News Americas, NEW YORK, NY., Sat. Dec. 14, 2019: Hours after being crowned Miss World 2019, Miss Jamaica Toni-Ann Singh took to Instagram to declare: “Likkle But We Tallawah,” a common saying in Jamaica that means “we’re a small nation but we’re strong-willed, we’re determined and we refuse to be restrained by the boundaries of our small island.”
“My Jamaica, sweet Jamaica??we did it! Wah we seh? LIKKLE BUT WE TALLAWAH,” she posted on Instagram.
Singh won the coveted crown at the Excel arena in east London today, Sept. 14, 2019. Singh, 23, was born in Morant, St. Thomas, Jamaica. She is a psychology and women studies graduate of the Florida State University.
“To that little girl in St. Thomas, Jamaica and all the girls around the world – please believe in yourself. Please know that you are worthy and capable of achieving your dreams. This crown is not mine but yours. You have a PURPOSE,” she tweeted after the win on Saturday.
Singh was crowned by her predecessor – Miss World 2018 Vanessa Ponce from Mexico. Ophely Mezino of France and Suman Rao of India were the first and second runners up of the beauty pageant, respectively.
She makes history as only the fourth Jamaican beauty to win Miss World and joins the top ranks of black beauties as for the first time in history, Miss Universe, Miss USA, Miss Teen USA, Miss America and Miss World are all black women.
In her Q&A she was asked “Why should you win? What’s special about you?” and responded with: “I think I represent something special, a generation of women that are pushing forward to change the world. I wouldn’t say I’m different from any other women on this stage, but I will say that my passion for women and pouring into them and making sure that they’ve had the same opportunities that I’ve had is something that sets me apart.”
She was also asked “Who’s the most inspiring woman for you in the world? and said it was her mother.
“So you asked me a question to make me cry,” she said. “Well, okay. The most inspiring woman to me is my mother. Now I must say if my mother and my father are the roots and I am the tree, then really any work that I do, anything that I’m able to change in the world, it is the fruits of their labor. I have watched her pour everything into me even at the sacrifice of her own wants and her own needs and that’s why I’m able to sit before you today, thank you.”
Her parents are Bradshaw Singh and Jahrine Bailey.
Miss World 2019 was the 69th edition of the contest and contestants from 120 countries competed for the title.
