College of Agriculture Science and Education student Tahera Brown was crowned Miss Portland Festival Queen, on Saturday night, May 17 at Port Antonio High School. Tahera, from St. Thomas, is a second year student at CASE and beat of the challenge of five other contestants. She is not new to competitions and as the reigning St. Thomas Farm Queen, Tahera relinquished that crown and title to enter the Portland Festival Queen Contest. The first runner up is Shanique Rogers. She was awarded the best performance with a Jamaican language piece entitled “In a mi head” which had the audience in stitches. Second runner up was Vanassa Gilzene who was awarded ‘Most culturally Aware’ while Sheri-Gaye Brown was the most congenial. Tahera told the North Coast Times: “It was a wonderful experience despite the many up and downs; I am confident enough to keep strong and very happy to know that I am the victorious winner and I know that I will do Portland proud at the national level. It was not difficult giving up the St. Thomas farm queen. I had spent my reign well I enjoyed every minute of it and saw this as just another stepping stone to my achievement.” In photo Miss Portland Tahera Brown center flanked by 1st runner up Shanique Rogers (left) and 2nd runner up Vanessa Gilzene
