Meet Kimanie Farquharson: Mister Friendship Jamaica 2026 on Representing Jamaica, Friendship & Breaking Boundaries

Jamaica is preparing to take its signature confidence, culture and unmistakable island spirit to the international stage once again — this time through Kimanie Farquharson, Mister Friendship Jamaica 2026.

Born in Montego Bay, Farquharson brings a compelling mix of experiences to the title. From a career in global banking to nearly 15 years in the fashion industry, along with his passion for food as a chef and creator of Kim’s Kitchen, he represents a modern Jamaican man whose ambitions refuse to fit neatly into a single box.

Now, Farquharson is preparing for another chapter: representing the black, green and gold at Mister Friendship International 2026, scheduled for December 5–12 in Bangkok, Thailand, under the theme “The House of Presence.”

For Farquharson, however, the journey is about more than competing for an international title. It is an opportunity to showcase Jamaica beyond the familiar images the world already knows — highlighting the country’s professionals, creatives, entrepreneurs and global citizens while embracing the competition’s message of friendship and connection across cultures.

In this exclusive interview, Mister Friendship Jamaica Kimanie Farquharson opens up about his journey from Montego Bay to international runways, his love of cooking, the importance of friendship, representing Jamaica on the world stage, and why he believes it is never too late to step into a new chapter.

You are the new Mister Jamaica Friendship. Tell us how it feels.

It is an incredible honor. There’s excitement, gratitude, and definitely a sense of responsibility. Jamaica is a small island with an enormous presence in the world, and anytime you get the opportunity to carry the black, green and gold onto an international stage, it means something.

I'm proud to be Mister Jamaica Friendship, and I intend to represent Jamaica with confidence, authenticity, warmth and, of course, a special Jamaican flair.

Tell us a little about yourself.

I was born in Montego Bay, Jamaica, and I like to say my life has never really fit neatly into one box. Professionally, I work in global banking, helping global corporate clients. Outside of corporate life, I’ve spent about 15 years working as a model, and I’m also a chef and passionate about food and hospitality.

Those worlds may seem completely different, but they all reflect different parts of who I am. I love business, fashion, food, fitness, travel and connecting with people. At the center of all of it, though, is Jamaica. No matter where life takes me, I carry home with me.

What are three things you want the world to know about you?

First, I am proudly Jamaican. Jamaica has shaped my confidence, resilience, creativity and how I connect with people. I’ve built warm friendships and connections through exhibiting the inviting warmth of our people. 

Second, I believe in the power of possibility. I’ve built a corporate career while pursuing modeling, food, media and now pageantry. We don’t have to limit ourselves to one definition of success.

Third, I believe in leading by example. Sometimes simply having the courage to show up authentically gives someone else permission to do the same. As people we are limitless and tapping into what makes us unique is a gift.

What is your favourite colour?

Green. Convenient for Mister Jamaica, right? But I genuinely love green. It represents growth, life and renewal, and I think I’m constantly trying to grow into a better version of myself.

Can you cook?

Food/Cooking is my love language! I’m a chef and have created my own dining experiences through Kim’s Kitchen. For me, food is one of the purest expressions of love and culture. I share My story through every bite.

If you leave my house hungry, something has gone terribly wrong!

Tell us about your modelling career.

I’ve been fortunate for some time now, beginning with Jamaica’s Saint International. Modeling opened an entirely different world for me and gave me opportunities I never imagined when I first started.

I’ve worked across runway, editorial and fashion projects, including work connected with brands and publications such as Dior, YSL, GQ Style, Italian Vogue and Hercules. It has taught me discipline, confidence and how to walk into a room — or onto a stage — and own who I am.

Have you walked in any major fashion shows?

Yes. I’ve had the opportunity to walk for designers including Luar, Custo Barcelona, Asher Levine and others, including shows during New York Fashion Week.

But some of my proudest moments in fashion have simply been knowing that a Jamaican man could step onto those stages and belong there. Jamaica has produced incredible talent in fashion, and I’m proud to be part of that legacy in my own way.

How important is fitness to you?

Fitness is very important to me, but today I see it as much more than aesthetics. It’s about discipline, longevity, confidence and mental strength.

As I’ve gotten older, my relationship with fitness has evolved. I’m less interested in simply looking fit and more interested in being strong, healthy and capable. 

