‘Global’ pride for new queen Deidrian Downer’s parents

Today, Fitzroy Downer and his wife, Millicent, are two extremely proud and happy people.

Their daughter, Deidrian, was crowned Miss Global Jamaica at the exciting coronation show held last Saturday at the Douglas Orane Auditorium, Wolmer's Boys School in Kingston.

A beaming Millicent told THE STAR that she was "feeling elated" and that she had expected her daughter to win the crown.

"My whole heart was just praying. I kept silent ... and when I heard her name, I said 'Oh my God'. I give God the glory," said Millicent, who shared that she always encouraged her daughter, who would pose in front of the mirror as a little girl "and do her stuff".

"I would always cheer her on, and I am happy that I am here doing the same thing now," she said.

However, even more of a cheerleader is Fitzroy. He has been to all the pageants that his lookalike daughter, who he affectionately calls 'Faith' has entered, and always gives her sage advice.

"I am feeling humbled and grateful to the most High God who has given her the strength to endure and come out victorious. Earlier on I was praying and the Lord said 'Be anxious for nothing.' I reminded her that I affectionately call her Faith and she has to have faith in all that she does, believe in herself and put God first," Fitzroy told THE STAR.

He commended the competition for helping Deidrian to grow and have more confidence in herself.

"I tell you a little story ... when she was a baby, there was a gentleman by the name of Burke who runs a taxi and would bring us to May Pen ... we are from Effortville in Clarendon ... he looked at her and said 'Yuh know, you are going to be the next Miss Jamaica. You are my queen.' When she won Miss Central, I saw her and let him know and he was so excited. This just goes to show that sometimes some persons can see things in your destiny and they speak it over your life and it manifests," Fitzroy said.

He reflected on Deidrian's journey into pageantry, which started with her entering Miss Latino at Denbigh High School.

"I didn't know that my daughter could speak Spanish ... and she won. Then she was forced to enter Miss Denbigh, she was forced to enter Miss Seacole at UWI ... and she was forced again to enter Miss Central by her dear friend who supported her throughout her journey," said Fitzroy.

He said that Saturday's coronation was the result of hard work and dedication, and recalled an instance when his daughter didn't win a pageant crown, but her attitude made her a winner in his eyes.

"When she entered Miss Universe, somebody asked her in an interview how she felt that she didn't win. She said, 'It was not my time, it's Rachel's time. It's her time to shine.' And that's what make me feel proud of Faith. She can put herself in a competition and embrace where God take her and where He really wants to take her. So now, she's Miss Global and we going to go global, international and bring it back to Jamaica," Fitzroy declared.