In a not-so-simple ceremony at the AC Hotel Kingston on Sunday night, Miss Closet Code, Dr Jordanne Lauren Levy, was named the 2023 Hyundai Miss Universe Jamaica.

Though the evening was racked with technical difficulties and interruptions from the crowd, Dr Levy said her high was undisturbed.

Dr Levy, who was given the opportunity to answer the question twice, initially left some audience members dissatisfied.

Standing tall in her blue and purple holographic and sequinned gown for a second go at it, she said, “Being beautifully confident to me means walking in the room knowing exactly why you’re there. Walking into the room knowing that you can impact many people, being confident in all of your core values. I believe in the core values my parents and grandparents taught me, which is to be your authentic self, to show yourself and all that you worked for very proudly and I come to this event knowing that I am strong, I am peaceful, I am influential, and I’m able to be an ambassador for Jamaica, to walk on that Miss Universe stage beautifully confident.”

Speaking on the rarity of being given the chance to answer twice and the audience’s reaction to the announcement, co-national director of the Miss Universe Jamaica Organization Mark Dermoth said, “I understand how they feel about that but she is an amazing human being. She is an amazing person, both from the beauty outside and the beauty within. And I think for her to have gotten an opportunity to represent her country is really a massive deal. And I suspect that she is gonna prove the country wrong. Because they are gonna get to know her, to love her and find out the amazing soul she is. To err is human, to forgive is divine and I think more people should live with that motto and not be too judgemental and harsh on our fellow human beings but embrace and love, forgive.”

He continued, “We’re happy that we have a new title winner and we’re really eager now to get the training programme in because we understand what we have to do. Jordanne has an amazing body, she has an amazing look, we know we have to do some interview techniques and all of that but we’re ready and we’re pumped to go.”

Giving some insight on the judging process, Miss Universe Jamaica 2020 Miqueal-Symone Williams, part of the selection panel, said they have been working with the ladies for the past month. “We have been working with these ladies. There are things that matter in terms of their timeliness, how they appear for appearances for Miss Universe Jamaica. How they treat their fellow contestants, their hairstylist, their make-up artist, the comments they make about them,”Williams said.

The new queen, who is from St Andrew, is also medical doctor.

Dr Levy, in her preparation for the competition, leaned on the advice of her mother, Donna Levy, who in 1986 placed third in Miss Universe Jamaica pageant as Donna Matthews.

She said, “My mom is a pageant girly. She was in one of the first Miss Jamaica pageants. She definitely told me, it’s gonna be a long ride, you’re gonna put in a lot of work but she told me not to worry about that but be your authentic self and I think throughout the pageant that’s one advice that I can be very proud and grateful that I received because it’s something that people want to see, someone that’s relatable, someone that’s influential in just being themself. They don’t have to copy anyone because they are focused on themselves and just showing the best of what they can be.”

Now as she sets her sights on representing Jamaica on the international Miss Universe stage in El Salvador, Dr Levy says in the meantime she will be continuing her work with girls from inner city communities.

“I am currently working with the Majesty Gardens community with my Be-you-tiful campaign which is all about female empowerment and giving confidence to the young ladies in the inner city community of Majesty Gardens. I am working with 10 girls so far and we’ve identified the need to get appropriate work wear for them and it goes beyond that. Investing in their confidence and letting them complete their education. I hope to be working with other inner city communities so we can make an impact, a true impact in Jamaica.”