Simone Gardner, resource attorney and People’s Court commentator on IRIE FM’S Stepping Razor with Mutabaruka, is the 2026 Miss Grand International Jamaica.

In a Music News exclusive, Gardner says she is excited for the journey and looks forward to using her platform to empower women and girls.

Miss Grand International is one of the world’s premier international beauty pageants. Its core mission is to promote peace through its global campaign, “Stop the War and Violence.” Beyond beauty, the competition emphasizes leadership, advocacy, cultural exchange, and social impact.

Gardner was crowned on June 28 in a ceremony at the YMCA Auditorium in St Andrew and will represent Jamaica at the Miss Grand International pageant in India this October. Among her prizes is a one-year residency in Thailand, where she will participate in activities associated with the Miss Grand International Organization.