tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2408115846739965072024-03-14T02:40:25.248-07:00Islandistathe spirit and tempo of the Caribbean woman ... onlineIslandistahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08968769409188118315noreply@blogger.comBlogger387125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-240811584673996507.post-48616029692494427032011-05-15T20:01:00.000-07:002011-05-15T20:03:49.546-07:00Something old, something new - Crop-Over costumes 2011Crop-Over is coming islandistas and despite being in hibernation for the last few months (between my wedding late last year and now my first pregnancy happening back-to-back, I've been <i>ex-hausted</i>!), that is enough to bring the Islandista out of her cyber-cave!<br />
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So Power x Four is both the old and new of this post - pics of their 2011 costumes have popped up on Trinidad Carnival Diary but... it's a rehash of last year - Bajan Reef Pt II no less! Booo, hisss!<br />
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I guess you can say they prepped us by calling last year's presentation Bajan Reef Pt I but come onnn. It's not as if this is some great, conceptual costume story that needs to be told over the course of two years - it is pretty-colour FISH dammit!<br />
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It feels lazy from Power X Four and though they have been my preferred band for jumping for the vast majority of years I've jumped Crop-Over, I gotta call it as I see it. It smacks of what they did in their 10th anniversary year in 2004 when they recreated costumes from their previous years.<br />
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That said, the costumes <i>are </i>pretty - Px4 is always consistent in its quality and beauty. We especially like Night Octopus and Queen Conch.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DRVKQ0QZ8zM/TdA1xI_HbCI/AAAAAAAAAQQ/3gwL5fr7ogo/s1600/px4+11+-+queen+conch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DRVKQ0QZ8zM/TdA1xI_HbCI/AAAAAAAAAQQ/3gwL5fr7ogo/s320/px4+11+-+queen+conch.jpg" width="247" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gqQQ7j7-7Ro/TdA15qK7u5I/AAAAAAAAAQU/B321qNCcjUg/s1600/px4+11+-+QueenConch+head+piece.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gqQQ7j7-7Ro/TdA15qK7u5I/AAAAAAAAAQU/B321qNCcjUg/s320/px4+11+-+QueenConch+head+piece.jpg" width="247" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FCy5GOzzFjI/TdA2alp2hMI/AAAAAAAAAQY/JHckXh-AWzg/s1600/px4+11+-+night+octopus.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FCy5GOzzFjI/TdA2alp2hMI/AAAAAAAAAQY/JHckXh-AWzg/s320/px4+11+-+night+octopus.jpg" width="247" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FnXVGXw8Kjk/TdA2bEl6cFI/AAAAAAAAAQc/ZFoJB5eOPBc/s1600/px+4+-+NightOctupus+headpiece.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FnXVGXw8Kjk/TdA2bEl6cFI/AAAAAAAAAQc/ZFoJB5eOPBc/s1600/px+4+-+NightOctupus+headpiece.jpg" /></a></div><br />
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Now for the <i>NEW </i>new! A certain Crop-Over band is recreating its image and is coming out fresh in 2011 as Fantasy and the costumes we've seen thus far are gorgeous! They are really going to make a stir on the scene for this Crop-Over and give Baje, Px4 and Contact a run for their money. Check out some of our faves from Fantasy below.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yvTM8uTFvU0/TdCSxG9NGqI/AAAAAAAAAQg/EI0zxZqwBV8/s1600/Fantasy+Band.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yvTM8uTFvU0/TdCSxG9NGqI/AAAAAAAAAQg/EI0zxZqwBV8/s320/Fantasy+Band.jpg" width="226" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dwSuaLEtof8/TdCSxWA62DI/AAAAAAAAAQk/gxQ23JNcCwE/s1600/unicorn.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dwSuaLEtof8/TdCSxWA62DI/AAAAAAAAAQk/gxQ23JNcCwE/s320/unicorn.jpg" width="211" /></a></div><br />
So what do you think, islandistas? Getting excited yet?Islandistahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08968769409188118315noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-240811584673996507.post-55517602328768091982011-03-13T08:44:00.000-07:002011-03-13T08:44:34.449-07:00Rihanna on April Vogue cover!!!So <strong><em>this</em></strong> is the story that finally brought Islandista out of her hibernation (more on that anon) - uber-islandista Rihanna is on the cover of the April issue of Vogue magazine!!!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-xdy_nknEJFQ/TXzi_T645CI/AAAAAAAAAQM/L_5qLBrDhyM/s1600/Rihanna+Vogue+cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" q6="true" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-xdy_nknEJFQ/TXzi_T645CI/AAAAAAAAAQM/L_5qLBrDhyM/s640/Rihanna+Vogue+cover.jpg" width="475" /></a></div>She's covering Vogue's annual Shape issue which is frequently a lightning rod for controversy and criticism. <br />
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We're loving how the shot is channeling cartoon vamp Jessica Rabbit, not to mention Ariel from Little Mermaid -a great pop culture reference for one of the world's biggest pop stars.<br />
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Ri-ri had accidentally leaked news of the cover shoot some months ago, excitedly tweeting (and promptly deleting):<br />
<blockquote>"Just wrapped my first American <em>Vogue</em> cover shoot with Annie Leibovitz…Rah! #SEXY"</blockquote>And we agree - Rahhhhhhh!Islandistahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08968769409188118315noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-240811584673996507.post-32409080736940119692010-11-22T17:54:00.000-08:002010-11-22T17:54:17.584-08:00Rihanna killing it at the AMAsNot much more we can add to our headline, which just about sums it all up. Ri-ri turned in possibly her best live performance (certainly her best awards performance) ever, opening the American Music Awards last night.<br />
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Killed. It. DEAD! She was on fire! Check out the vid and let us know if you agree.<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><object height="385" width="480"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/3WsYoRnkknk?fs=1&hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/3WsYoRnkknk?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object></div>Islandistahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08968769409188118315noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-240811584673996507.post-26943180892059267582010-11-03T05:53:00.000-07:002010-11-03T05:53:05.702-07:00Out of order, Kamla!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Q9cn3mnHBeo/TNFXPFpALyI/AAAAAAAAAQA/CVo4truOa9s/s1600/Kamla+Persad.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Q9cn3mnHBeo/TNFXPFpALyI/AAAAAAAAAQA/CVo4truOa9s/s320/Kamla+Persad.jpg" width="238" /></a></div>Well, well, well looka this though!<br />
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In the wake of the devastation left in Barbados, St. Vincent but especially St. Lucia by Hurricane Tomas, this was the first thingTrinidad's Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar <a href="http://www.trinidadexpress.com/news/NO_FREE_HELP-106494413.html">had to say on Monday</a>:<br />
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<blockquote><b>"We will have to look at ways in which we would be able to assist. But you would recall my comments earlier this year, when I said there must some way in which Trinidad and Tobago would also benefit. So if we are giving assistance with housing for example, and that is one of the areas that we (Prime Minister of St Vincent and myself ) spoke about, ... then we may be able to use Trinidad and Tobago builders and companies, so that whatever money or assistance is given, redounds back in some measure to the people of Trinidad and Tobago."</b></blockquote><br />
