Clarendon Festival Queen 2025: Proud, Bold and Ready to Lead
- Winsome M. Sherrier Witter
- Jun 2
- 4 min read
Clarendon has once again set the stage for powerful change through culture, confidence and purpose. The Clarendon Festival Queen 2025 Forum, streamed live on our platform, brought together seven dynamic young women with a shared vision: to represent their parish and country with courage, clarity and commitment.
📺 Watch the full replay here: Click to view
The Power Behind the Platform
Hosted by Winsome Sherrier Witter, the forum spotlighted this year’s Clarendon Festival Queen contestants and the broader purpose of the competition. With the age limit now raised to 30, more women are stepping forward, grounded in lived experiences and a drive to serve.
The Festival Queen Competition is not just a cultural staple - it’s a leadership incubator. These young women are not here to wear a crown. They’re here to challenge narratives, advocate for their communities and become cultural ambassadors for Jamaica.
The Jamaica Cultural Development Commission continues to demonstrate what intentional nation-building looks like.
Meet the Seven Voices of Clarendon
Each contestant shared their mission:
• Christeen Forbes - Focused on climate change education and environmental responsibility.
• Joan McKenzie - Uses theatre to celebrate and safeguard Jamaican culture.
• Marsha Mathews - Advocating for youth cultural pride and empowerment.
• Shantel C. Powell - A police officer tackling violence against women and children.
• Zantaye Thomas - Elevating deaf community awareness and sign language education.
• Rhaveen Kildare - Leading with youth mentorship through her initiative, Mana.
• Clevena Brown - Supporting public speaking skills development via her programme Speak Boldly.
This is beyond competition. It is a national service call answered with grace and grit.
Strength in Sisterhood
When asked about their journey, the contestants echoed similar reflections:
• Lifelong friendships and shared purpose
• Growth in confidence and poise
• Support from community leaders and peers
They expressed readiness not just for coronation night, but to step into real-world advocacy roles.
“We’re not just representing Clarendon, we’re building a future for Jamaican women.”
Championing Businesses That Champion Youth
Businesses across Clarendon are urged to align their brands with initiatives that matter. As sponsors of the Festival Queen contestants, they’re not only gaining visibility, they’re investing in leadership.
Key sponsors and partners:
• Cousins Construction Services
• WorldNet Microfinance
• Eagle Swift Security Services
• National Self-Serve Wholesale
• Mack Chem Trading & Distributors
• George Clue and Associates
• Serenity Resource Connector
• Juici Patties
• Clarendon Municipal Corporation
• Among others
Sponsoring culture isn’t charity. It’s long-term visibility and impact.
Why Festival Queen is a Leadership Platform, Not Just a Pageant
At Serenity Resource Connector, we frame the Festival Queen Competition as a leadership platform - because that’s what it has become. This isn't about titles or tiaras. It’s about young women stepping into roles of advocacy, mentorship, and representation.
Whether it’s addressing climate change, mentoring youth, championing women’s safety, or promoting cultural inclusion, these contestants are already showing what leadership looks like in the Jamaican context.
We stand by the view that leadership doesn’t start at the podium; it starts in communities. And the Festival Queen stage is one of Jamaica’s most vibrant platforms for launching that impact.
How the Competition Works
This is a structured process that goes beyond appearance - one that values vision, communication, and community relevance.
Prejudging (40 points):
Current affairs & cultural awareness
Coronation Night (60 points):
Performance piece (20 points)
Walk, poise & stage presence
Onstage question
All contestants walk away with more than they entered with - skills, visibility, and lifelong purpose.
Mark the Date: Clarendon Festival Queen 2025 Coronation
- June 14, Glenmuir Auditorium
The coronation night is set. One of these powerful women will serve as Clarendon’s Cultural Ambassador.
🎟️ For tickets or event information, visit the JCDC Clarendon Parish Office, Brooks Avenue.
If you’re a business, community leader or supporter, now’s the time to stand behind our women.
Weekly Conversations That Matter
This live stream was part of our Fifth Thursday Special Feature. Here’s where else you can connect with us:
• 1st Thurs - Culture Corner with JCDC
• 2nd Thurs - Safety & Security with JCF Area 3
• 3rd Thurs - Community Corner
• 4th Thurs - Local Governance (Clarendon Municipal Corporation)
• 2nd Tues - Youth Forum
• 3rd Tues - A Child Rights Series 2025 (Early Childhood Commission)
🎧 Watch past forums on our YouTube channel, organised in playlists for easy navigation, and/or read forum recap blogs on our website.
Share Your Community Flyers or Announcements
We are building a central hub for community action, and we welcome event submissions that reflect our core mission.
📢 Send your event flyers, training opportunities or cultural updates to our team for review and publishing consideration.
We welcome community content that meets one or more of the following:
Promotes youth leadership or civic engagement
Uplifts cultural heritage, education, health or public safety
Encourages inclusion and grassroots development
Is based in or relevant to Clarendon or other Jamaican communities aligned with SRC’s mission
📌 This service strengthens SRC’s mission to provide accessible communication tools for community development. While submissions from schools, grassroots initiatives and civic groups remain free, visibility packages for formal events or businesses are available upon request. These help support the sustainability of the platform.
Please allow 2–3 business days for content review and response.
Final Word
The Clarendon Festival Queen 2025 contestants have already proven their strength. Let’s show up for them.
Watch the full replay now and share it with someone who believes in empowering Jamaican women: Click to watch
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