At just 19 years old, Mikailia Seymour is already preparing to lead. As the newly crowned Miss St Mary Festival Queen 2026, she hopes to use the Festival Queen platform to inspire young women growing up in communities like her own to believe in themselves, embrace their culture and pursue their dreams.

Growing up in the close-knit, coastal town of Annotto Bay, Seymour said she learned the values of compassion, resilience and service that continue to shape her leadership journey. Those experiences have inspired her to celebrate Jamaica's rich cultural heritage while creating opportunities for young women to realise their full potential.

"I entered the Miss Jamaica Festival Queen Competition because I want to be a voice for Jamaican women and youths," Seymour said. "This pageant is more than beauty; it's about culture, service and leadership. I want to use the platform to showcase our heritage, inspire young girls to be confident in who they are and give back to the communities that raised me. Jamaica's story lives in us, and I want to help tell it."