Naturally, her comments are causing outrage up and down the Caribbean.<br />
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Many are saying while they understand and don't even object to the sentiment behind it (aid with conditions is nothing new after all - look every stadium or office block the Chinese build in the region is done by Chinese companies and with Chinese workers to boot) but the way she said it and when she said were completely out of order.<br />
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And we here at Islandista agree, though we are not surprised, because Kamla has made her anti-CARICOM stance very clear in a set of mouthings for much of this year- starting with infamous "ATM" comment earlier this year and continuing with her kvetching about the expense of the CCJ being based in Trinidad - after HER PARTY, the UNC lobbied for it to be there in the 90s.<br />
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Her comments are crass, short-sighted and disgracefully unCaribbean for a woman who lived in Jamaica for 14 years and drew a salary from the Jamaican people for at least 10 of those years.<br />
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Not only that, they are flat out stupid. "Some way in which Trinidad must benefit?" As the Express rightly pointed out in <a href="http://www.trinidadexpress.com/commentaries/Wrong_words__PM-106571873.html">its editorial today</a>, CARICOM countries "take about 10 per cent of Trinidad's exports." Trinidad, <i>more </i>than any other CARICOM country, has been benefiting for years from intra-regional trade.<br />
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What if the citizenry of these countries were so offended that they decided to take the aid but boycott Trinidad's goods? <br />
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Simply put, words mean something and Kamla should have chosen her words more carefully before biting one of the hands that feeds her people.Islandistahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08968769409188118315noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-240811584673996507.post-26903872967902061522010-10-30T19:35:00.000-07:002010-10-30T19:35:22.025-07:00Nicki Minaj's Right Thru Me VideoAs excitement builds for islandista Nicki Minaj's debut album Pink Friday, she's dropped a video for one of the tracks off the album - another relationship number that is almost the flipside to the 'so in love' vibe of Your Love Right Thru Me.<br />
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Check it.<br />
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<object height="385" width="640"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/5FJO6b8GL3M?fs=1&hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/5FJO6b8GL3M?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="640" height="385"></embed></object>Islandistahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08968769409188118315noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-240811584673996507.post-71801047178402788732010-10-16T08:02:00.000-07:002010-10-16T08:02:36.319-07:00Rihanna 'Only Girl in the World' videoSo Rihanna's hotly-anticipated 'Only Girl in the World' video came out this week and can we say welcome back to happy Rihanna?<br />
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After the dark and depressing nature of many of the videos from the Rated R album, the rose-tinted Only Girl is a complete turnaround - it's a girly, euphoric fantasy, complete with balloons, flowers, fireworks, twinkly lights in trees, tutus and lots of spinning in said tutu and other frothy, girly outfits.<br />
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Check the vid below and tell us your thoughts.<br />
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<object height="385" width="640"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/pa14VNsdSYM?fs=1&hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/pa14VNsdSYM?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="640" height="385"></embed></object>Islandistahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08968769409188118315noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-240811584673996507.post-28789312148471240802010-10-11T12:00:00.000-07:002010-10-16T08:05:24.156-07:00Selita + Kanye =...?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Q9cn3mnHBeo/TLJM0EGVzxI/AAAAAAAAAP8/AhouajWmqNM/s1600/Kanye+and+Selita+at+PFW.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="337" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Q9cn3mnHBeo/TLJM0EGVzxI/AAAAAAAAAP8/AhouajWmqNM/s400/Kanye+and+Selita+at+PFW.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Hmmm... <i>sowhat'sgoingonHERE</i>?<br />
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For the last few weeks, Kanye West has been seen all over the place with Cayman's own Selita Ebanks - one of our <a href="http://islandistas.blogspot.com/2008/06/islandista-girls.html">favourite islandistas from long time</a>.<br />
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The two have been papped at the U.S. Open, the New Yorkers for Children Gala and across the Atlantic in Paris last week for the Grazia Masquerade Ball.<br />
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Each time, they have looked very coupley - in fact, we daresay this is the smiliest stretch for Kanye since his mother passed - even during his long on-off stint with Amber Rose, his favoured photo expression seemed to be a screw face.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Q9cn3mnHBeo/TLJMzO1BfII/AAAAAAAAAP4/hbv6KD4yu3Y/s1600/Kanye+and+Selita+at+New+Yorkers+for+children.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="290" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Q9cn3mnHBeo/TLJMzO1BfII/AAAAAAAAAP4/hbv6KD4yu3Y/s400/Kanye+and+Selita+at+New+Yorkers+for+children.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>But! Selita has laughed off the obvious and increasing questions, saying Kanye is just "a great friend". Which it also could be - these pix could be the smiles of besties enjoying each other's company, not love-struck folks...<br />
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However Chicago entertainment blogger/reporter LaShonda Matlock <a href="http://www.chicagonow.com/blogs/pop-buzz/2010/09/kanye-west-and-selita-eubanks-have-been-a-couple-for-months-now.html">begs to differ on ChicagoNow's Pop Buzz blog</a>, reporting the two have been coupled up for a while now:<br />
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<b><blockquote><b>"His ex-girlfriend Amber Rose was very aware of his budding new relationship with Selita towards the end of their relationship. Kanye has been with Selita for over eight-months now. And Kanye's time in Hawaii was not alone, Selita was there."</b><br />
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<b>The source goes on to state that "Selita seems to be a good fit for Kanye" and that "Amber was leaking gossip and rumors about him to the media for a price."</b></blockquote></b><br />
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Sidebar - Amber "<a href="http://www.metrolyrics.com/stronger-lyrics-kanye-west.html">she'll do anything for the limelight</a>" Rose was leaking stories about Kanye for money? Yuh lie! Shocked we are...<br />
