GoodHeart | Kadie-Lee Kelly crowned in service
Published:Saturday | September 6, 2025 | 12:07 AMNyoka Manning/Gleaner Writer
At just 16, Kadie-Lee Kelly stepped onto the stage of the inaugural Miss Clarendon Parish Youth Council Pageant last Saturday with her head held high and her heart set on service. By the time the lights dimmed and the crown was placed on her head, she had emerged not only as a queen but also as a voice for the parish’s youth.
The Denbigh High student, who will soon begin sixth form, speaks with notable maturity. “I have always had a passion for community involvement,” she told GoodHeart, adding, “My main goal wasn’t to win the crown but to reach the youth.”
Her dedication shines through in her active role in the Mineral Heights community, where she balances school, personal commitments, leadership, and service. She recently passed eight CSEC subjects, served as a prefect, and participated in the dance society, science club, and as sports manager. Beyond the classroom, she volunteers with the Shalom Tranquility Donating Foundation and serves as assistant public relations officer for the Gabriella’s Women Empowerment (GWEM) Foundation, contributing her energy to parish-wide initiatives. Her drive to serve, however, springs from a foundation much closer to home.
Kelly describes herself as blessed to have multiple parental figures guiding her path, “My [biological] mother, Vanessa Bent, and William and Okema Brown, who assumed the role of foster parents in my life, have always supported me.”
She credits her siblings – Talisa, Lavanya, and Zyaire-Aviel – as daily motivators, while naming her grandfather as her greatest role model, “Even through illness, he never loses his faith. That has taught me to trust the Lord and live with prayer at the centre of everything.”
As part of her reign, Kelly will embark on a parish-wide school tour to address what she sees as the most pressing challenges facing her peers: self-awareness, mental health, and the influence of social media. “Even if this move only changes one individual, it would still make a huge impact,” she said. She also plans to launch a youth club in Mineral Heights by December, to foster community involvement and connections among young people.
Kelly recalls being especially moved while assisting her father in developing the Church of the United Brethren in Christ Rhymesburry. “Being able to help improve a church with the little we have reminds me that faith as small as a mustard seed can truly move mountains,” she reflected.
The pageant, helmed by Termario Daniels, president of the Clarendon Parish Youth Council, and staged under the theme ‘Crowned in Community, Rooted in Service’, featured five contestants representing youth clubs across the parish.
“This initiative reflects youth empowerment – where young women are given a platform to shine and are challenged to lead and transform their communities. The Clarendon Parish Youth Council is committed to creating opportunities where leadership is nurtured and service becomes second nature,” Daniels explained.
Ahead of the coronation, contestants volunteered at a back-to-school medical and dental drive at the Bucknor Multipurpose Community Centre, and paid a courtesy visit to May Pen Mayor Joel Williams to discuss youth empowerment.
“I am proud to witness such dedication and talent among our young women. This pageant is more than a celebration of beauty; it is a platform for cultivating leaders who will drive positive change in our communities. The involvement of these young ladies in civic engagement and volunteerism embodies the future we envision for Clarendon,” said Williams.
The five contestants represented registered youth clubs and foundations that are pillars of Clarendon’s youth movement: Kadie-Lee Kelly of the Shalom Tranquility Donating Foundation; Sanique McGregor of the May Pen Police Youth Club; Brittanya Mason of the Youth WISE Youth Club; Britanya Williams of the Live Love Laugh Youth Foundation; and Neveah Meeks of the GWEM Foundation.
The atmosphere on Saturday was one of both competition and camaraderie, as the finalists clasped hands and prayed together in the moments before the announcement.
“That moment of unity strengthened us,” Kelly recalled. “It remains with me even today.” Backstage, it was her foster mother’s quiet reassurance that gave her the final push of confidence to believe she could win.
For Kelly, the lessons of the pageant are as valuable as the crown itself. She admits there were moments during preparation when she considered giving up, but perseverance and practice carried her through. “The crown isn’t what defines me, my actions do,” she said firmly.
Her long-term ambition is to build a career in medicine, with interests in anaesthesia and physiotherapy, while also exploring her passion for social media influence. For now, she remains dedicated to the work before her, fostering unity and purpose among Clarendon’s youth – one school, one community, and one conversation at a time.
“This pageant has shown me that leadership and service go hand-in-hand,” she reflected. “It’s not just about being crowned. It’s about lifting others with you.”