A Salute to Woman

THE WEEKLY GLEANER | MARCH 24 - MA RCH 30, 2021 | www.jam aica-gleaner.com | I10 THE WEEKLY GL AN R | MARCH 24 - APRIL 24, 021 | www.jamaica-gleaner.co | WOMEN’S M ONTH FEATURE J AMAICAN WOMEN have re- corded a number of great accomplishments over the years, oftentimes creating history on the global stage. In honour of International Women’s Day and Women’s History Month, we cel- ebrate the achievements of a few trailblazing ladies: 1. IRIS Collins – She was the first woman electedMember of Pa rliament in Jamaica, winning the St James North Western seat in 1944. 2. DR Una Clarke – Elected in 1991, she was the first Caribbean-born woman elected to the New York City legislature. She was born in St Elizabeth and migrated to the States as a foreign student in 1958. 3. MADAME Rose Leon – She was the first Jamaican woman to become a gov- ernment minister, and the only Jamaican to have served in both a JLP and PNP Cabinet. She was also elected Chairman of the JLP in 1948, becoming the first female chairman of a political party in the Caribbean. 4. PORTIA Simpson Miller – She rose from humble be- ginnings to create history as Jamaica’s first female Prime Minister in 2007. She was again elected PM at the 2011 national polls. 5. CAROLE Crawford – The then 20-year-old, five-foot three- inch beauty, took home the coveted MissWorld crown for Jamaica in 1963, just months after the island became an independent nation. The first Jamaican woman to be crowned MissWorld, she was the first woman of colour to win the title. 6. VERONICA Campbell-Brown – One of the most successful sprinters in history, she has been a force since her high school days. She is the only Caribbean woman to win world titles at the youth, junior and senior level of an athletic event – one of only nine athletes in the world. With the exception of the Commonwealth Games, she has won multiple gold medals at all other international competitions. 7. TESSANNE Chin – She became the first non-American to win the Emmy-winning US talent show The Voice, claiming the crown in the fifth season. Chin was also the first ‘Voice’ contestant to hit #1 on the iTunes singles chart not once but twice, and three of her covers – Bridge Over Troubled Water, I Have Nothing and Let It Be, hit the Billboard Hot 100 chart. She has since reached #4 on the Billboard Heatseekers album charts with her debut Republic Records LP, Count On My Love. 8. SHELLY-ANN Fraser-Pryce – She became the first Caribbean woman to win the 100 metre title, at the Beijing 2008 Olympics. She createdmore history at the 2013World Championships in Moscow, Russia, winning the 100m, 200m and 4x100m events, becoming the first woman to complete the triple in a single World Championships. Fraser-Pryce was also appointed the first national Goodwill Ambassador for UNICEF Jamaica on February 22, 2010. 9. DEON Hemmings – She is the first Jamaican woman to win an individual Olympic title, cop- ping gold in the 400m hurdles at the Atlanta Games in 1996. 10. MOLLY Rhone – She is the first and only Jamaican female to head an international sporting body, the International Federation of Netball Associations (IFNA). She was selected to head IFNA at its 2003 congress held in Jamaica. - Gleaner archives History makers