Hard work and determination were among the main factors that led to their success, the winners of the 2019 Mr. and Miss Teenage have said.
Monday night’s competition culminated in the Jennings Secondary School’s Jaleel Bideau and the St Anthony’s Secondary School’s Vida Betances being crowned the winners.
In the male category, Bideau nabbed the top prize for the question and answer and personality profile segments before being crowned. He also had the best cultural icon presentation and was named most helpful.
Shortly after being crowned, he told OBSERVER media that he felt “amazing” because he had never envisioned himself winning the competition before.
He said all of the competitors had to work hard ahead of the competition.
“…We all had to put in a lot of effort and as one of our favourite committee members, Miss Nicholls, says, ‘Always be positive and strive for what you want in life,’” he explained.
Second place winner was the St Joseph Academy’s J’shawni Vickery, who was also awarded the top prize for best performing talent.
Meanwhile, Ottos Comprehensive Secondary’s T’moy Peters landed the third-place position.
In the female section, Betances won the prize for being the best in the question and answer segment.
She said she left the competition in the hands of God.
“I feel really thankful because it wasn’t just my efforts alone. It was really the efforts of my trainers, my parents and a lot of determination and work went into this,” she said. “… Before each segment I prayed and left it in the hands of God.”
Second place went to the Christ the Kings student Amya Gomes, who also won the personality segment and the award for being the Flow’s People’s Choice.
Third place went to the Clarehall Secondary School’s Annia Matthews, who also won the top place in the cultural icon segment and she also received the leadership skills award.
The All Saints Secondary School’s Myrrisha Richards, was awarded the best talent, while the most improved participant went to – Glanville Secondary Schools, Nyjah Smith.