Arrian Patman, a 25-year-old graduate of The University of the West Indies with a bachelor’s degree in diagnostic imaging – radiography, was crowned Miss Westmoreland Festival Queen 2023 on Sunday evening.
The radiographer, who is sponsored by Royal Pharmacy, has also received two sectional awards: Most Active in Community and Most Culturally Aware.
In an interview with The Gleaner, Patman expressed her delight at being named Miss Westmoreland Festival Queen. She declared that she is prepared to fulfill the responsibilities of both the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission (JCDC) Miss Westmoreland Festival Queen title and the JCDC National Festival Queen title, which she is confident she will win later this year.
Patman will participate in the Jamaica 61 highlight, Miss Jamaica Festival Queen.
Last year, Westmoreland produced the second runner-up to the Miss Jamaica Festival Queen in Le Chone Redwood, but Patman believes she can do much better this year and bring the crown back to the parish, as Katrina Grant-D’Aguilar did in 2008.
“There is no doubt that I will be number one,” Patman said immediately after being anointed at the Sean Lavery Faith Hall on Sunday night, which was packed to capacity.
“I will definitely represent my parish well,” she said, noting that the voyage that led to her becoming the parish’s festival queen was an incredible experience working and interacting with contestants from across the parish.
Deborah Dawes, a registered nurse sponsored by Alexdel Limited, placed second and won three sectional awards: Most Popular on Social Media, Most Poised, and Most Congenial. Kelsia Ann Porter, a student at The Mico University College who is sponsored by Bridgez Jerk and Rest Stop, was the sectional winner and runner-up for Best Performer.
