New Miss St Ann Festival Queen vows to promote autism awareness

Determination, resilience, and a passion for advocacy are what 21-year-old Onecia Henry credits for her triumph as Miss St Ann Festival Queen 2024. Crowned on Sunday, June 9, at the Holiday Haven Condo Resort in Runaway Bay, St Ann, Henry’s win exemplifies her dedication to creating positive change.

Sponsored by Double D Promotions, Henry was one of six young women vying for the coveted title. A student at The University of the West Indies (UWI) and a budding entrepreneur, Henry’s journey has been guided by the philosophy of Romans 8:28, which states, “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” This scripture has served as her source of motivation.

An avid lover of the performing arts with insightful knowledge on politics, she brings a unique blend of talents and perspectives to her role as Festival Queen.

Henry’s exceptional performance earned her five of the six sectional prizes: Most Poised, Most Congenial, Most Involved in Her Community, Most Popular on Social Media, and Most Culturally Aware. These accolades, along with a trophy from the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission (JCDC), a cash award of $150,000, and numerous gift packages from sponsors, underscored her well-deserved win.

Christiana Brown, sponsored by New Windsor Pharmacy, and Terest Brown, sponsored by Tents N More, were named first and second runners-up, respectively. However, it was Henry’s heartfelt advocacy that set her apart.

Elated by her victory, Henry expressed her excitement and gratitude. “As queen, I now have the opportunity to focus on my project which centres on autism awareness and how to help individuals with autism,” she shared.

Henry’s inspiration comes from personal experience; a close family member’s late autism diagnosis had a profound impact on her. “He did not feel included and faced many challenges in school. My project aims to bridge that divide, making individuals with autism feel included and helping others to be more accepting and considerate of their needs.”

In addition to raising autism awareness, Henry is passionate about inspiring young women to be their best selves, encouraging them to “put their best foot forward and include God in everything.” Her project is a heartfelt mission to foster inclusivity and understanding within the community.

Henry’s journey is far from over. She will now advance to the National Coronation, where she will compete for the national title. With her unwavering determination and commitment to advocacy, Onecia Henry is poised to make a lasting impact, not just as a Festival Queen, but as a beacon of hope and change for autism awareness in Jamaica.

The nine remaining parishes are scheduled to crown their queens by the end of June ahead of the Grand National Coronation on August 3 in Kingston.

Portland, Clarendon, and Manchester are next in line. Portland and Clarendon’s coronations are both set for Saturday, June 15, starting at 8 p.m. The show in Portland will be held at the Port Antonio High School auditorium, Port Antonio, while Clarendon’s event will take place at Glenmuir High School auditorium, May Pen. Meanwhile, Manchester’s coronation is scheduled for Sunday, June 16, 2024, at the Belair High School auditorium, beginning at 7 p.m. The shows are free and open to the public.

This year’s competition theme is “The Jamaican Woman: Creativity beyond Boundaries”.