Mrs Jamaica Universe Dr Alicia Swaby Spencer living life to the fullest

At 5:30 every morning, Dr Alicia Swaby Spencer’s day is already underway. By 7 a.m., she is at work, and some days will not end until long after the sun has gone down. When she is on call, she may return to the hospital for surgery or to review patients, sometimes getting home at 1 a.m., only to start again at 7 a.m.

It is a demanding rhythm, but one Swaby Spencer has learnt to navigate. And now, there is a new title to add to her life: Mrs Jamaica Universe 2026.

Long before the crown, Swaby Spencer was a young girl growing up in Stonehenge, a farming community in St James. Her instinct to care for others emerged early. She recalled tending to injured classmates so frequently that they began calling her ‘nurse’, a nickname that would prove strangely prophetic.

After attending Mount Alvernia High School and later Immaculate Conception High School, she excelled in the sciences and went on to pursue medicine at The University of the West Indies, Mona. She initially dreamed of becoming an obstetrician-gynaecologist, but a rotation through ophthalmology changed everything. She fell in love with the speciality and has remained committed to it ever since.

The road to becoming a doctor was not without sacrifice. Financial challenges meant working and saving while applying for scholarships. She worked at Everybody’s Pharmacy, the National Housing Trust and Mona Information Technology Services to help finance her education.

But perhaps the experience that most profoundly shaped her outlook came much earlier. At age 10, Swaby Spencer was involved in a car accident that claimed the lives of her father and sister and nearly claimed hers. Surviving the tragedy changed her understanding of what it meant to be alive.

“From then I understood the fragility of life and became a firm believer in living life to the fullest, maximising all [my potential],” she said.

The dream she refused to abandon

Pageantry was a dream Swaby Spencer had carried for years, but fear and finances had always made it easier to postpone.

When the opportunity to compete for Mrs Jamaica Universe finally came, the timing was far from ideal. She was already managing the demands of medicine and family, yet she decided that waiting for the perfect moment meant possibly never pursuing the dream at all.

“Entering the pageant was a reminder that it’s never too late to chase your dreams,” she said. “Finances can be an obstacle, but with hard work and dedication, the possibilities are endless.”

For Swaby Spencer, the decision to compete was about more than a crown. It was about confronting the fear that had once held her back and allowing herself to become an example for others who may be hesitating to pursue their own ambitions.

Behind the titles is a woman managing a remarkably full life. Swaby Spencer has been married to Dr Andrew Spencer for almost 10 years and is the mother of two children, aged six and 11.

She and her husband are also co-owners of A&A Medical and Optical Offices, A&A Sweet Dreams Café and A&A Service Solutions and Consultants Limited.

There is no elaborate formula for managing it all. Instead, she relies on careful planning and the people around her. “I never truly balance all my responsibilities, but I plan well and prioritise in every given situation,” she said.

Her husband, mother, staff, family and friends form the support system that makes the demands more manageable. Still, finding time for herself remains difficult.

“The most challenging part of managing it all is ensuring I find time for myself to rest and pour back into me,” she said. “Self-care is not selfish and is essential. You cannot pour from an empty cup.”

The preparation for Mrs Jamaica Universe added another responsibility to an already packed schedule, but it also gave Swaby Spencer an opportunity to develop in new ways. The experience included life coaching focused on emotional healing and support, exercise and fitness programmes, and business coaching.

She believes pageantry can give women more than a platform for competition. It can create opportunities to advocate for causes, develop leadership and public-speaking skills, build networks and form supportive relationships while representing Jamaica on the global stage.

Since her crowning, those possibilities have already begun to take shape. Within her first month as Mrs Jamaica Universe 2026, Swaby Spencer met with Prime Minister Dr Andrew Holness and Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport Olivia ‘Babsy’ Grange.

The title has also brought greater visibility to a cause close to her heart. Through her glaucoma awareness mission, Swaby Spencer has helped provide free eye screenings and facilitated treatment, with the goal of increasing awareness and improving access to care.

She now hopes to use her reign to expand that work, support charitable initiatives, inspire others and represent Jamaica to the best of her ability. Her vision is grounded in what she calls the 5 Fs of holistic health: faith, family, fitness, finance and fun.

BEYOND THE CROWN

For all that the title has brought, Swaby Spencer remains focused on the lessons that have carried her through every chapter.

She believes growth can be painful but rewarding and that resilience is strengthened by the people who surround us. Most importantly, she believes there is power in remaining authentic and trusting in God.

“Never stop being who you are, love yourself, your uniqueness is your superpower!” she said.

From the little girl in Stonehenge who cared for injured classmates, to the woman who found her calling in ophthalmology, survived unimaginable loss, built businesses, raised a family and finally stepped onto a pageant stage, Swaby Spencer has spent her life moving forward.

The crown may have changed the rooms she walks into, but it has not changed the purpose that brought her there.

lifestyle@gleanerjm.com