Kamesha Turner – New Festival Queen

Twenty three year-old teacher, Kamesha Turner, from St. Ann, is the 2009 Miss Jamaica Festival Queen.
Miss Turner, who is also a CARICOM Youth Ambassador, was crowned at the national coronation show, held at the Ranny Williams Entertainment Centre, on Hope Road, in Kingston, on July 18.
Tamara Dickens, a 25 year-old attorney-at-law, who represented Kingston and St. Andrew, was the first runner- up, while Zulieka Jess, a 21 year-old student at the Norman Manley Law School, at the University of the West Indies, Mona, who represented Clarendon, placed third.
Miss Turner was named the ‘Most Culturally Aware’ contestant, while Miss St. Thomas, 21 year-old Jodean Williamson, received the award for ‘Best Performance’. Other sectional prizes included ‘Most Congenial’, which was presented to Miss Manchester, 24 year-old Lanisia Rhoden, and ‘Most Poised’, which was awarded to Miss Dickens.
Miss Westmoreland, 25 year-old Chevonese Hutchinson, received the ‘Popular Vote’ prize, while Miss St. Mary, 21 year-old Alicia Ann McKenzie, was recognised as the ‘Most Involved’, in her community.
As her prizes for taking the crown, Miss Turner received a 2006 Nissan Note, donated by car dealer, Mack D’s Auto; $200,000 and a cellular phone, courtesy of Digicel Jamaica; a living room suite, donated by Singer; and accommodation for one year at Christar Villas.
The competition, organised by the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission (JCDC), was held under the theme: ‘Jamaican Woman, Our National Treasure’.