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Seventeen-Year-Old Lenesha Francis Crowned Miss Jamaica World Southern Region 2026

From Jamaica Observer · () English

Translated from English and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

In-depth Named sources Outcome reported
  • Old Harbour High student Lenesha Francis won the first Miss Jamaica World Southern Region 2026 title after competing against eight other contestants.
  • Shonnoya Houston finished second and Ashanti Douglas third, with the top three advancing to the national Miss Jamaica World pageant.
  • Francis said the competition gave her confidence, discipline and a sense of purpose as she pursued a childhood ambition to represent Jamaica internationally.

At 17, Old Harbour High student Lenesha Francis has become the first Miss Jamaica World Southern Region. Wearing the sash of Lion’s Villa and Totally Delicious, she won the title Saturday night at the Rooftop Chillinz Bar and Lounge in Old Harbour.

I really want to thank Rooftop Chillinz Bar and Lounge for being the official venue sponsor for this year’s event. It was an exciting event and the patrons enjoyed themselves.

· Alton ReidThe pageant organiser thanked the venue sponsor after the regional coronation.

Nine contestants competed in the regional coronation. Shonnoya Houston, representing Miss Delapenha’s Funeral Services Limited, finished as first runner-up, while Ashanti Douglas, representing Miss Karl Grant’s Auto Sales and Repairs, took third place. The three finalists will now advance to the national Miss Jamaica World pageant.

Francis also won the Most Poise award and the top model fast track. Houston received the Most Aware award, the top talent prize and the beauty with a purpose title. Fiona Bartlett won Most Personality and Most Congenial, as well as the fast-track fitness challenge. Khassidy Weir won the People’s Choice award.

My journey has been one that I am forever grateful for. Entering the competition at seventeen, I’ll be honest, I felt a bit inferior because everyone else was older than me. But I was immediately embraced by amazing sisters who never made me feel less than.

· Lenesha FrancisFrancis described her experience entering the competition as the youngest contestant.

The other contestants were Shanise Adolphus, Dejanay May, DeAnna Fraser and Dejahnae Brown. Organiser Alton Reid thanked the venue sponsor and described the event as exciting, saying patrons enjoyed themselves.

It wasn’t just a competition. It was growth, sisterhood, and purpose.

· Lenesha FrancisFrancis summed up what the pageant meant to her after winning the title.

Francis said she initially felt inferior because she was younger than the other contestants, but mentors and fellow competitors made her feel welcome. She said the training, long days and discipline helped her grow. Francis also recalled loving pageants since she was seven and promising herself that she would one day represent Jamaica on an international stage.

I’ve loved pageantry since I was seven years old. I was always the little girl running to the TV to watch the queens.

· Lenesha FrancisFrancis explained the childhood interest that led her to enter the pageant.
About this summary

Originally published by Jamaica Observer in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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