Newly crowned Manchester Festival Queen big on youth empowerment

Growing up in the quiet, cool hills of Chudleigh in Manchester, Deneila Wright often kept her thoughts to herself – not because she had nothing to say, but because she considered herself shy and reserved.

That quiet confidence blossomed into bold expression on Sunday, June 15, when the 19-year-old law student at The University of the West Indies stood poised onstage at Belair High School. Wearing the sash Miss S&G Road Surfacing Materials, Wright was crowned Miss Manchester Festival Queen 2025, to the cheers of a proud and supportive audience.

“To be honest, when I was announced as the winner, all I could say was, ‘Thank God, thank God, thank God,’” Wright said, reflecting on the emotional moment. “This has been such a powerful experience ... one worth taking.”

With her new title, Wright is stepping confidently into the spotlight, ready to embrace the responsibility that comes with it.

“Jamaicans can expect a spicy 19-year-old young woman, one who is unafraid of any challenge, and one who is ready to execute,” she added.

In addition to taking home the crown, Wright also earned three sectional awards: Most Poised, Most Culturally Aware, and Best Performance.

But for Wright, the significance of the crown goes beyond accolades. To her, it is not just a symbol of recognition, it is a platform for purpose. Through her parish project, Little More Leaders, she aims to empower Jamaican youth aged 12 to 18 by helping them build self-confidence, strengthen communication skills, and find the courage to speak up. The initiative seeks to be an antidote to that silence – creating a safe, empowering space where young people can rediscover their voices and grow into future leaders.

“I found my voice at Knox College when I was introduced to debating and public speaking,” she shared. “That’s when I started believing I had something valuable to say. I want other young people to feel that too, especially those who’ve been told to be quiet, to wait their turn, or that they are too young to understand anything.”

Wright is especially passionate about reaching youth still grappling with the aftershocks of the COVID-19 pandemic, a generation she believes is facing a silent crisis.

“A lot of our youth have lost touch with the real world,” she explained. “They don’t know how to connect with each other. They are struggling to express themselves, and it is showing up as low confidence, communication issues, and self-esteem problems ... just a wave of silent suffering.”

This year’s Miss Manchester Festival Queen competition showcased a dynamic group of young women. First runner-up Danita Crawford, Miss Manchester CoOp Credit Union, received awards for Most Active in the Community and Most Popular on Social Media. Renese Francis, Miss Gateway Pharmacy, placed third and was named Most Congenial. Completing the top five were Omelia Johnson, Miss Cameron Industries, and Kareen Thompson, Miss Heaven’s Fesco.

Wright was crowned by outgoing queen Shonnoya Houston, who placed first runner-up at the national finals in 2024. The competition is organised by the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission (JCDC), an agency of the Ministry of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport.