The parish of Hanover has officially named its representative for the Miss Jamaica Festival Queen competition, set to take place this August.

Twenty-six-year-old Ashley-Nicole Lawrence was crowned Miss Hanover Festival Queen 2025 following a fiercely contested competition held at Rusea’s High School in Lucea on Saturday, June 14.

Emerging from a field of seven contestants, Lawrence distinguished herself and won the favor of both the three-member judging panel and the hundreds of parishioners who packed the venue.

By the end of the night, she had not only secured the crown and title but also walked away with a treasure trove of prizes. These included a total of $150,000 from the organizing body, the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission (JCDC), and the Mayor of Lucea, Councillor Sheridan Samuels. She also claimed sectional prizes for Most Congenial and Most Culturally Aware.

Lawrence, who wore the sash Miss Tan Tan Sweet Bites, holds a Bachelor’s degree in Entertainment and Cultural Enterprise. Her guiding philosophy is: “I can do anything I choose to do, even if it includes flying.”

Second place went to another crowd favourite, Dajae Taylor, Miss JDA Shipping and Construction, who also received the Most Active in the Community award. Shianna McLean, Miss Top Shipping, placed third and won the awards for Most Poised and Best Performance.

The Top Five was rounded out by Renecia Bernad, Miss LYL Ultrasound, who was awarded Most Popular on Social Media, and Calicia Hines, Miss Cousins Cove Adventure Park.

Thirteen parish queens will compete for the Miss Jamaica Festival Queen 2025 title on Saturday, August 2, at the National Indoor Sports Centre, located within the Independence Village at the National Stadium Complex.

Sponsors of the national competition include the Culture, Health, Arts, Sports, and Education (CHASE) Fund, Airports Authority of Jamaica, National Housing Trust, HEART/NSTA Trust, Passport, Immigration and Citizenship Agency, and Excelsior.