Kavelle Anglin-Christie, Staff Reporter

Miss Jamaica Western Tiffany Ellis (centre) is flanked by second runner-up Daniel Bazzoni (right) and first runner-up Raquel Powell following the Miss Jamaica Western Coronation at the Golf View Hotel in Mandeville on Saturday. - Nathaniel Stewart Photo

A new Miss Jamaica World Western was crowned on Saturday night at the Golf View Hotel, Mandeville. She is 17-year-old Tiffany Ellis, Miss Astley's Indulgence.

From the get-go, her friends and family were adamant that she was the one that was going to win and when she walked away with over $70,000 in cash and prizes, plus a crown, they were ecstatic. Ellis also won the sectional prizes for Best Legs and Best Figure.

However, during the question and answer segment, not many of the contestants were fluent in their responses, which caused some in the audience to snicker, which made them more nervous.

One of the best answers came from Latoy Trenchfield, Miss It's a Party, who was asked who she thought was a better role model: Princess Diana or Mother Theresa. She said though she respected Mother Theresa, she thought Princess Diana was the better pick.

"She was a social activist and she didn't allow things to get in the way of being a mother ... She was a woman who demonstrated beauty of the heart and the physique." She walked away with the sectional prize of being Most Aware.

Other sectional prize winners were: Mellissa Brooks, Miss Foodz to Go - Most Congenial; Raquel Powell, Miss Jade Collections - Best Smile; and Camae Johnson, Miss Island Hardware - Best Skin Tone.

Performances

Tiffany Ellis, wearing the sash Miss Astley's Indulgence, walks away with the crown and over $70,000 in cash and prizes. She also won the sectional prizes for Best Legs and Best Figure during the Miss Jamaica Western Pageant at the Golf View Hotel in Mandeville on Saturday. -Nathaniel Stewart Photo

Before the top five were announced, however, the audience was treated to performances by Iconz and cabaret act, Joan Dixon. Iconz, consisting of three young men, barely had the audience's attention with their cover of Alaine's No Ordinary Love, Natural Black's Far From Reality, among other songs that were obviously off-key. When they went into some of their original pieces (Take My Hand and Black Woman), things improved and some in the audience rocked.

Finally, when Dixon hit the stage, she immediately had the crowd rocking, clapping and singing. She laid down a few Rod Stewart tracks, Forever Young, Some Guys Have all the Luck, then went into Gloria Gaynor's I Will Survive, Donna Summer's Hot Stuff, but she really tore the house down with Marcia Griffiths' Everywhere.

Sadly, her set came to an end to announce the top five who were: Kaydia Brooks, Miss James Heavy Equipment; Tiffany Ellis, Miss Astley's Indulgence; Denisha Powell, Miss Tuscany Boutique; Danielle Bazzoni, Miss S&G Road Surfacing; Raquel Powell, Miss Jade Collections. Those who had placed their bets on Daniel Bazzoni and Raquel Powell must have been happy because they were picked as the 2nd and 1st runners up, respectively.