MANDEVILLE, Manchester — Twenty-two-year-old Krystal Tomlinson recently walked away Miss Manchester Festival Queen at the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission’s (JCDC) coronation.

She was among eight contestants in the race for the top spot.

Contestants displayed knowledge of cultural and current affairs, as well as creativity, using skills sets such as dance, song and drama pieces with as much confidence and poise as they could muster.

First runner-up and winner of the sectional prize for community involvement was businesswoman Lacey-Ann Bartley (Miss C&D Construction and Engineering Limited). Second runner-up Chereese Ricketts (Miss Power Services Company Limited) is an architecture student at the University of Technology.

No stranger to the spotlight, Tomlinson is a media practitioner and is known for her role as host of the Jamaican culinary and travel log show Nyammings aired on local television.

According to her profile, she is an advocate, researcher and a master of science student at the University of the West Indies in the area of Urban and Rural Environment Management.

As the contestants narrowed to top five at the event held at the Cecil Charlton Hall in Mandeville, the crowd response, particularly following the question-and-answer segment, signalled that Tomlinson was one of the favourites.

Relating her views on the recent decision by Minister of Education Ronald Thwaites to give teachers unpaid study leave, she said the lack of prior consultation with the public sector teachers was a “betrayal of democracy”.

Tomlinson, who was sponsored by OBF Finance Company won the sectional prize for being most culturally aware.

For copping the crown, she received $20,000 in cash from the JCDC, a trophy courtesy of Kirk Distributors (Colgate Brand), a Frigidaire 0.6cuft microwave courtesy of Singer Jamaica, a gift basket courtesy of Soft Sheen Carson, a one-year membership at the Ingleside Wellness Centre, and a gift basket courtesy of Ebony Park Heart Academy.

She now joins other parish queens who will be competing for the National Festival Queen title. Meanwhile, outgoing parish queen Victoria Cole, in her farewell message, described her year as “amazing”.

“As daunting as it was to be looked up to as a role model for both strangers and friends, I relished the opportunity to give my parish my very best. My reign was nothing short of amazing,” she said.

Cole added: “To every contestant who participates in the Festival Queen Programme, remember: ‘to whom much is given, much is expected’. From here on, you have become a part of a team of strong, inspirational Jamaican women who have dedicated themselves to lift up Jamaica… I encourage you to go out and make your mark….” she said.

This year’s competition is being held under the theme ‘Jamaican Women…Shaping our Culture and our Nation’.