Dwayne crowned Mr NI

And the good news for ladies is he’s young, free and single.

Dwayne (21) was announced as the new Mr Northern Ireland at the weekend. He was born in Jamaica and moved to Lurgan where he started King’s Park Primary School in P6.

Now a British citizen, he said: “The majority of my life has been in Lurgan. It’s all I’ve really known.

“I’m looking forward to my year as Mr Northern Ireland and everything that brings with it.”

His first task will be to represent his country at the Mr World competition in Torbay later this month.

Dwayne’s modelling career has taken off in recent years though from a young age he was interested in athletics.

“Athletics has always run in my family,” he said.

“My dad’s uncle ran in the Jamaican relay team at the Olympics and my mum’s twin cousins did the hurdles at the Olympics.

“From a young age I was always quite quick.

“When I started the junior high I started playing football because all my friends were playing.”

As a footballer, Arsenal fan Dwayne has played for Lurgan Town, Glenavon underage teams and Portadown Reserves.

After Lurgan Junior High School, Dwayne went to Lurgan College and then University of Ulster at Magee in Londonderry where he is currently studying Creative Computing.

Now on his placement year, Dwayne has been able to return to football with Hill Street FC.

In his first season at the club, who currently lead Mid Ulster League Division One, he’s chipped in with six goals from the left wing.

A very active member of the community, Dwayne also belongs to Lurgan Elim Church.