If you were to change one thing about your life, what would it be and why?

I would have learned earlier not to put timelines on my life.

When we’re younger, we sometimes convince ourselves that certain things have to happen by a certain age — success, love, career milestones or achieving a dream. I’ve learned that life doesn’t always follow the timeline we create for ourselves.

I’m entering an international pageant representing Jamaica later than most others. That alone tells me that some of life’s greatest surprises can happen when you simply say yes to the opportunity in front of you.

Who would you call a friend?

A friend is someone with whom you don’t have to perform.

It’s someone who celebrates you when you’re winning, sits beside you when you’re struggling, tells you the truth even when it isn’t what you want to hear, and allows you to do the same for them.

To me, friendship isn’t measured by how long you’ve known someone. It’s measured by trust, consistency, honesty and how safe you feel being completely yourself around that person.

How important is friendship?

Friendship is incredibly important, especially today. We live in a world where we’re more connected digitally than ever before, yet many people feel increasingly disconnected personally.

Real friendship reminds us that human connection still matters. It crosses cultures, nationalities, backgrounds and differences. That’s actually what I love about the Mister Friendship competition — underneath the competition is this larger message that we can celebrate our differences while still finding common ground with one another. A story I love To tell through my cooking.

What are you looking forward to most at the International Competition?

Honestly, meeting the other delegates.

Of course, I’m going there to compete and I want Jamaica to do extremely well, but I’m also excited about meeting men from different countries, learning about their cultures and allowing them to experience a little bit of Jamaica through me.

And when Jamaicans travel, we don’t exactly travel quietly! So I fully intend to bring the energy, warmth, humor and spirit of Jamaica with me.

Jamaica was second runner-up last year. Do you feel pressured to perform well at Mister Friendship?

There is pressure, but I see it as positive pressure.

Jamaica’s second runner-up placement last year established that our country is a serious contender, so naturally I want to continue that momentum — and hopefully take Jamaica even further, maybe make some history along the way. 

But I don’t want to compete by trying to recreate someone else’s journey. My responsibility is to bring the strongest and most authentic version of myself. I’ll prepare, I’ll work hard, and I’ll compete to win. After that, I trust the process.

One thing I can promise: Jamaica will be represented with everything I have.

What would you do with the Mister Friendship title if you won it?

I would want the title to mean something beyond the sash, photographs and competition.

I’d use the platform to promote connection, representation and the courage to reinvent yourself at any stage of life. I particularly want people — including men who may feel they’ve reached an age where certain opportunities have passed them by — to see that life can continue surprising you when you’re willing to step outside your comfort zone.

I’d also want to use the international platform to showcase Jamaica beyond the stereotypes. We’re music, beaches, food and incredible athletes, yes — but we’re also entrepreneurs, creatives, professionals, innovators and global citizens.

If I become Mister Friendship, I want people to remember not only that the winner came from Jamaica, but that Jamaica showed up with purpose.

Name three things that you can’t live without.

My family and friends, Jamaican food, and my passport.

My family and friends keep me grounded. Jamaican food keeps me happy. And my passport represents curiosity, adventure and the ability to experience the world.

Although, if you told me I had to choose between my passport and a proper plate of stew peas with white rice… we might need to renegotiate the question!

As Kimanie Farquharson prepares to step onto the international stage in Bangkok, his journey serves as a reminder that opportunity does not always arrive according to the timelines we create for ourselves.

From global banking and international fashion to food, fitness and now pageantry, Farquharson has built a life around embracing possibility. Yet through every chapter, one thing remains constant: his connection to Jamaica.

At Mister Friendship International 2026, he will carry more than a national sash. He will carry the culture, warmth, confidence and personality of an island whose influence has always extended far beyond its shores.

And while Jamaica enters the competition following last year’s impressive second runner-up finish, Farquharson is determined to create a journey that is entirely his own — one rooted in authenticity, friendship, purpose and the courage to show up fully as himself.

Whether or not the international crown ultimately comes home to Jamaica, Farquharson already knows what he wants his presence to communicate: that there is no expiration date on reinvention, no single definition of success, and no limit to what can happen when you are willing to say yes to a new opportunity.

Come December, Bangkok will meet Mister Friendship Jamaica Kimanie Farquharson — and if his promise is anything to go by, Jamaica will not be showing up quietly.