When Allison Williams was crowned Miss St. Catherine Festival Queen 2026 on Sunday, family and friends celebrated a young woman they describe as determined, resilient and driven to succeed. For Williams, however, the crown represents more than a personal achievement. It is an opportunity to make a difference in the lives of other women.

The 27-year-old personal banking officer, who represented R.A. Williams Distributors Limited in the competition, captured the title during an energetic coronation showcase at Eltham High School in Spanish Town and will now represent St. Catherine in the National Miss Jamaica Festival Queen Competition in August.

Her aunt, Joan Neufville, described Williams as someone who approaches every challenge with purpose and confidence.

"Allison is a go-getter. She is driven. When she goes after something, don't you dare try to stop her. She's going to win. She's just a winner," Neufville said.

That same determination is now driving Williams' proposed community project, She Survives, which seeks to increase cancer awareness, improve health literacy and empower women to take greater control of their health and financial well-being.

The initiative, which operates under the theme Prepare, Partner and Prosper, is designed to address the interconnected challenges of late breast and cervical cancer detection, limited health literacy, financial vulnerability and restricted access to preventative healthcare among Jamaican women aged 18 to 35. For Williams, the project is more than a competition requirement. It is rooted in personal loss and the lessons she learned while caring for her mother.

In November 2023, she lost her mother to breast cancer after serving as one of her primary caregivers throughout her illness. Her grandmother also succumbed to cancer, experiences that strengthened her resolve to help other women and families facing similar challenges.

"I painfully watched my mother fade away over the course of a year," Williams shared. "My life was affected financially and emotionally. As a result, I want women and families to be prepared, equipped with the knowledge and tools they need to navigate these health challenges."

Williams explained that the project recognizes that cancer is not only a medical condition but also a life-altering event that can affect a family's finances, stability and emotional well-being.

"The Prepare component focuses on health and financial literacy, ensuring women are equipped with the knowledge they need to make informed decisions. Partner speaks to the importance of connection and access to support systems and available resources. Prosper represents the outcome when women are informed, prepared and empowered to maintain stability and improve their quality of life."

Through workshops and seminars hosted in churches, women's groups and youth organizations, She Survives will provide participants with information on cancer prevention, early detection, health management and financial preparedness. The programme will culminate in a community health fair in rural St. Catherine, bringing essential services such as pap smears, mammograms and other health screenings directly to residents.

While women's health advocacy remains a major focus of her platform, Williams also hopes to encourage greater civic participation among young people across the parish.

"My hope for the young people of St. Catherine is that they become active participants in national development rather than passive bystanders," she said. "I want them to get involved, show up, show out and make a difference in their communities."

As she prepares for the national finals this August, Williams remains focused on ensuring that her reign is measured not only by the crown she wears, but by the lives she impacts.

"I am extremely grateful and humbled to have been conferred the title of Miss St. Catherine Festival Queen," she said. "This platform gives me an opportunity to make a meaningful difference, and that is exactly what I intend to do."

 

The coronation of parish queens continues on Saturday, June 27, in Clarendon at Glenmuir High School in May Pen and in St. James at the Black River Theatre at Iberostar Rose Hall. Both shows begin at 8:00 p.m. Miss Kingston and St. Andrew Festival Queen will be crowned on Sunday, June 28, at the Ranny Williams Entertainment Centre, beginning at 7:00 p.m.