Meet Mr. & Miss Central Jamaica 2026: Young Leaders with a Purpose

At just 19 years old, Khemani Pottinger and Monique Holding are stepping into the spotlight with more than crowns and titles. As Mr. and Miss Central Jamaica 2026, the two young Jamaicans are using their new platforms to champion technology, education, agriculture, youth empowerment and a broader vision of what leadership can look like for their generation.

Pottinger, representing Clarendon, and Holding, representing St. Thomas, were crowned on July 26 in Clarendon as the Mr. and Miss Central Jamaica Organization celebrated its fifth anniversary.

Despite its name, Mr. and Miss Central Jamaica is an island-wide competition, welcoming eligible participants from parishes across Jamaica. This year's finalists were tested through a demanding series of activities, including advocacy presentations, parish videos, fitness competitions, interviews, training sessions, headshot challenges, preliminaries and other events designed to evaluate far more than stage presence.

For the newly crowned titleholders, their victories also come with an international responsibility. Pottinger and Holding are expected to represent Jamaica at Miss & Mister Frontera International while carrying out their duties as Crown Ambassadors.

Their respective advocacy platforms reflect two issues increasingly important to Jamaica's future.

Pottinger wants to improve how Jamaican youth engage with technology and prepare for a rapidly changing digital economy. His interest is deeply personal: he recalls not having his first laptop until third form and later witnessing how essential access to technology became when the COVID-19 pandemic forced education online.

Holding's Movements of Growth initiative focuses on encouraging greater youth involvement in agriculture. Inspired in part by her grandmother's background in horticulture and floriculture, Holding wants young Jamaicans to see agriculture not as an outdated industry, but as an increasingly modern space for technology, entrepreneurship, sustainability and economic opportunity.

Holding is a student at Northern Caribbean University and a dancer, while Pottinger describes himself as a software engineer who also explores music production.

For Caribbean EMagazine, the pair spoke candidly about winning their titles, the discipline behind pageantry, their respective advocacy initiatives, representing Jamaica internationally and what they hope their reign will mean long after the crowns come off.

In Conversation with Mr. & Miss Central Jamaica 2026

CEM: Take us back to the moment your name was announced as the winner. What were you thinking and feeling when you realized you had become Mr./Miss Central Jamaica 2026?

Khemani: It felt like a true breakthrough. Beyond the one-on-one conversations I used to have with like-minded people, hearing my name meant I finally had a platform to be heard by a wider audience. I’ve always dreamed of leading on a wide scale, and in that exact second, I realized the responsibility and opportunity of leadership were finally in my hands.

Monique: My mind was completely blank, and it felt like a wave of electricity had surged through my body. The only thing I could think of was the miracles God has done for me to win the 2026 crown and the work and support that each and every person has contributed for me to reach this far.

CEM: You are both only 19 years old. What does earning a national title at this stage of your life mean to you personally?

Khemani: To me personally, it means stepping up to be the exception. At 19, many people our age are still trying to figure themselves out, while others are just focused on having fun. Only a few choose to take life seriously this early, and holding this title means standing tall as proof that you don't have to wait until you're older to act with purpose, drive, and vision.

Monique: Personally, it is my stepping stone to where I want to be. Age is only a number, and you’re never too young or too old to advocate for a change you believe in.

CEM: Pageantry is sometimes viewed primarily in terms of appearance, fashion and competition. What do you think people misunderstand about what it actually takes to compete at this level?

Khemani: People focus on the exterior pillars: the styling, the outfits, the presentation, but the most critical part of pageantry is the interior. You can have the absolute best outfit on stage, but if your character lacks weight, none of it matters. Who you are as a person when the lights drop speaks far louder than the persona you put on for an audience. It takes deep authenticity, expressiveness, and the courage not to succumb to boxy standards that say you must act or present yourself in only one fixed way.

Monique: I actually did a presentation in my first term of university on the influence and relevance of beauty pageants, and I strongly believe that people do not understand that it takes extreme discipline to continuously practice the perfect walk and go through many interviews in which you have to undertake different challenges, only to prove that you are the one.

CEM: What was the most challenging part of the Mr. & Miss Central Jamaica competition, and what did that experience teach you about yourself?

Khemani: The most difficult challenge wasn't internal; it was navigating heavy external pressures. Balancing education, family obligations, and personal health left me severely overworked. Being in a prolonged down state taught me just how far I can endure past the impulse to give up when life gets heavy. It showed me my own resilience and reminded me that when you feel completely drained, sometimes all you really need is that one last push to cross the finish line.

Monique: It was the different challenges for me. We had to create various videos and situate ourselves with different people, and I found myself not thinking like a winner, but like a future queen. I strategized everything that I did and dedicated myself to the ultimate goal, which was to be an advocate, not a person with a crown.