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Anyhow, it remains to be seen what will emerge about these two but take a look at the pix for yourselves, islandistas.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://view.picapp.com/pictures.photo/sports/kanye-west-and-selita/image/9641754?term=Selita+Ebanks" target="_blank"><img alt="Kanye West and Selita Ebanks watch Andy Roddick of the USA play Janko Tipsarevic of Serbia at the U.S. Open Tennis Championships in Arthur Ashe Stadium in New York City on September 1, 2010. UPI/John Angelillo Photo via Newscom" border="0" height="377" oncontextmenu="return false;" ondrag="return false;" onmousedown="return false;" src="http://view4.picapp.com/pictures.photo/image/9641754/kanye-west-and-selita/kanye-west-and-selita.jpg?size=500&imageId=9641754" title="Kanye West and Selita Ebanks at the U.S. Open Tennis Championships in New York" width="500" /></a></div><script src="http://view.picapp.com//JavaScripts/OTIjs.js" type="text/javascript">
</script>Islandistahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08968769409188118315noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-240811584673996507.post-79980785207999251832010-10-10T15:54:00.000-07:002010-10-10T15:54:19.869-07:00Islandistas on the front lines at Paris Fashion WeekIslandistas were all over the place for the recently-ended Paris Fashion Week.<br />
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From Guyana in the south to Bahamas in the north, from models to musicians, the region was well represented in the front rows at the shows. Check out the pix!<br />
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Bahamas' own hometown boy (via mother Roxie Roker) Lenny Kravitz was front row at Lanvin with Dita von Teese.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Q9cn3mnHBeo/TLJBJdJ-3-I/AAAAAAAAAPo/-VrBguYCHcA/s1600/PFW+10+-+Lenny.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Q9cn3mnHBeo/TLJBJdJ-3-I/AAAAAAAAAPo/-VrBguYCHcA/s320/PFW+10+-+Lenny.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Q9cn3mnHBeo/TLJBGy9Zs3I/AAAAAAAAAPg/ytvK9RJpRHs/s1600/Miu+Miu-Riri-+Alice+Bensi-gorunwaydotcom.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Q9cn3mnHBeo/TLJBGy9Zs3I/AAAAAAAAAPg/ytvK9RJpRHs/s400/Miu+Miu-Riri-+Alice+Bensi-gorunwaydotcom.jpg" width="266" /></a></div>Bajan songbird Rihanna (above) was at the Miu Miu show, as was Lucian it-girl and Pop editor Shala Monroque (below).<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Q9cn3mnHBeo/TLJBHuHlilI/AAAAAAAAAPk/GVVlxhZw-jU/s1600/Miu+Miu-Shala+monroque.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Q9cn3mnHBeo/TLJBHuHlilI/AAAAAAAAAPk/GVVlxhZw-jU/s400/Miu+Miu-Shala+monroque.jpg" width="266" /></a></div>British singer Leona Lewis, whose father is Guyanese, was dazzling in a peach ruffled confection on the red carpet of the Roberto Cavalli show.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Q9cn3mnHBeo/TLJBLLmFq5I/AAAAAAAAAPw/3Fdvwrw8JXs/s1600/PFW+10-Leona+L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Q9cn3mnHBeo/TLJBLLmFq5I/AAAAAAAAAPw/3Fdvwrw8JXs/s400/PFW+10-Leona+L.jpg" width="296" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Q9cn3mnHBeo/TLJBKNB5qOI/AAAAAAAAAPs/EjR4fhJpVOM/s1600/PFW+10-+Naomi.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Q9cn3mnHBeo/TLJBKNB5qOI/AAAAAAAAAPs/EjR4fhJpVOM/s400/PFW+10-+Naomi.jpg" width="266" /></a></div> Our favourit-est, baddest, most yaadcore supermodel Naomi Campbell celebrated her 25 years in the industry with Dolce and Gabbana. Go deh Naomi!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Q9cn3mnHBeo/TLJBNPNi_RI/AAAAAAAAAP0/hPtkzTL5TgA/s1600/PFW+10-Selita+and+Kanye.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Q9cn3mnHBeo/TLJBNPNi_RI/AAAAAAAAAP0/hPtkzTL5TgA/s400/PFW+10-Selita+and+Kanye.jpg" width="266" /></a></div> And Caymanian Selita Ebanks showed up looking all smiley with Kanye West again - this time at the Grazia Masquerade Ball.Islandistahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08968769409188118315noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-240811584673996507.post-40280928496189198202010-10-10T14:35:00.000-07:002010-10-10T14:47:42.562-07:00Our favourite of the season - Duro Olowu<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div> The SS '11 fashion season has come and gone - filled with island folk on the catwalks, in the front rows and occasionally, making the final turn as the designer.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Q9cn3mnHBeo/TLIppaMPYSI/AAAAAAAAAPI/52mUwwtb3hY/s1600/lfw-orenthia+duro5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: right; float: left; height: 336px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; width: 237px;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Q9cn3mnHBeo/TLIppaMPYSI/AAAAAAAAAPI/52mUwwtb3hY/s320/lfw-orenthia+duro5.jpg" width="212" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">And we are ready to crown our favourite - because out of the many, many, many designs we saw this season, one small collection reached out to us and spoke to us - Jamaica/Nigerian designer Duro Olowu's eponymous line.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Originally drawn to it because it showcased the talents of Jamaica's newest model find, Orenthia, we were drawn in, nay captivated by Olowu's use of colour and vintage-y prints and the exquisite lines and tailoring - the voluminous sleeves on the 70s style maxi dress and the wide, well-cut lapels on the all-black skirt suit.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Q9cn3mnHBeo/TLIpyMHcO3I/AAAAAAAAAPQ/6OQf8wkwhFs/s1600/lfw-orenthia-duro+6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Q9cn3mnHBeo/TLIpyMHcO3I/AAAAAAAAAPQ/6OQf8wkwhFs/s320/lfw-orenthia-duro+6.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>It is totally and completely wearable and gorgeous. <br />
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Small wonder then that London-based Olowu, who came by his love of colour from his Jamaican mother, Nigerian father and Lagos upbringing, has been making waves in the fashion scene for a while now. In 2005, he won the British Fashion Council's Best New Designer of the Year award and his signature 'Duro dress' was named dress of the year by both British and American Vogue.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>The Duro dress is one of those dresses you've seen even if you didn't know you'd seen it - a cheerful multi-patterned kimono type dress with flowing sleeves that was everywhere in 05-06.<br />
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Originally a lawyer, he turned to fashion and teamed up with his shoe designer first wife on a label Olowu Golding, he created his own label after their split and struck gold with the Duro dress which was spotted first by British Vogue's Sally Singer. Since then Michelle Obama and Iman have been known to wear his designs.<br />
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His Spring/Summer 2011 collection looks set to be another hit, with a mix of his signature 70s-influenced cuts and groovy (yes, groovy) vintage prints. Check out some more of our faves from his collection!<br />
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</div>Islandistahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08968769409188118315noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-240811584673996507.post-86734407351695311162010-10-09T03:12:00.000-07:002010-10-10T12:32:00.003-07:00REPOST: Mumma gone a foreign<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://view.picapp.com/pictures.photo/creative/baby-girl-and-mother/image/273040?term=black+mother+and+child" target="_blank"><img alt="Baby Girl and Mother Holding Hands" border="0" height="334" oncontextmenu="return false;" ondrag="return false;" onmousedown="return false;" src="http://view3.picapp.com/pictures.photo/image/273040/baby-girl-and-mother/baby-girl-and-mother.jpg?size=500&imageId=273040" title="Baby Girl and Mother Holding Hands" width="500" /></a></div><script src="http://view.picapp.com//JavaScripts/OTIjs.js" type="text/javascript">
