Ava-Gail is Miss St Mary Festival Queen

Screams and joyous cheers erupted in Port Maria, St Mary, on Saturday night, after 24-year-old Ava-Gail Lindsay was crowned Miss St Mary Festival Queen 2017 during a coronation ceremony at the Anglican Church Hall.

Lindsay, who defeated 10 other contestants, said she was "overjoyed".

"Words can't even express how I feel right now, but I think some of the reasons I did well are to do with my confidence, self-esteem, and humility," said Lindsay, who has a bachelor's degree in nursing and is passionate about real estate and wealth-creation.

She said that over the next 12 months, she planned to use the opportunity and platform "to be a cultural ambassador and push my Smart up Jamaica Foundation, which will be working with youths in various communities to maximise their dreams and increase their abilities to reach their potential".

Helping youth

Smart up Jamaica Foundation seeks assistance for students pursuing tertiary education to give them scholarships and presentations on things like public speaking and resume writing.

"The aim is to help young individuals smart-up because it gives you an edge and a better ability to get ahead. We all have a brain and when we use it to the best of our abilities, we can do wonders," she said.