CEM: As a Crown Ambassador, what do you want your reign to stand for beyond the title, sash and crown?

Khemani: I want my reign to stand for unyielding authenticity and self-expression. I want to show people that leadership isn't about fitting a neat mold or playing a role, but about leading with substance, strong character, and genuine integrity.

Monique: Beyond the glamour, I want my reign to stand as my movement towards growth. I believe a crown is not just a symbol of beauty, but of responsibility. My reign stands for youth involvement in agriculture, teaching them sustainable solutions to develop their communities, as well as proving that elegance and advocacy can walk hand in hand, and that the true measure of a queen is how she empowers others to rise.

CEM: You will have the opportunity to represent Jamaica at Miss & Mister Frontera International. What does representing Jamaica on an international stage mean to you, and what do you most want the world to see about Jamaican youth?

Khemani: Representing Jamaica internationally is the ultimate platform to carry our culture and perspective forward. I want the world to see that Jamaican youth are multifaceted, resilient, and deeply grounded; that we carry substance, high ambition, and character that extends far beyond surface appearances.

Monique: I will be carrying the heartbeat of a people known for resilience, creativity, and empowerment. For me, it means standing as a cultural ambassador, showing the world that our generation is bold enough to dream beyond limitations, innovative enough to find solutions, and proud enough to honor our heritage while embracing global opportunities.

CEM: Where do you hope to be five years from now, and how do you believe this experience will contribute to the person you are becoming?

Khemani: Five years from now, I expect to be operating at an even higher scale of impact, executing my goals with precision across my career and creative endeavors. This experience is building my resilience, sharpening my leadership under pressure, and refining my ability to communicate with confidence, giving me the exact foundation I need to step into the future as a complete leader.

Monique: Five years from now, I see myself advancing in my studies and career in the biological sciences, contributing to research and innovation that improve lives, while continuing to champion youth empowerment and sustainable development. I hope to also earn another title, embarking on global projects.

Khemani Pottinger — Mr. Central Jamaica 2026

Technology, Education and Jamaica's Youth

CEM: Your advocacy focuses on improving technology for Jamaican youth and creating a smoother transition throughout the education system. What inspired you to make this your platform?

Khemani: My platform is rooted in my own journey. Growing up, I didn't get my first actual laptop until third form, relying entirely on a tablet and phone before then. When COVID-19 hit and learning moved online overnight, having proper access to a computer became essential. Getting that laptop reconnected me to the curiosity I had as a four-year-old first exploring the internet. That early access transformed me into a software engineer today with big ideas for the future, and I want to ensure every young Jamaican gets that same opportunity, learning to use technology with real purpose rather than just passive consumption.

CEM: Where do you believe the biggest gaps currently exist when it comes to technology and education for young Jamaicans, particularly those who may not have equal access to digital resources?

Khemani: The biggest gaps come down to practical access, real skill, and direction:

Resource Timing: Tech access needs to be practical. Families shouldn't feel pressured to buy expensive hardware before school SBAs actually require it.

Brainpower over Automation: While AI helps us work faster, saving hours on repetitive tasks, it shouldn't replace real critical thinking, code quality, or human creativity. Tools should amplify us, not make us lazy.

Solving Real Problems: We need to teach youth to research user pain points and spot actual market gaps to build unique solutions, rather than just wasting energy recreating existing giants.

CEM: If you had the opportunity to sit with Jamaica's education and technology leaders tomorrow, what is one change you would ask them to prioritize for young people?

Khemani: I would ask them to reform how we transition students out of high school by prioritizing entrepreneurship, independence, and real resilience over basic job training. While preparing youth for the traditional workforce is necessary, we must teach young people how to build their own small businesses and endure through the tough, non-profitable early stages of starting something from scratch. Education shouldn't just train employees; it should build independent leaders who know how to push through when life gets heavy.

CEM: You are representing Clarendon, which also served as the host parish for this year's competition. How did it feel to win the title in your home parish during the organization's fifth-anniversary celebration?

Khemani: Winning on home soil in Clarendon during such a landmark fifth-anniversary celebration is deeply personal. But looking at our parish realistically, Clarendon is drying up when it comes to youth drive and educational ambition. If you take parents out of the equation, very few young people are motivated to show up, learn, or chase degrees on their own. Even when someone achieves a CXC or a degree, it can't just sit on a wall as a trophy; you have to put it to work and market yourself. Winning at home means carrying the responsibility to ignite that missing drive and show local youth what happens when you take ownership of your own future.

CEM: What is something about Khemani away from the competition stage that people would be surprised to learn?

Khemani: People might be surprised to learn that away from the stage lights, I’m a boutique music producer blending R&B and Dancehall music. Whether I'm experimenting with a sound in Fruity Loops or building software projects behind the scenes, I'm always keeping my hands busy.