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<i><b>As you know, sometimes we touch on some pretty serious topics here on Islandista and this one - a re-post of a piece which appeared on the very popular Clutch Magazine last week (www.clutchmag.com) is definitely one that affects us as Caribbean mothers and daughters. Read it and let me know your thoughts.</b></i><br />
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What do John Lee Malvo and Germaine Lindsay have in common?<br />
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The first and most obvious thing is that they were both teenaged mass murderers.<br />
Malvo was 17 years old when he joined John Allen Muhammad in the Beltway sniper attacks which terrorised the Washington D.C area back in 2002.<br />
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Lindsay was 19 years old when he blew himself up on a train travelling from King's Cross St. Pancras, killing 26 people, half the victims of the London 7/7 bombings in 2005.<br />
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A second, less obvious thing is that both Lindsay and Malvo are Jamaican-born – something that caused Jamaicans no end of shock and chagrin when those tragedies unfolded.<br />
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But perhaps the greatest similarity I see between these two is their mothers. By the time they committed their mass killings, both Malvo and Lindsay had been living away from their mothers for a number of years.<br />
Malvo’s mother emigrated from Jamaica to Antigua and then on to the United States, leaving Malvo behind with Muhammad to take her chance in the USA.<br />
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Lindsay’s mother had brought him with her to England when she migrated there but then she left him in charge of his younger sisters when he was just 17 years old when she migrated to Grenada with her husband.<br />
This common denominator ties right in with the second – that they are Jamaican. And that this happens a lot in Jamaica. It has become such an ingrained part of the culture that Lindsay’s mother defended her decision to leave her children as being okay because they were ‘supervised’.<br />
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It brings to mind something I was moved to write nine years ago, when I was at university in Jamaica:<br />
“It is one of the saddest realities of Jamaican society. It happens everywhere in the Caribbean, but more so in this glorious and tormented island than perhaps anywhere else – in the Anglophone Caribbean, at least. Many of my closest friends have mothers who live ‘a foreign’ in order to make a living that their country cannot offer them. It is one of the most remarkable phenomena of Jamaican society.”<br />
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The spur for that was a friend whose mother had been living and working in the United States since my friend was six years old. That year, her mum was coming home in time for Mother’s Day and my usually blasé friend was beside herself at the thought of spending the day with her mother for the first time in 12 years.<br />
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It broke my heart but she was not the only one. Off the top of my head I can name many, many Jamaican friends whose mothers live or lived overseas for years at a time.<br />
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Jamaica is unusual in that the majority of its migrants are women - up to 55% of all migrants, most of them women of child-bearing age.<br />
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Hence ‘barrel children’ has become part of the lingo in Jamaica and Western Union is an integral part of the economy – in fact a popular Western Union ad when I lived in Jamaica showed a mother calling home to make sure her daughter’s school fees had arrived.<br />
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It’s not like I don’t understand why. My own father is Jamaican and I was born in Canada. While I wasn’t raised in Jamaica, I lived there for a number of years and I saw for myself the grinding combination of poverty and violent crime that force many Jamaicans to leave.<br />
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Sometimes I don’t know which is the greater. Poverty is one thing – there are too many Jamaicans that are desperately poor but truth be told, it is middle-class, educated Jamaicans that are more likely to emigrate.<br />
But the violence … My God … it is the violence – the sheer bloody minded, cold and relentless violence, that tests the resolve and wears down the spirit of even those Jamaicans who swear they will stay. Every time you think the criminals can’t shock you more, they do.<br />
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It creates this great conflict that exists in the hearts and minds of all Jamaicans for Jamaica is a Jekyll and Hyde country that can both uplift and depress – as beautiful, vibrant and fascinating as it can be cruel and heartless. Sometimes I think even Jamaicans don’t understand how the same place that can create a Usain Bolt can create a Christopher ‘Dudus’ Coke.<br />
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And so Jamaica’s mothers leave and ‘go a foreign’. After it was discovered that one of the Beltway snipers was Jamaican, recriminations flowed in Jamaica.<br />
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Malvo’s mother, Una James told NBC she blamed herself too:<br />
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<blockquote><b>“I said yes, I blame myself [in] looking back. I said if I never had left him in Antigua.”</b></blockquote><br />
Still the truth is as one sympathetic writer to the Jamaican Star put it: <br />
<blockquote><b>“Every Jamaican family has a Una James. She is in our lives as our sisters, our friends, our aunts even our mothers, who have made the ultimate choice in seeking to achieve the greater prize of a better life for herself and her child. Una James' decision to rely on others to care for her child is one made daily in Jamaica.”</b></blockquote><br />
And so we end up with Malvo and Lindsay and we wonder how differently things would have turned out if they and their mothers had been able to stay in Jamaica.Islandistahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08968769409188118315noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-240811584673996507.post-12697917775182121712010-10-07T19:55:00.000-07:002010-10-10T15:49:56.467-07:00Ri-Ri's Euro tour!Uber-islandista Rihanna is over in Europe right now, promoting her new album Loud in London and taking in the finale of the fashion season in Paris for its Fashion Week.<br />
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And Ri-ri being Ri-ri, all eyes are on her outfits - some were misses (orange and purple with that hair? Too far!) while some were hits (the soft pink lady like look in Paris).<br />
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Check out the photos and our thoughts and tell us yours!<br />
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Heading from dinner with sweetie Matt Kemp, Ri-ri is such a *#%$ lady (as her infamous handbag proclaimed last year) in this flowered mini skirt suit.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://view.picapp.com/pictures.photo/news/rihanna-looks-bit-tired/image/9916227?term=Rihanna+London" target="_blank"><img alt="45704, LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM - October 10, 2010. Rihanna looks a bit tired as she is seen returning back to her London hotel after an all day shopping spree at TopShop on Oxford Street. The fiery red haired singer was assisted by a personal shopper as she picked all her favorites from the Autumn collection. Rihanna was a t-shirt with the phrase 'She Died Of Perfection' t-shirt. Photograph: Smart Pictures, PacificCoastNews.com" border="0" height="1155" oncontextmenu="return false;" ondrag="return false;" onmousedown="return false;" src="http://view.picapp.com/pictures.photo/image/9916227/rihanna-looks-bit-tired/rihanna-looks-bit-tired.jpg?size=500&imageId=9916227" title="Rihanna looks a bit tired as she is seen returning back to her London hotel after an all day shopping spree at TopShop on Oxford Street" width="500" /></a></div><script src="http://view.picapp.com//JavaScripts/OTIjs.js" type="text/javascript">
