many struggles, but to God be the glory our daughter is standing now as the Miss Jamaica Festival Queen 2023.”
Expanding on her daughter’s reasons for entering the competition, Claudina shared, “She is an advocate … she likes to talk and meet people and she sees this as a stepping stone to allow women to understand that we have a right to be seated in places of position in society. She practised … she studied late nights for his competition. We came from St Catherine to take the crown home and we are leaving with it. To God be the glory.”
Placing second was 23-year-old communications officer and film-maker Jhanielle Powell, wearing the sash Miss Kingston and St Andrew, and copping third place was Miss Trelawny Erickay Chambers, a 22-year-old mathematics teacher at William Knibb High School.
Sectional prize winners were Miss St Thomas, Kedene Barrett, Most Popular on Social Media and Most Congenial; Miss St Mary, Sherai Campbell, Best in Evening Wear; Miss Trelawny, Erickay Chambers, Best Performance; and Miss Kingston and St Andrew, Jhanielle Powell, Most Poised.