Diary of a Festival Queen ­

Taniesha McGhie

MISS JAMAICA Festival Queen 2000, Taniesha McGhie who gives up her crown this Saturday, has been one of the most outstanding winners of the prestigious title to date. Her warm personality, charming demeanour and intelligence have endeared to those she has met during her reign.

Flair asked the outgoing queen to summarise the highlights of her reign in the form of a monthly diary.

June 2000

4th - Crowned Miss Kingston and St. Andrew Festival Queen

25th - Crowned Miss Jamaica Festival Queen 2000

Interviews, Interviews... and again more interviews on various radio and television stations:

July 2000

Getting accustomed to a new status and the responsibilities it carried.

Guest appearances at month-long festival celebrations: Best of Festival, Dramafest, Pop Song Finals, Gospel Song Finals, Mello Go Round, Festival Fashion Show.

Guest Speaker- Jamaica Junior Chamber Awards Ceremony "Strategic Leadership- your role in this time of Globalisation".

August 2000

An intense month of Emancipation and Independence celebrations and honing my public speaking abilities.

Led Independence street parade, Knutsford Boulevard

Appearance- Prime Minister's Gala

Participated in National Independence Day Parade- Co-presenter of function for JIS live.

Los Angeles- Participated in Jamaica Independence Family Fun Day picnic and parade.

September 2000

The "No! I did not actually get married" month.

Cultural ambassador -Jamaica Tourist Board Kingston.

Multimedia Radio Remote broadcast.

New York - I attended and participated in the West Indian Parade.

Cover Girl for Bride brochure and feature model of Hilton Wedding showcase.

Guest speaker- Cultural Arts Studio/Ministry of Health Workshop 'Rights of The Child'.

October 2000

Heritage Week celebrations

Attended official national ceremonies to mark Heritage Week.

Visited schools as part of 'My Heritage' education programme- Kingsway High, Edith Dalton James.

November 2000

A quiet month during which I focused on lots of academic work.

Guest Speaker- JCDC-Portland Thank You dinner.

December 2000

'Children Gifts for the Future' official launch of Festival Queen project. The project is centred around motivational talks in schools and outreach work in Children's Homes.

Homes adopted:

Mustard Seed's Dare to Care home for children with HIV/AIDS

Best Care Home

Christmas Treat for Dare to Care Home

Audition and signing of contract to co-host TVJ's Smile Jamaica... It's Morning Time.

January 2001

Six months down and six to go.

Visits to homes assessing needs.

February 2001

A quiet month; focused on my studies and spending time with children's homes.

Also visited Muirton Boy's Home- Portland.

March 2001

A month of reaching out to teens through motivational talks.

Motivational talks - 'You Can Be Anything You Choose' at Tivoli High School, Kingston; Kiwanis Club of New Kingston CXC workshops for 5th form students across the island.

International Woman's Day - Citation to Nanny.

April 2001

Getting somewhere with my project.

Motivational talks - Dunoon Technical High, Kingston.

Received donations of medication and medical supplies for the Dare to Care Home from Medimpex, Smith Kline Beecham and Disposables Limited.

Clothes collection drive for Best Care home successful.

May 2001

Child's month for real!! -lots of outreach work this month

June 2001

More work for the Cultural Ambassador.

New York - I represented Jamaica at 'Islands in the Park'- JCDC booth

Gave up my crown as Miss Kingston and St. Andrew to Esther Rodriquez.

July 2001

End of the road, but first St. Vincent!

Miss Carnival Beauty Pageant- St. Vincent - I was crowned second runner-up behind Miss Antigua and Barbuda and Miss St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

Overall, my year has been a wonderful experience.

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