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Love the boyfriend blazer she's wearing as she heads back to her hotel from an all day shopping spree (Topshop to the world!) but not much liking it with the baggy pants - too 80s even for this 80s-inspired period in fashion.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://view.picapp.com/pictures.photo/news/rihanna-returns-back-her/image/9891088?term=Rihanna+London" target="_blank"><img alt="45634, LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM - Friday October 1, 2010. Rihanna returns back to her hotel in London wearing a neon purple sweater and orange pants after making a radio appearance on Heart FM. Photograph: PacificCoastNews.com" border="0" height="750" oncontextmenu="return false;" ondrag="return false;" onmousedown="return false;" src="http://view.picapp.com/pictures.photo/image/9891088/rihanna-returns-back-her/rihanna-returns-back-her.jpg?size=500&imageId=9891088" title="Rihanna returns back to her hotel in London wearing a neon purple sweater and orange pants after making a radio appearance on Heart FM" width="500" /></a></div><script src="http://view.picapp.com//JavaScripts/OTIjs.js" type="text/javascript">
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No. Not even Rihanna has enough swag to pull of this combo she wore to her interview with Heart FM.<br />
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At the Miu Miu show in Paris - we like this one - a lot. The mix of the chunky, costume-y jewellery with the whimsical, fun print is hot.Islandistahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08968769409188118315noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-240811584673996507.post-78432703542657973642010-10-06T04:06:00.000-07:002010-10-06T20:16:18.400-07:00UPDATED: And the winner is ....<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Invitation number 97!</b></span><br />
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Whichever lucky lady is holding invitation number 97 is the winner of our Girlfriends Expo promotion this past weekend.<br />
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She will now be treated to a full, fabulous islandista-style makeover, with makeup compliments I Heart Makeup and a mani and pedi in the comfort of your own home (the way the stars do it - she comes to you!) by Beauty by Lauren!<br />
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Contact us at <span style="font-size: large;"><b>islandista@gmail.com</b></span> with your name and contact details and to claim your prize!<br />
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Read on for a sneak peak of the artistry of our partners and what our lucky winner can look forward to! <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Q9cn3mnHBeo/TK032ylLGnI/AAAAAAAAAO4/x54LGcDWQac/s1600/bbl-fingernails2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Q9cn3mnHBeo/TK032ylLGnI/AAAAAAAAAO4/x54LGcDWQac/s320/bbl-fingernails2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Q9cn3mnHBeo/TK06BhZhwJI/AAAAAAAAAO8/tPMo9URB3LE/s1600/IHM-eyes+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="131" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Q9cn3mnHBeo/TK06BhZhwJI/AAAAAAAAAO8/tPMo9URB3LE/s320/IHM-eyes+1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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And I Heart Makeup's Shanelle hard at work during a makeup tutorial at Girlfriends Expo!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Q9cn3mnHBeo/TK07Kps5jCI/AAAAAAAAAPA/y4nerFH7xhg/s1600/GEDC0247.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Q9cn3mnHBeo/TK07Kps5jCI/AAAAAAAAAPA/y4nerFH7xhg/s640/GEDC0247.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>Islandistahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08968769409188118315noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-240811584673996507.post-53285954142468942352010-10-05T19:27:00.000-07:002010-10-05T19:27:38.601-07:00Islandista is on the move!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://islandista.files.wordpress.com/2010/09/islandista-new-logo.jpg" mce_href="http://islandista.files.wordpress.com/2010/09/islandista-new-logo.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-2689" height="221" mce_src="http://islandista.files.wordpress.com/2010/09/islandista-new-logo.jpg" src="http://islandista.files.wordpress.com/2010/09/islandista-new-logo.jpg" title="islandista new logo" width="343" /></a></div><br />
<span mce_style="color: #fd0198;" style="color: #fd0198;">... is on the move!</span><br />
<span mce_style="color: #fd0198;" style="color: #fd0198;">We've moved from our Wordpress home over to fancier new digs (and our own custom domain name) over at <a href="http://www.islandistas.com/" mce_href="http://www.islandistas.com">www.islandistas.com</a>! </span><br />
<span mce_style="color: #fd0198;" style="color: #fd0198;">The move - which we hinted at some months ago when we asked for your insight on templates (and as you will see, we took your advice!) will allow us to do some bigger, better things.</span><br />
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<span mce_style="color: #fd0198;" style="color: #fd0198;">Obviously, since we have racked up hundreds of posts and comments in the last two and a half years, it takes a lot to move all our cyber-furniture into the new place so there is still some house-keeping to be done in some of the archived content. Be patient with us - all will be sorted </span><span mce_style="color: #fd0198;" style="color: #fd0198;">and </span><span mce_style="color: #fd0198;" style="color: #fd0198;">we think you will agree that the</span><span mce_style="color: #fd0198;" style="color: #fd0198;"> the day to day look </span><span mce_style="color: #fd0198;" style="color: #fd0198;"> </span><span mce_style="color: #fd0198;" style="color: #fd0198;">feel of the new home is a definite upgrade!</span><br />
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<span mce_style="color: #fd0198;" style="color: #fd0198;">The move has been a few months' in planning - in fact, when you check it out you will see that we've been keeping it updated along with this blog for the past few months.</span><br />
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<span mce_style="color: #fd0198;" style="color: #fd0198;">So come on through and have a party at our new place!</span>Islandistahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08968769409188118315noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-240811584673996507.post-12526653705402797432010-10-04T20:37:00.001-07:002010-10-04T20:41:25.290-07:00Shontelle new vid - Perfect Nightmare!<span style="color: #fc0289;">Bajan songstresses Shontelle and Rihanna have been hard at work promo-ing their respective singles - Perfect Nightmare and the already-a-smash Only Girl in the World which is at number 8 on the Billboard Hot 100.</span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #fc0289;"><a href="http://islandista.files.wordpress.com/2010/10/only-girl-teaser-pic-riri.jpg"><img alt="" class="size-full wp-image-2699 aligncenter" height="320" src="http://islandista.files.wordpress.com/2010/10/only-girl-teaser-pic-riri.jpg" title="Only girl teaser pic- Riri" width="480" /></a></span></div><span style="color: #fc0289;">Shontelle dropped the full video for Perfect Nightmare last week, while Rihanna has been dropping teaser vids for Only Girl as well teaser pics like this one on Twitter for her #RihannaNavy.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #fc0289;">Check out Shontelle's vid below!</span><br />
