Meet Mr and Miss STETHS - Leeshae Malcolm and Richard Logan crowned winners of school competition

Leeshae Malcolm and Richard Logan were crowned Miss and Mr St Elizabeth Technical (STETHS), respectively, last Friday. The first runner-up in the male category was Keino Barrett, and the second runner-up was Aldane Russell.

In the Miss STETHS section, Tamarsha Brown was the first runner-up and Kashmira Wilson was the second runner-up.

Malcolm and Logan admitted that while they entered the competition to win, the development of their self-confidence was high on their list as an essential outcome.

Malcolm said she entered to get various experiences. “I also entered to build my self-confidence, and I have to say, my self-confidence definitely was built.”

“Very grateful” and “at one point overwhelming” was how she described the feeling of winning, while adding “all good work has come to an end and I am grateful.”

The 15-year-old said preparing for the competition was hectic.

“Even approaching the ending of the competition, I was so stressed. I had countless sleepless nights, and I had to put in work 24/7.

“I was determined to come out exceptional, and I had set my mind to be Miss STETHS 2019, and I have achieved that goal.

“I did not put myself in the position to accept anything less, because my aim was always to be number 1; that’s what I worked for,” said the former Santa Cruz Prep student.

Malcolm said she was ready to play the role as the brand ambassador for her school.

Meanwhile, Logan said that he was elated and honoured to wear the Mr STETHS crown.

“I was afraid to enter this competition, but my teachers and peers saw that person in me as the Mr STETHS, 2019.

“Now, I have no regrets I entered,” he said.

“It was a lot of hard work preparing, but with the assistance of teachers and other persons, I was able to prepare myself well,” said the fourth-former.

He admitted he was nervous in the beginning, but said: “Going through the different phases, I became more and more comfortable.”

He surprised himself during the singing battle, which he won. “I didn’t know I had such capabilities,” he said.

Crystal Pusey, teacher and planning committee member, said it was challenging to get contestants, especially the males, for the four-week-long competition.

“I recruited Richard. I went into my language class one day and I just started pulling them, and he kept saying ‘no Miss, I can’t’.”

“It was a struggle finding them as a majority of them are not confident enough,” she said, while saying some are afraid of being on showcase where they may be ridiculed.

However, the nine female and eight male contestants were described by her as “dedicated.”

The competition, especially on the female side, Pusey said, was “very competitive.”

“Even on competition morning, the winner was leading by two points,” she said.

“On the male side, it wasn’t that close, but they were still working, they were still pushing.”