Monique Holding — Miss Central Jamaica 2026

Movements of Growth: Agriculture and Youth Empowerment

CEM: Your advocacy initiative, Movements of Growth, focuses on getting young people involved in agriculture. What inspired the initiative, and why do you believe agriculture should matter to your generation?

Monique: Movements of Growth was inspired not only by my passion for youth empowerment in agriculture, but also by my grandmother’s legacy. She specialized in horticulture and floriculture, and it was through her love for Agricultural Science that I fell in love with the field myself. Honoring her influence, I want future generations to see agriculture not as outdated, but as a path to sustainability, innovation, and income.

CEM: Many young Jamaicans may not immediately see agriculture as an exciting or viable career path. How do you hope to change that perception?

Monique: By showing its creativity and versatility. Agriculture today is about technology, entrepreneurship, and sustainability. Through Movements of Growth, I highlight success stories, create hands-on experiences, and show that farming can be profitable, modern, and empowering. My goal is to make agriculture not just a career option, but a lifestyle of pride and progress.

CEM: You have already received the Marcus Garvey Award at just 19 years old. What did that recognition mean to you, and how has it influenced your approach to leadership and service?

Monique: I actually received the L’Antoinette Stines Trophy Award for Most Outstanding Soloist Dancer two years in a row, beginning at age 17, and it is a part of that award. It reminded me that excellence is not achieved overnight; it comes through discipline, determination, and dedication—values that have been drilled into me by my dance teacher, Miss Morgan-Garwood.

CEM: You are also a dancer with the Tivoli Dance Troupe while pursuing your studies at Northern Caribbean University. How have dance, education and pageantry each contributed to the woman you are becoming?

Monique: I once told myself that the skills to be a great leader won’t be found by reading a book, but by experiencing life. Dance taught me discipline, and that was carried throughout my academics because if I did not have that, procrastination would’ve hit hard. I used that throughout my pageantry, and I believe that is why I am where I am today. I never stopped!

CEM: You represented St. Thomas and ultimately captured the crown in Clarendon. What does it mean to you to show that Mr. & Miss Central Jamaica provides opportunities for young people from across Jamaica, regardless of parish?

Monique: Representing St. Thomas and ultimately capturing the crown in Clarendon showed me that Mr. & Miss Central Jamaica is more than a competition; it is a platform of opportunity for youth across every parish. It proves that talent, advocacy, and vision are not confined to one region, but are woven into the fabric of Jamaica. I am proud to stand as evidence that this stage unites us, celebrates diversity, and gives every young person a chance to shine.

CEM: What is something about Monique beyond the crown that you would like Caribbean EMagazine readers to know?

Monique: Beyond the crown, I am a young woman deeply committed to science, advocacy, and service. I want readers to know that my journey is not only about titles, but about using my voice to inspire change. Whether in the lab, on stage, or in the fields, I am driven by purpose to uplift communities, empower youth, and honor the legacy of those who paved the way for me. I did not take an elevator to the top; I climbed many steps.

CEM: If a young Jamaican reading your story wants to pursue a dream but is afraid they are too young, inexperienced or not ready, what would you say to them?

Khemani: First, be open-minded to constructive criticism, but never try to fit into the ideal version of what other people have painted you to be. So much of feeling "too young" or "inexperienced" is just internal self-doubt, and any negativity from the outside should only serve as fuel when you know in your heart what you're capable of. Be true to who you are, own your capability, and always prioritize expression over expectation.

Monique: If a young Jamaican feels too inexperienced or not ready to pursue their dream, I would tell them this: greatness does not wait for age or perfection. I was 17 when I first stepped boldly into dance competitions, and 19 when I received national and international recognition. Every step forward begins with courage. Discipline, determination, and dedication will carry you through. Believe in your vision, start where you are, and trust that your journey will shape you into the person you are meant to become.

I once stumbled down a few steps, and I still don’t believe I have reached the top, but rejection only fueled my desire, and that is why you must never stop believing and trust God every step of the way.

More Than the Crown

Although their advocacy takes them in different directions, Pottinger and Holding share a strikingly similar philosophy about their new roles: neither wants the crown to be the accomplishment itself.

For Pottinger, technology is a gateway to independence, entrepreneurship and greater opportunity for Jamaican youth. For Holding, agriculture can similarly become a gateway to innovation, sustainability and economic empowerment.

Their answers also reveal the work that happens away from the stage. Both speak repeatedly about discipline, resilience and the pressure required to pursue ambitious goals at a young age.

That may ultimately become one of the most important messages of their reign.

As Mr. and Miss Central Jamaica enter the organization's next chapter and prepare to carry Jamaica onto an international stage, their challenge will be to transform the visibility of their crowns into tangible impact.

At 19, both are still determining exactly where their journeys will take them. But neither appears willing to wait for adulthood to begin making a diff