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<object height="385" width="640"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/3ZYRgehIIVg?fs=1&hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/3ZYRgehIIVg?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="640" height="385"></embed></object>Islandistahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08968769409188118315noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-240811584673996507.post-1651352327780741832010-09-25T17:44:00.000-07:002010-09-25T17:44:01.341-07:00Martinique's Melodie rules the (fashion) world!<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Q9cn3mnHBeo/TJ6W5gCY0XI/AAAAAAAAAOs/VoFQM4WzNoM/s1600/MFW-SS11-Melodie-Bottega+Veneta.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" px="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Q9cn3mnHBeo/TJ6W5gCY0XI/AAAAAAAAAOs/VoFQM4WzNoM/s400/MFW-SS11-Melodie-Bottega+Veneta.jpg" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">On the catwalk for Bottega Veneta (all photos: style.com)</td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="color: #f9058e;">Martinique's Melodie Monrose has emerged as the breakout star of the fashion season thus far -but didn't we tell you so?<br />
Islandistas, in the fortnight since we highlighted her as <em>the </em>one to watch this fashion season, Melodie pretty much decimated New York Fashion week.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #f9058e;">Bagging 19 shows, she was far and away the top black model of NYFW and all of a sudden, it's a lot easier to find information on her, as the fashion press have rushed to highlight her.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #f9058e;">Courtesy of <a href="http://www.vogue.com/fashion/model-wall/melodie-monrose/">Vogue.com, we now know </a>that the 18 year old was discovered a mere two months ago through a school friend’s model scout.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #f9058e;"><a href="http://www.essence.com/fashion_beauty/fashion_week/nyfw_spring_2011_catwalk_queens.php">Essence.com included her in a list of NYFW 'Catwalk Queens</a> and it girl Shala Monroque (from neighboring St. Lucia) pronounced herself <a href="http://shala.thepop.com/2010/09/24/in-love-with-the-melodie-monrose/#comments">'In Love with the Melodie' </a>on her The Pop blog.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #f9058e;">And all of a sudden, she has gone from lit student to fashion darling. She skipped the just-ended London Fashion Week to head to Milan and the Milanese have taken to her just as the New Yorkers did. We've counted her in six shows already including Gucci and Prada! Check out the rest of the pics below!</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://islandista.files.wordpress.com/2010/09/mfw-ss11-melodie-gianfranco-ferre.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" class="size-full wp-image-2682" height="480" src="http://islandista.files.wordpress.com/2010/09/mfw-ss11-melodie-gianfranco-ferre.jpg" title="MFW-SS11-Melodie-Gianfranco Ferre" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">For Gianfranco Ferre</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://islandista.files.wordpress.com/2010/09/mfw-ss11-melodie-francesco-scogo.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" class="size-full wp-image-2681" height="480" src="http://islandista.files.wordpress.com/2010/09/mfw-ss11-melodie-francesco-scogo.jpg" title="MFW-SS11-Melodie-Francesco Scogo" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">On the catwalk for Francesco Scognamiglio.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://islandista.files.wordpress.com/2010/09/mfw-ss11-melodie-monrose-gucci.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" class="size-full wp-image-2683" height="480" src="http://islandista.files.wordpress.com/2010/09/mfw-ss11-melodie-monrose-gucci.jpg" title="MFW-SS11-Melodie Monrose-Gucci" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">On the Gucci catwalk.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://islandista.files.wordpress.com/2010/09/mfw-ss11-melodie-prada.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" class="size-full wp-image-2685 " height="480" src="http://islandista.files.wordpress.com/2010/09/mfw-ss11-melodie-prada.jpg" title="MFW-SS11-Melodie-Prada" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">For Prada! </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://islandista.files.wordpress.com/2010/09/mfw-ss11-melodie-gabriele-colangelo.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" class="size-full wp-image-2684" height="480" src="http://islandista.files.wordpress.com/2010/09/mfw-ss11-melodie-gabriele-colangelo.jpg" title="MFW-SS11-Melodie-Gabriele Colangelo" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">For Gabriele Colangelo</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Islandistahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08968769409188118315noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-240811584673996507.post-8188180213050667032010-09-11T22:38:00.001-07:002010-10-10T16:44:30.181-07:00Martiniquan model Melodie is continuing her march of dominance<span style="color: #fb03b1;"><img alt="" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-2666" height="1" src="http://islandista.files.wordpress.com/2010/09/rag-and-bone-melodie.gif" title="Rag and Bone-Melodie" width="1" /></span><span style="color: #fb03b1;">Martiniquan model Melodie is continuing her march of dominance through the catwalks of New York City.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #fb03b1;">The newbie from Wilhelmina, who was tipped as one of the models to watch this season, has lived up to the expectations - thus far, we have counted at least seven shows that she has walked in and we expect more before the end of NYFW.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #fb03b1;">Check out her reign thus far.</span><br />
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<div><span style="color: #fb03b1;"></span></div><div><span style="color: #fb03b1;"></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://islandista.files.wordpress.com/2010/09/melodie-vena-cava.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" class="size-full wp-image-2673" height="480" src="http://islandista.files.wordpress.com/2010/09/melodie-vena-cava.jpg" style="cursor: move;" title="Melodie-Vena Cava" unselectable="on" width="320" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://islandista.files.wordpress.com/2010/09/melodie-rag-and-bone.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" class="size-full wp-image-2672" height="476" src="http://islandista.files.wordpress.com/2010/09/melodie-rag-and-bone.jpg" title="Melodie-Rag and Bone" width="313" /></a></div><br />
