MY JOURNEY TO THE CROWN: CONSTABLE SHENEKA BURKE’S STORY OF COURAGE AND PURPOSE
“My Journey to the Crown” is more than a modern-day Cinderella story. It is the story of Constable Sheneka Burke, a police officer assigned to the St. Andrew South Division Registry, who took a leap of faith and entered the Miss 30+ Jamaica 2026 competition.
This was beginning of a movement designed to change the way society views women beyond 30. This sentiment echoed through all aspects of the competition. The inaugural staging of ‘The Miss 30+ Jamaica’ pageant came to bump on Sunday, August 30 at the Summit, 16 Chelsea Avenue Kingston. As the founder Stephanie Elliott-Gunning and Judges Crowned Sheneka Burke as the first Miss 30+ Jamaica.
Already nominated for the 2026 LASCO Top Cop Competition, Cons. Burke continued her journey of self-discovery by challenging herself to step outside her comfort zone again and share her story with the world.
She decided to “Do it scared.” “Sometimes, the very things that scare us are the things that reveal just how capable we truly are,” she reflected. What started with a simple TikTok post soon became something much bigger. It sparked a movement of support from men and women who rallied behind two brave police officers who dared to enter the competition. Cons. Burke and District Constable Shauna Lowe, of the St. Andrew Central Police Division, were both determined to prove something not to anyone else, but to themselves: that they were capable of more and could go beyond the expectations they had placed on themselves.
In June 2026, nine contestants from diverse backgrounds began their journey. Among them were police officers, a registered nurse, a mathematics teacher, a business owner, a chef, and other accomplished women, each bringing own unique story and purpose to the competition.
Throughout the experience, the contestants developed their public-speaking abilities, strengthened their communication skills, grew in confidence, and learned to carry themselves with greater purpose, poise, and presence.
For Cons. Burke, the journey came with an added challenge. She continued reporting for duty every day while also being a devoted mother to her two-year-old daughter. Balancing motherhood, policing, personal development, and pageantry was no easy task. It became a true test of will, resilience and discipline.
Along the way, members of the Criminal Investigation Branch (C.I.B.) and the Community Safety and Security Branch (CSSB) offered coaching, guidance, encouragement, and constructive criticism. Their support helped remind her that while the journey may have been personal, she was never walking it alone.
Cons. Burke also expressed her heartfelt gratitude to the leadership and staff of the St. Andrew South Division:
“A heartfelt thank you to Senior Superintendent of Police Damion Manderson, Commanding Officer for the St. Andrew South Division, and the entire management team and staff of the Division. Thank you for believing in me, supporting me, and cheering me on throughout this experience.”
But perhaps the most meaningful part of Sheneka’s journey was not the possibility of wearing a crown it was the opportunity to create an impact beyond the pageant.
As part of her platform, she launched “Pathways to Purpose,” an initiative designed to help young people between the ages of 13 and 18 recognize their strengths, build confidence, explore their possibilities and pursue lives beyond the limitations they or others may have placed on them.
“I never wanted my pageant journey to be only about winning a crown. I wanted it to be about creating impact and giving people permission to believe that they can be more.”
And that is exactly what makes Sheneka Burke’s story so powerful. So, congratulations to Constable Sheneka Burke for daring to challenge herself, for stepping beyond her comfort zone, and for showing that greatness can be found in the decision to simply try.
As a police officer, a mother, a woman, and an example to others who are searching for the courage to become more, Sheneka continues to demonstrate what it truly means to be One Force for Good.
