MANDEVILLE, Jamaica — In an age where most pageant titles come and go, one young woman is using hers to carve out something far more lasting.
Akedia Morgan, a 21-year-old student and call center agent from Clarendon, left the audience stunned at Sunday’s Miss Universe Jamaica Central finals — not just by winning, but by what she intends to do with the crown.
While the evening at Golf View Hotel unfolded like any typical regional beauty contest, the real story began after the confetti. Morgan, who now advances to the national stage, has declared that her reign won’t revolve around appearances — but around advocacy.
“It’s time we talk about boys,” she told the press the following day, eyes steady. “They’re falling through the cracks. Nobody’s listening.”
Morgan’s upcoming project, Boys to Men, will focus on mental health access and emotional education for young boys in underserved communities. Inspired by the unspoken struggles of her late father, Morgan says the initiative is about breaking cycles — quietly passed from generation to generation — by encouraging boys to speak, cry, question, and heal.
Though new to the pageant world, Morgan proved herself unshakable throughout the regional competition. Contest insiders say her calm focus stood out from day one — whether she was fielding tough questions or helping fellow contestants prep backstage.
“She didn’t just show up to win,” said a member of the organizing committee who requested anonymity. “She showed up to represent something.”
Morgan credits much of her resilience to late nights, long commutes, and the occasional near-disaster — including a frantic dash from Clarendon to Kingston for a missed call-time on national TV. “There were moments I questioned everything,” she admitted, “but purpose pulled me through.”
Now, she faces the national Miss Universe Jamaica competition with momentum and meaning. Her mission: to change how Jamaica supports its boys — not with empty slogans, but with school-based interventions, empathy training, and peer mentorship.
“It’s not about fixing them,” she explained. “It’s about making space for who they are.”
And with that, Akedia Morgan might just be the most unconventional — and urgently needed — queen the pageant has seen in years.
