Lanisia Rhoden, 2009 Miss Manchester Festival Queen, crowns her successor, Johnnel Smith. They are flanked by first runner-up Georgie-Ann Montaque (left) and Natalie Daley, second runner-up. – Photo by JCDC

Less than halfway into the coronation show of the 2010 Miss Manchester Festival Queen at the Cecil Charlton Hall in Mandeville last Saturday, 22-year-old university graduate, Johnnel Smith, presented a talent piece titled ‘I Had a Dream’. She told of her wish for a Jamaica where teachers were well paid, where corruption was no more, where women were valued, and the ‘dream’ went on.

At the end of the presentation, she paused, sighed and probably made a silent wish that the original piece would help to place her in a commanding position to claim the coveted crown. That silent wish would come true as Smith stamped her name on the crown last held by the 2009 queen, Lanisia Rhoden.

But Smith, an educator, who also emerged the Most Culturally Aware contestant, had to contend with other keen aspirants like 24-year-old university graduate, Georgie-Ann Montaque, the Most Congenial contestant, who eventually emerged first runner-up; and Natalie Daley, the third-place winner and Best Performer.

Read more here:http://www.jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20100512/news/news8.html