Congratulations to Toni-Ann Singh, who has been crowned Miss World 2019, and is the first woman of Jamaican descent to win the honor since 1993.
Singh was born in St. Thomas and migrated to the U.S. at 9 years old. She comes from a musical family and has been classically trained from the time she arrived in the U.S. “I’ve been singing since I was very young. I sang in church with the children’s choir, and I’ve been classically trained since I was nine,” she revealed to the publication The Gleaner.
Singh attended Florida State University, where she earned a degree in psychology and women’s studies. And her proficiency came in handy during the competition when asked how her crown (prior to winning) would positively contribute to society.
She replied, “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 onstage. “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.”
Singh is the fourth contestant of Jamaican descent to win the Miss World competition. The other three are Carol Joan Crawford, Cindy Breakspear, and Lisa Hanna; who walked away with the crown in 1962, 1976 and 1993 respectively.
The new Miss World crown holder told The Gleaner that she plans to take her role as a global ambassador very seriously, despite knowing how difficult it will be. “The goal of this pageant is if you win, you become an ambassador for the United Nations with engagements all over the world, speaking to people all over the planet,” she remarked. “You have to be working on all these to make sure people don’t meet a tired, angry or hungry you. It’s a lot of mental strength because I’m an ordinary person.”
Congratulations again to Miss World 2019, Tony-Ann Singh!
