Toni-Ann Singh of Jamaica made history on Saturday as she was crowned Miss World.
The 23-year-old, who attended Florida State University and earned a degree in psychology and women’s studies, is the fourth Jamaican to be crowned Miss World, according to the Jamaican Observer. The other women who took the crown before her were Carole Joan Crawford in 1963, Cindy Breakspeare in 1976 and Lisa Hanna in 1993.
Singh advanced to the top 40 by winning the talent competition. There, she sang Whitney Houston’s “I Have Nothing” and danced to Koffee’s “Toast.” She moved on to the final round of the competition with Miss Nigeria, Miss Brazil, Miss India and Miss France.
Prior to winning, Singh spoke on how she plans to positively contribute to society, saying that she would do so with or without the crown. “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 said. “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’s win is history making, as she and four other black women currently hold the crowns for the major beauty pageants. Zozibini Tunzi won Miss Universe last week, Kaliegh Garris is now Miss Teen USA, Cheslie Kryst was named Miss USA 2019 and Nia Franklin won the title of Miss America.
“I grew up in a world where a woman who looks like me — with my kind of skin and my kind of hair — was never considered to be beautiful,” Tunzi said during her competition. “I think it is time that that stops today. I want children to look at me and see my face and I want them to see their faces reflected in mine.”