Miss Universe Jamaica St Elizabeth keeps service at heart of reign

For Suzan Dowdie, becoming the first Miss Universe Jamaica St Elizabeth was more than a personal triumph; she viewed it as a victory for every elder she has served, every woman challenging gender stereotypes, and every little girl who has been told her dreams are out of reach. Dowdie, a 28-year-old general construction forewoman and founder of the Lil Suz Foundation, said she plans to use the crown to amplify her humanitarian work while championing disaster recovery efforts and creating opportunities for vulnerable residents across the parish.

“When I heard my name (announced as the winner), a few things came to mind – the elders I serve through the Lil Suz Foundation, the women out there in male-dominated fields, and every little girl in Giddy Hall, Forest Mountain who’s ever been told, ‘That’s not for you’,” she told The Gleaner.

Dowdie was crowned in June during a joint coronation ceremony alongside the Miss Universe Jamaica Clarendon and Manchester titleholders, Taniquia Francis and Mickalia Suckie, respectively.

Although overcome with emotion, Dowdie said she reminded herself to stay composed. “This crown isn’t mine alone; it belongs to my parish. In that moment, I felt humbled, terrified, and ready. The real work starts now,” she said.

Her years of serving vulnerable senior citizens through the Lil Suz Foundation have shaped her philosophy of leadership.

“Service taught me that leadership starts with listening,” Dowdie explained. “At the Lil Suz Foundation, we don’t just deliver care packages; we are not afraid to get our hands dirty.”

She noted that the organisation is currently rebuilding a home destroyed by Hurricane Melissa, while continuing to provide practical support to vulnerable residents.

“The work continues even after the cameras are gone, because our elders gave us the example to follow,” she said.

As one of Jamaica’s few women construction forewomen, Dowdie hopes her victory will inspire more women to pursue careers traditionally dominated by men.

“Hard hats, steel-toe boots and heels can share the same closet,” she said, adding, “I’ve been the only woman onsite, questioned, underestimated, and told to ‘stick to what you know’. But I’ve also approved major builds, led crews, and earned respect the old-fashioned way through working smart.”

She added, “To every girl eyeing a trade, engineering, or any field where women are few, walk in. Take up space. Build it anyway.”

Dowdie said Hurricane Melissa underscored the urgent needs still facing many families in St Elizabeth, with some residents continuing to live under tarpaulins months after the storm.

“As Miss Universe Jamaica St Elizabeth and CEO of the Lil Suz Foundation, this crown gives me a bigger voice to do the work we’ve already started,” she noted.

Looking beyond her reign, Dowdie hopes her legacy will be measured not by pageantry, but by lasting change.

“This crown is temporary. The impact we make together isn’t,” she explained, adding, “If one girl picks up a hammer because she saw me do it, or one elder sleeps safe at night because of our work, then this year was worth it. The crown didn’t start this work for me, and it won’t end it either. That’s the only legacy that matters.”

olivia.brown@gleanerjm.com