Kingston and St. Andrew Festival Queen Khalia Tyrell (centre) is flanked by first runner-up Kimberly Forbes (left) and second runner-up Nelka-Jean Clarke at the Louise Bennett Garden Theatre, Hope Road, on Sunday, May 6. - Winston Sill/Freelance Photographer
Carolyn Johnson, Freelance Writer
The 2007 Kingston and St. Andrew Festival Queen is an English language teacher from Papine High School, Khalia Tyrell, Miss Dark and Lovely.
Tyrell was crowned at the Louise Bennett Garden Theatre from among nine beauties on Sunday.
Along with the opportunity to represent the parish at the National Festival Queen competition in July, Tyrell also won the KSAC trophy, $35,000, furniture, a flat-screen television, gift package and a cellular phone.
Succession possibilities
If for any reason the radiant 22-year-old fails to honour her duties, Kimberly Forbes, Miss KSA. Engineering and Most Culturally Aware, will take her place. If she fails, Nelka-Jean Clarke, Miss Cherubs Educational Centre and Most Poised, would be next. The prize for Most Congenial went to Miss Sunshine Auto Parts, Sherona Patterson.
The Best Performance sectional prize also went to the queen for Faces of Jamaica - From My Perspective, her own composition where a drunkard takes a cynical look at our society.
Talking about Jamaica's 'bad bruckinness' Tyrell commented on the loading of mini buses, the behaviour of parliamentarians and ignorant slangs.
"I saw somethings that were happening in society with the breakdown of attitudes and I wanted people to examine themselves, and I decided to use a humorous light to show this," she said about her inspiration for the winning piece.
Following the coronation, Ms. Tyrell was so excited, she could barely speak. Her excitement was compounded by the swarm of photographers and supporters that crowded her.
But Ms. Tyrell said that while she was always confident, "in the last part I became nervous."
This last part referred to the top five questions where Tyrell was asked to suggest strategies the marine division could apply to stop the exportation of drugs via cargo. She said they were already going a good job but needed more resources.
The show, emceed by Norma Brown-Bell was well organised and proceeded smoothly for the most. Orville Hall presided over the talent segment. There were performances by Wolmer's Dance Troupe, upcoming artiste Oneil Peart and backing band Unique Vision. The show saw the contestants in an opening performance, fashion and introduction, talent segment and then evening wear with gorgeous mini queens.