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<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="http://islandista.files.wordpress.com/2010/09/melodie-rachel-comey.jpg"><img alt="" class="size-full wp-image-2671" height="480" src="http://islandista.files.wordpress.com/2010/09/melodie-rachel-comey.jpg" title="Melodie-Rachel Comey" width="320" /></a><a href="http://islandista.files.wordpress.com/2010/09/melodie-jen-kao.jpg"><img alt="" class="size-full wp-image-2670" height="480" src="http://islandista.files.wordpress.com/2010/09/melodie-jen-kao.jpg" title="Melodie-Jen Kao" width="320" /></a><a href="http://islandista.files.wordpress.com/2010/09/melodie-jason-wu.jpg"><img alt="" class="size-full wp-image-2669" height="480" src="http://islandista.files.wordpress.com/2010/09/melodie-jason-wu.jpg" title="Melodie-Jason Wu" width="320" /></a><a href="http://islandista.files.wordpress.com/2010/09/melodie-ohne-titel.jpg"><img alt="" class="size-full wp-image-2668" height="480" src="http://islandista.files.wordpress.com/2010/09/melodie-ohne-titel.jpg" title="Melodie - Ohne titel" width="320" /></a><a href="http://islandista.files.wordpress.com/2010/09/melodie-nicholas-k.jpg"><img alt="" class="size-full wp-image-2667" height="480" src="http://islandista.files.wordpress.com/2010/09/melodie-nicholas-k.jpg" title="Melodie - Nicholas K" width="320" /></a></div><img height="96" src="http://islandista.files.wordpress.com/2010/09/melodie-vena-cava.jpg" style="filter: alpha(opacity=30); left: 375px; mozopacity: 0.3; opacity: 0.3; position: absolute; top: 712px; visibility: hidden;" width="64" />Islandistahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08968769409188118315noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-240811584673996507.post-61433331409507809972010-09-09T22:24:00.000-07:002010-09-09T22:24:34.458-07:00New girls Melodie, Ornelia & Alyssah @ NYFW!<a href="http://islandista.files.wordpress.com/2010/09/day-1-newbies-spread.jpg"><img alt="" class="size-full wp-image-2661" height="284" src="http://islandista.files.wordpress.com/2010/09/day-1-newbies-spread.jpg" title="Day 1 newbies spread" width="553" /></a><br />
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<span style="color: #fc0298;">Islandistas, it's that kinda time again - Fashion Season!</span><br />
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<span style="color: #fc0298;">New York Fashion Week kicked off yesterday at a brand new location - Lincoln Center.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #fc0298;">And with the new location and new season, comes a host of new runway talent and as per usual, we are back to poring through the web pages of style.com to scout out the hot new islandista talent working the runways.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #fc0298;">After the first day, one new model has pulled ahead of the pack of both old and new Caribbean models, snagging three shows on day one - <a href="http://digital-diamonds.blogspot.com/2010/09/obsessed-with-melodie_07.html">Martiniquan model Melodie</a>. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #fc0298;">She got a shout-out last week from the New York Times' in a piece by fashion critic Cathryn Horyn looking at casting directors' (of course!) new favourites and has followed up on that, walking forVena Cava, Rachel Comey and Nicholas K.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #fc0298;">Truth be told, lots of models of colour and of island walked for Rachel Comey - sent us scrambling to the <a href="http://forums.thefashionspot.com/f96/top-jamaican-models-66876-13.html">Fashion Spot's Jamaican models thread</a> to i.d. some of the new faces.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #fc0298;">Another newbie is Jamaican Ornelia Edwards who walked for Rachel Comey, as did Trini-descended Canadian Alyssah Ali.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #fc0298;">By the way, Alyssah wants you to know that she Trini and proud eh? In an <a href="http://guardian.co.tt/features/woman-magazine/2010/07/04/womenwise-cover-story-international-model-alyssah-celebrates-trin">interview earlier this year </a>with the Trinidad Guardian, the Canada-born model explained that there is still some confusion about her heritage, with many presuming she is from India.</span><br />
<blockquote><span style="color: #fc0298;"><strong>"It was because someone wrote an article about me being Indian. Ever since, I have been trying to prove to people that my background is Trinidad. Even then, some do not know where it is and assume it is somewhere in Asia. I am very proud of where my family is from. I would love to celebrate my Trinbagonian heritage if given the chance,"</strong></span></blockquote><span style="color: #fc0298;">she told the Guardian.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #fc0298;"></span>Islandistahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08968769409188118315noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-240811584673996507.post-30637973133720467772010-09-08T03:23:00.000-07:002010-09-08T03:23:00.620-07:00Islandista on the rise: Haitian-American jewellery designer Monique Pean<div style="float: right;"><a href="http://view.picapp.com/pictures.photo/entertainment/the-cfda-vogue-fashion/image/7069054?term=Monique+Pean" target="_blank"><img alt="NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 16: Designer Monique Pean attends The CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund Awards at Skylight Studio on November 16, 2009 in New York City. (Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for Vogue)" border="0" height="503" oncontextmenu="return false;" ondrag="return false;" onmousedown="return false;" src="http://view3.picapp.com/pictures.photo/image/7069054/the-cfda-vogue-fashion/the-cfda-vogue-fashion.jpg?size=380&imageId=7069054" title="The CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund Awards - Inside" width="380" /></a></div><div style="clear: right; height: 0px; overflow: hidden;"></div><script src="http://view.picapp.com//JavaScripts/OTIjs.js" type="text/javascript">
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Islandista-descended jewellery designer Monique Pean has been getting plenty of buzz in 2010.<br />
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From Michelle Obama wearing her designs to being featured in O Magazine as one of ten women on the rise to profiles in <a href="http://www.essence.com/fashion_beauty/independent_spirit/independent_spirit_jewlery_designer_moni.php">Essence</a>, <a href="http://nymag.com/daily/fashion/2010/09/when_working_at_goldman_sachs.html">New York Magazine</a> and <a href="http://www.businessweek.com/smallbiz/content/sep2010/sb2010092_589904.htm?chan=magazine+channel_etc">Businessweek</a>, Monique's star is on the rise.<br />
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A former Wall Street banker, Pean, whose Haitian father is a former UN diplomat , turned to jewellery making in 2005 after her little sister Vanessa, was killed in a car accident at just 16.<br />
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Out of the tragedy came the <a href="http://www.vanessapeanfoundation.org/projects">Vanessa Pean Foundation</a>, which provides scholarships to students at the Centre D’Etudes Secondaires in Haiti and recently completed a spring-fed well in Cabestor which is now providing clean water for over 6800 people.<br />
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The tragedy also led directly to what is now Monique Pean Fine Jewellery as her creative form of therapy eventually became a business when a boutique store manager asked about a one-of-a-kind necklace she was wearing which was made from - get this - fossilised wooly mammoth tusk from the Artic Circle.<br />
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When Monique said she'd made it herself, the manager asked to see her line sheet.<br />
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"I had no idea what a line sheet was," Pean told Businessweek in a profile on her that is out this week.<br />
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However, the interest led her to approach more boutiques and within six months, she had left her position at Wall Street giant Goldman Sachs to start doing jewellery full-time.<br />
