Nakeita Baker (left) second runner-up, JodiKay Royes (centre) Miss Teen Portmore and Nickoy Harris (first runner-up) pose just after being crowned.

Despite being unable to hear in her right ear, JodiKay Royes stomped her class to reign above 16 other girls as 2007 Miss TEEN Portmore. The 17-year-old beauty hailing from the St Andrew High School for Girls, is passionate about her environment and her community.

It was from this standpoint that she entered the pageant, in hope of improving the Portmore community in any way she could. TEENage sat down with the intriguing JodiKay Royes to find out more about herself and the pageant. Here's what she dished:

TEENage: Give one sentence that best describes JodiKay Royes?
JodiKay Royes (JR): I am an outgoing, courageous person who loves to socialise.

TEENage: What were your thoughts on entering the competition?
JR: That it would be a life-changing experience. One worth experiencing.

TEENage: Did you believe that you could have won, despite your hearing problem?
JR: (Smiles) Yes, I thought that I could have won. I never really allowed my hearing problem to affect me as a person. In fact, I'm getting an hearing aid very soon.

TEENage: Were there any problems in the pageant as it relates to your faith?
JR: No there were no problems. There was no swimsuit component in the pageant but that would have been my biggest problem, religious-wise.

TEENage: How did you feel just before your name was announced as the new Miss Teen Portmore?
JR: Truth be told I was tired and wanted to sleep. However, I was still very happy because then I was able to fulfill my objectives.

TEENage: What projects are you currently working on?
JR: Well, I am starting with the environment. I am currently gathering sponsorship for a playground at the Belmont Park Primary School where I also got some drums sponsored.

TEENage: What are your future projects for the Portmore Community?
JR: I will be working on getting the Junior Centre in Greater Portmore reopened. Then I will take it from there.

TEENage: Were you a crowd favourite?
JR: Not really, I had my own crowd. There was a mixed reaction in the crowd when I was announced as the winner.

TEENage: What are your future aspirations?
JR: I would like to become an entrepreneur.

TEENage: How confident were you during the competition?
JR: I was very confident in myself, but all the girls proved to be fairly competitive.

TEENage: How did you motivate yourself during the competition?
JR: The fact that I wanted to win was motivating enough accompanied by moral support from my friends.

TEENage: Were there any usual cat fights associated with beauty pageants?
JR: Of course, there is a pageant and young girls there will have a difference in opinions. The trainers were there to squash all the problems on hand so it wasn't much of a problem.

TEENage: Do you plan on entering any other pageants?
JR: "Only the Jamaica Festival Queen Competition, because there is not a swimsuit component."

TEENage: Where do you see yourself in ten years?
JR: "I see myself starting my own business."

TEENage: What extra-curricular activities are you involved in?
JR: Drama Club, ISCF (Inter School Christian Fellowship) Club, Sixth Form Association, Interact Club, Environment Club.

This budding entrepreneur is on her way to great things. Through women awareness and upliftment ventures like the Miss Teen Portmore Pageant, Jody is hoping to leave her mark on the Jamaican scene as a positive force of motivation for societal development.

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