It’s been 10 years since her country won the Miss World crown, but on Saturday night new title holder, Miss Jamaica Toni-Ann Singh, breezed through the annual event confident in her message of self-belief and purpose. Asked about the value of beauty contests in today’s world of MeToo# and the drive for equality and respect for women, the 23-year-old graduate of Florida State University said beauty for her was the least important aspect of her achievement. “I want to make a change that’s sustainable. So if we’re talking women... it needs to be something that will make sure that their children and their children’s children have a different value of life,” she said after winning the title in London on Saturday night. Describing herself as a “changed woman” after the experience of taking part in the Miss World competition, Singh added: “There’s no way I could chalk it up to just being about beauty, because that’s the last on the list, honestly.”
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Who is she? Singh was born in Morant, St Thomas, Jamaica, in 1996. She migrated to the US with her parents Jahrine and Bradshaw when she was nine and has since lived in Florinda since. Her father, Bradshaw Singh, is an Indo-Caribbean, which explains her family name. Music has always been a big part of her life, she says, and her rendition of Whitney Houston’s ‘I have nothing’ during the competition won her the segment and lot of fans. She has considered singing professionally, but chose to study medicine instead. She aspires to be a doctor but has not closed the door on music.
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Her mother is her biggest inspiration: "You’re going to make me cry,” she told presenter Piers Morgan, who asked Singh who her biggest heroes were. Singh, considers her mother as the most important thing in her life, and said she had given up a lot of things so she could be on this stage. “I have watched her pour everything into me even at the sacrifice of her own wants and her own needs and that’s why I’m able to sit before you today,” she said. She made sure to thank her mother after her historic win. “My mother @jahrinebailey, I love you I love you I love you. I wish to become even half the woman you are. You are my strength, my number one supporter/cheerleader/fan and my absolute best friend,” she said on Instagram.
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She’s all about women’s empowerment: Singh is a psychology and women studies graduate of the Florida State University. “I think I represent something special, a generation of women that are pushing forward to change the world,” she told Morgan during the pageant. Even during the Miss Jamaica pageant, she vowed to be an ambassador for women everywhere. “With or without the Miss Jamaica World Crown, I would continue to advocate for women. I believe women are the lifeblood of our community,” she said then, according to heavy.com. “I will continue inspiring them and working with them so they understand just how great their potential is. I will also use my compassion to be an excellent ambassador.”
Image Credit: instagram.com/toniannsingh
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Becoming Miss Jamaica: Singh first competed in the Florida Caribbean Association’s pageant, according to heavy.com. It was there that she met judge and Miss Jamaica World 2005 Terri-Karelle Reid, who encouraged her to enter the Miss Jamaica World competition. “I had a platform working on, so I entered the Florida Caribbean Association pageant and Terri was one of the judges and she asked me if I would enter Miss Jamaica World and I decided to give it a try,” Singh recalled. At the Miss Jamaica pageant, Singh took home the Best Talent, Most Photogenic and Best Personality titles.
Image Credit: instagram.com/toniannsingh
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A year of black beauties: Singh’s win marks a historic year for beauty pageants. It’s the first time that all top pageants — Miss USA, Miss Teen USA, Miss America, Miss Universe and now, Miss World — have crowned black women as their winners. Singh is also the fourth contestant of Jamaican descent to win Miss World. The other three are Carol Joan Crawford, Cindy Breakspear and Lisa Hanna who won the crown in 1962, 1976 and 1993 respectively.
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At the Miss World: Singh was among a large group of 114 contestants vying for the 69th edition of the Miss World pageant, one of the world’s oldest beauty pageant, at the ExCeL London convention centre in London. She was an early favourite and advanced to the top five, sharing the stage with Miss Nigeria Nyekachi Douglas, Miss Brazil Elis Coelho, Miss India Suman Ratan Singh Rao and Miss France Ophely Mezino. When asked by host Morgan why she should win, Singh did not hesitate. “I think I represent something special, a generation of women that are pushing forward to change the world. I wouldn’t say I’m different from any other women on this stage, but I will say that my passion for women and pouring into them and making sure that they’ve had the same opportunities that I’ve had is something that sets me apart.”
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Words of inspiration: A proud Jamaican, Singh did not waste time to thank her country right after her win. “My heart is filled with love and gratitude. Thank you so much for believing in me,” she posted on Instagram. “You pushed me to believe in myself. I am not only honored but humbled to be the 69th Miss World. Thank you to my family and to my friends. The love and support you poured into me now allows me to pour into the world.” She ended with these words of inspiration. “To that little girl in St Thomas, Jamaica and all the girls around the world — please believe in yourself. Please know that you are worthy and capable of achieving your dreams,” she said. “This crown is not mine but yours. It’s for you to truly understand that no matter where you’re from and the cards you’re dealt in life — your dreams are valid. You have a purpose.”
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