Excitement as Deidrian Downer wins Miss Global Jamaica

At 1:20 Sunday morning, cheers erupted inside the Douglas Orane Auditorium at Wolmer’s Boys’ School in Kingston, as Miss Zimii Haircare, Deidrian Downer, was announced winner of Miss Global Jamaica 2026.

Amid the blaring, high-pitched sounds of vuvuzuelas and whispers of “Thank you, God” from her parents, Fitzroy and Millicent Downer, an overwhelmed Downer dazzled with her perfect smile and stood still as outgoing queen, Keri-Ann Greenwood, placed the crown on her head.

Standing onstage with the new and outgoing queens was specially invited guest at the pageant, Miss Global 2025, Nyguyen Dinh Nhu Van from Vietnam. Notably, Jamaica’s Greenwood, was the first runner-up beside Nyguyen at the international competition in Thailand last year.

One of the favourites in the competition, Downer triumphed over 25 other contestants in what the judges and the organisers said was a keenly contested pageant. Things turned forcefully in Downer’s favour when she waltzed away with the coveted Best in Swimwear trophy, a truly well-deserved win.

“When I heard my name it was a shock ... and it was a huge recognition that I am growing and I am becoming the woman I want to be. This is not an overnight journey I have been working so hard to improve on myself and I am seeing it play out,” a visibly moved Downer told The Gleaner, as she won the battle to stay composed.

She added, “I am happy ... I am speechless ... I am going through the emotions, but overall I am so grateful.”

In her response during one of two interview sections, Downer told the audience that it was important for her to know that she “is worthy of walking into that room and being my true, authentic self”.

Judge Sequoia Thomas, told The Gleaner a little about the decision-making process, sharing that the same girls who stood out in the pre-judging, came with their A-game on coronation night.

“But it was really like starting fresh again on final night. It came down to poise, how the girls responded to their questions and just overall stage presence. We had a couple girls who were really doing well, so it was difficult for us. We had to shift ourselves out of the room and reconvene to make that decision. But, ultimately, we made the right decision,” Thomas said.

Downer, she said, was always one of the top contenders for this competition. Rounding out the top three were first runner-up, Kadejah Anderson, and second runner-up Rasheda Green.

“Deidrian won best in swimsuit and that is important on an international stage ... as well as how you present to the crowd and the judges. Deidrian did pretty well in her questions, and she was a crowd favourite. Persons in the competition love her ... we definitely made the right decision,” Thomas reflected.

Man of the moment, organiser Jermane Blair, was unsurprisingly “exhausted”. But he quickly added that he was also “extremely happy”, and expressed his confidence in the new queen.

DIFFERENCE

“Deidrian is going on an [international] stage that has a lot of women who are tall and ‘glamazon’ ... but I know that she can go on that stage and really make a difference. I know that she can go on that stage and she can make a statement. So I am really looking forward to how she’s going to represent,” Blair told The Gleaner.

Downer is the 10th Miss Global Jamaica, but this is the first time the pageant is hosting its own competition in Jamaica. Formerly, the title would be awarded to the runner-up in one of the other beauty pageants. The international title-holder was present, and Blair said that this was a strategic move, especially since Greenwood’s second-place finish last year represented the first time that Jamaica had placed in the finals of the international Miss Global competition.

“ It was important to have Nyguyen here because she was able to give back to some of the young ladies, and she has made some connections between Jamaica and Vietnam. Having her here solidified the authentic relationship that we have with the international organisation ... and the justification of the way forward to make Miss Global Jamaica one of the biggest pageants in the Caribbean,” Blair explained.

He gave a special shoutout to Delano Seivewright who was instrumental in helping him and his team “to really push to make sure that certain things happened”.

On coronation night, the 8 p.m. advertised event got off to a late start at 9:18 p.m. However, patrons were entertained during the next four hours with a parade of the 26 finalists in swimwear, evening wear, eliminations to the final 16, the final 10, after which the number was whittled down to three.

Along the way, Downer also collected the trophy for Most Photogenic; Antonni James for Altruism; Kadejah Anderson Best in Evening Gown; Rasheda Green, the Aura of Excellence Award and Daniela Carey for Most Congenial.

Singer Zhayna was the featured performer.

The Miss Global International Pageant 2026 will be held in Jamaica at the Grand Palladium Resort September 14 - 20.

yasmine.peru@gleanerjm.com