Festival Queen Danielle Cox launches initiative to empower teenage mothers

KINGSTON, Jamaica — After capturing the Miss Kingston and St Andrew Festival Queen 2026 title and finishing third in the national competition, Danielle Cox is now turning her attention to empowering teenage mothers through the official launch of her community initiative, The Refinery. The 23-year-old media and communications professional officially launched the project, dubbed The Refinery: Becoming, Not Broken, on Friday at the Louise Bennett Garden Theatre in Kingston, with the aim of providing young mothers with mentorship, practical skills and opportunities for personal development. For Cox, the initiative represents more than a community project. It is a deeply personal undertaking inspired by the experiences of her biological mother, Tenuke Doyley, who became pregnant at 16 and was unable to pursue her own dream of entering the Festival Queen competition. Cox, who was crowned parish queen on June 28 before securing the second runner-up position at the national coronation on August 1, said her mother's journey played a significant role in shaping her desire to assist young women facing similar circumstances. "The Refinery is inspired by my own life's story being the child of a teenage mother. I have watched and benefited from my mother's development over the years and this was only possible because of the compassion of others," she shared. "I then felt led to extend that same compassion and pay it forward so that other young mothers can have a future to look forward to, just like my mom did." The initiative seeks to help teenage mothers overcome the challenges associated with early motherhood while equipping them with the resources and encouragement needed to pursue their personal and professional aspirations. "The Refinery is an initiative designed to encourage teenage mothers to rise above their challenges and speak life into their circumstances," Cox explained. "It is a targeted effort mandated to reach these young mothers at the point of their need and equip them with the practical tools and skills they need to take themselves to the next level of self-development and potential actualisation." The project, which began taking shape earlier this year, is being executed in partnership with the Women's Centre of Jamaica Foundation and is expected to provide mentorship, life-skills training, educational resources and career development opportunities. Cox hopes to reach at least 25 young mothers in the initial phase while establishing partnerships with businesses, educational institutions and community organisations to support the initiative's long-term development. Reflecting on Friday's official launch, Cox said she was overwhelmed with pride and gratitude after seeing months of preparation come to fruition. "I felt a mixture of pride and gratitude. This idea had been brewing for quite some time, and to see that all the hard work from myself, my team and the JCDC actually paid off, I was extremely over the moon," she said. "I was proud to know that I was able to organise and pull off such an impactful event, and I was very grateful for all those who helped to make it happen, to God for providing everything that was needed, and for the fact that the target audience truly did gain a lot from the experience." Having used the Festival Queen platform to highlight the challenges facing teenage mothers, Cox is hoping The Refinery will eventually expand beyond Kingston and St Andrew to reach young women across Jamaica. She is also encouraging teenage mothers not to view their circumstances as an obstacle to achieving their dreams. "I'd tell them that their journey has not ended. It has only just begun," she said. Young women interested in benefiting from The Refinery, as well as individuals wishing to support the initiative, may contact the organisation through Instagram at @therefinery.jm or via email at therefinery.jm@gmail.com.