Tracey-Ann Lewis Sets Literacy Agenda as Miss Hanover Festival Queen 2026

Tracey-Ann Lewis, the 2026 Miss Hanover Festival Queen, says her year in the role will be centred on improving literacy and providing mentorship for young people in Hanover.

Lewis, 27, is a biochemist and science teacher at Rusea’s High School in Lucea. She was selected as parish queen at the coronation show staged at the school on Saturday, June 6.

The Seaview, Hopewell resident topped a competitive group of entrants and is now set to carry Hanover’s banner at the Miss Jamaica Festival Queen National Coronation. She also earned the sectional prize for Most Poised.

After the show, Lewis told JIS News that the win carried deep personal meaning because it was something she had deliberately set out to achieve earlier in the year.

“On April 27, I had written down that this was one of the things that I wanted to do… and for this to occur, it means the world to me. I had the hope, and I’m so thankful to the Most High that this hope became a reality,” she said.

Lewis said a major part of her programme will be widening access to books and learning opportunities, particularly for children in rural sections of the parish.

“My project, going forward, will be a reading initiative paired with mentorship for Hanover. I would like to revamp the school libraries, ensuring that there are [works by] Jamaican and Caribbean writers in the libraries,” she explained.

She also wants to support community-level solutions for children who live a long distance from established library services.

“For example, having a book shed in rural communities that are really far away from the libraries, so that reading can take place at home,” she stated.

As she prepares for the national contest, Lewis said she is looking forward to the journey and to connecting with the other parish representatives. She added that backing from her relatives, Rusea’s High, her church and the wider community will help her manage the responsibilities ahead.

“It’s not just me. It’s me, my community, my school family, my church family… everyone I know who will be behind me,” Ms. Lewis said.

She also thanked those who encouraged her during the parish competition.

“Thank you so much for your belief, for your time, for your well wishes. It was tremendously appreciated and I thank you very much,” Ms. Lewis said.

In the other results, Destinya Locke placed first runner-up and received the awards for Most Culturally Aware and Most Popular on Social Media. Tifelia Thompson was second runner-up and took the Most Congenial and Best Performer titles.