Miss Universe GB finalist honors Windrush grandfather's legacy

British-Jamaican Sakaynah Hunter is set to compete in the Miss Universe Great Britain finals, but her journey on the stage is deeply rooted in honoring her 95-year-old grandfather, Hartley Hunter. His courageous migration from rural Jamaica to the United Kingdom in 1955, during the Windrush era, laid the foundation for her family's future and made her own dreams possible.

Hartley Hunter answered Britain's call for Commonwealth citizens to help rebuild the nation after World War II. His life in a new land was marked by sacrifice and resilience. He worked diligently to establish himself before inviting other relatives to join him, creating opportunities that have benefited subsequent generations.

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He’s such a hard worker. He is a workaholic, and he really did set the foundations for what it means when you have a strong work ethic, and that’s why I don’t want to leave anything kind of, I want to make sure that I use all the opportunities that I have to honour him. He’s been such an inspiration. And even with my mom having me young, he really helped out, him and my grandma as well, and enabled us to have these kinds of opportunities, so it’s really important for me.

As Sakaynah advanced in the competition, her family faced a scare when Hartley was hospitalized with serious heart and kidney complications. Despite doctors' expectations, he recovered and remained a steadfast supporter of her aspirations. Now, as Sakaynah prepares to walk the stage in Wales on July 11, she is determined to pay tribute to the man who shares his surname and whose legacy of perseverance and hope began over seven decades ago.

Sakaynah emphasized her grandfather's strong work ethic, stating, "He’s such a hard worker. He is a workaholic, and he really did set the foundations for what it means when you have a strong work ethic." She aims to utilize all her opportunities to honor him, acknowledging his significant role in enabling her and her mother to have the chances they do. She also plans to incorporate Jamaican pride into her wardrobe, using the colors black, green, and gold to represent strength, hope, and natural wealth, reflecting her grandfather's heritage.

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In the competition, in terms of my wardrobe, I want to honour Jamaica. I’m wearing colours black, green, and gold or yellow-gold throughout the competition’s itinerary to kind of honour the different messages that those three colours represent, the strength and courage of the black, and the hope and the fertile lands of green, and then the yellow is kind of a symbol in natural wealth and rich sunshine, so I want to make sure I honour him.