Miss Rum Fire, #7

Born to mother Cecile Forbes and father Henry A. Toyloy on July 22, 1992, it was at a very young age that I realised I was destined to be an artist. Growing up I was always involved in the arts, from as early as 4 years old when I first participated in a JCDC dance competition. That soon became a trend in my life throughout prep school and high school. Soon after at the age of 6, my love and passion for the visual arts became defined as at that tender age I had already started compiling my very first portfolio with a collection of drawings.

High school was my next milestone which turned out to be one of the most rewarding decisions and experiences yet as I was so obsessed with the idea of continuing my family tradition by attending Westwood High School a boarding institution for girls in the hills of Trelawny. I didn’t hesitate to make use of the opportunity in its entirety. It was at Westwood that my personality began to shape and my dreams began to form, discovering more that being an active and very involved person with an emphasis on the arts, especially the visual was an absolute God blessed talent that I thought was a definite career path for me. It was also during my high school days that my dream to become a Miss Jamaica enhanced as I was more able to understand and appreciate the purpose behind the status and pageant. I graduated from Westwood at the age of 15, with all 8 subjects; 4 ones and 4 twos including a distinction in Visual Arts.

I was also presented with an award for outstanding work in Visual Arts. Following my heart and love for the arts, immediately after high school at the age of 16, I was given the opportunity to pursue my Bachelor Degree in Fine Arts with a major in Textile Design and Fiber Arts and a minor in Fashion Design at my college of choice , the Edna Manley College for the Visual and Performing Arts. I completed the college with an excellent final year production and graduated with an award for The Most Outstanding Student in the Textile Design and Fiber Arts Department at 20 years old. After College, I proceeded to lead a fully independent lifestyle being employed in family business but not losing site of my dreams.