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And from there, she has progressed by leaps and bounds. She received the CFDA/ VOGUE Fashion Fund prize in 2009, and is the recipient of the 2009 Ecco Domani Fashion Foundation Award for Accessories.<br />
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She has also expanded her production staff so they are up to producing 1000 pieces a year - doesn't sound like much unless you consider that their prices go as high as USD$203,840 for a recycled rose gold, 33.4 carat diamond bracelet. <br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Q9cn3mnHBeo/TIW0gDpwo2I/AAAAAAAAAOY/zjPgopKQuGA/s1600/Monique+Pean-Mrs.O+in+Mexico+City.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" ox="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Q9cn3mnHBeo/TIW0gDpwo2I/AAAAAAAAAOY/zjPgopKQuGA/s400/Monique+Pean-Mrs.O+in+Mexico+City.jpg" width="308" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo credit: Reuters/Eliana Aponte </td></tr>
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Still, between Mrs. Obama's frequent appearances in Pean's designs - at a state dinner and on <a href="http://mrs-o.org/newdata/2010/4/16/eco-chic-baubles-from-monique-pean.html">an April visit</a> to Mexico, business is booming. Business has grown 136% in the past year and high-end retailer Barney's carries her line in eight of its national stores.<br />
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A good look indeed!Islandistahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08968769409188118315noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-240811584673996507.post-59136534886988192902010-09-06T20:59:00.001-07:002010-09-06T20:59:32.819-07:00Islandistas at WEEN awards!<span style="color: #f90593;">Islandistas of all stripes were out in force this weekend Women in Entertainment Empowerment Network's Awards Gala in New York City.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #f90593;">Check out the pics of actress Nia Long, singers Shontelle and Estelle and CNN anchor Soledad O'Brien.</span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://islandista.files.wordpress.com/2010/09/ween-nia-long.jpg"><img alt="" class="size-full wp-image-2654 aligncenter" height="461" src="http://islandista.files.wordpress.com/2010/09/ween-nia-long.jpg" title="WEEN-Nia Long" width="278" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://islandista.files.wordpress.com/2010/09/ween-estelle.jpg"><img alt="" class="size-full wp-image-2655 aligncenter" height="466" src="http://islandista.files.wordpress.com/2010/09/ween-estelle.jpg" title="WEEN-Estelle" width="282" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://islandista.files.wordpress.com/2010/09/ween-shontelle.jpg"><img alt="" class="size-full wp-image-2656 aligncenter" height="449" src="http://islandista.files.wordpress.com/2010/09/ween-shontelle.jpg" title="WEEN-Shontelle" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://islandista.files.wordpress.com/2010/09/ween-soledad.jpg"><img alt="" class="size-full wp-image-2657 aligncenter" height="439" src="http://islandista.files.wordpress.com/2010/09/ween-soledad.jpg" title="WEEN-Soledad" width="400" /></a></div>Islandistahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08968769409188118315noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-240811584673996507.post-51234241637276603202010-09-03T03:16:00.000-07:002010-09-03T03:16:00.700-07:00Caribbean models in Benetton FW 10 campaign!<span style="color: #f9058e;">Benetton went up and down the island chain for their latest ad campaign for the FW 10 season.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #f9058e;">They snagged no less than three Caribbean models from three different island nations for the campaign, featuring Jamaica's Shena Moulton, Turks and Caicos' Chrishell Stubbs and Martiniquan male model Carl Agapit.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #f9058e;">Check out the flicks and look for them in a magazine or on a mall store front near you!</span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #f9058e;"><a href="http://islandista.files.wordpress.com/2010/09/bennetton-shena-1.jpg"><img alt="" class="size-full wp-image-2642 aligncenter" height="331" src="http://islandista.files.wordpress.com/2010/09/bennetton-shena-1.jpg" title="Bennetton-Shena 1" width="490" /></a></span></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://islandista.files.wordpress.com/2010/09/bennetton-chrishell.jpg"><img alt="" class="size-full wp-image-2643 aligncenter" height="318" src="http://islandista.files.wordpress.com/2010/09/bennetton-chrishell.jpg" title="Bennetton-Chrishell" width="490" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://islandista.files.wordpress.com/2010/09/bennetton-agapit-and-chrishell.jpg"><img alt="" class="size-full wp-image-2644 aligncenter" height="320" src="http://islandista.files.wordpress.com/2010/09/bennetton-agapit-and-chrishell.jpg" title="Bennetton-Agapit and Chrishell" width="490" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://islandista.files.wordpress.com/2010/09/bennetton-agapit-and-chrishell-2.jpg"><img alt="" class="size-full wp-image-2645 aligncenter" height="320" src="http://islandista.files.wordpress.com/2010/09/bennetton-agapit-and-chrishell-2.jpg" title="Bennetton-Agapit and Chrishell 2" width="490" /></a></div>Islandistahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08968769409188118315noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-240811584673996507.post-63755463193752616362010-09-02T03:43:00.000-07:002010-09-02T03:43:00.364-07:00Islandistas in Russian Vogue, W and Elle magazines!<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Q9cn3mnHBeo/TH8S9WxUWVI/AAAAAAAAANQ/2yl6C_m4nic/s1600/Sept+Russia+Vogue-Jeneil+Sedene.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="262" ox="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Q9cn3mnHBeo/TH8S9WxUWVI/AAAAAAAAANQ/2yl6C_m4nic/s400/Sept+Russia+Vogue-Jeneil+Sedene.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo credit: Sharif Hamza for Russian Vogue</td></tr>
</tbody></table>It was so nice, Russian Vogue clearly had to do it twice!<br />
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Pulse Jamaica's top girls Jeneil Williams and Sedene Blake are back in the pages of Russian Vogue, two months after their July spread with fellow islandistas Shena Moulton and Reina Montero.<br />
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This time they are in the September issue of Russian Vogue for a dark and brooding spread alongside several other models, including Victoria's Secret angel Alessandra Ambrosio.<br />
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And all on her own is Trini-descended Lyndsey Scott in a nude spread for W magazine, while the baddest of them all, Naomi Campbell is on the cover of UK Elle for its 25th anniversary edition- 24 years after she first appeared on their cover! Fly and forty Ms. Campbell is.<br />
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Check out those pics and more from Jeneil and Sedene's shoot under the cut.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Q9cn3mnHBeo/TH8TfsWD43I/AAAAAAAAANY/Ps9068_vVbQ/s1600/Sept+Russia+vogue-Jeneil+Sedene+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="262" ox="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Q9cn3mnHBeo/TH8TfsWD43I/AAAAAAAAANY/Ps9068_vVbQ/s400/Sept+Russia+vogue-Jeneil+Sedene+2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Q9cn3mnHBeo/TH8TkUVPXBI/AAAAAAAAANg/IIjDwYzfYQ8/s1600/Sept+Russia+vogue+-+jeneil+sedene+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="262" ox="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Q9cn3mnHBeo/TH8TkUVPXBI/AAAAAAAAANg/IIjDwYzfYQ8/s400/Sept+Russia+vogue+-+jeneil+sedene+3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Q9cn3mnHBeo/TH8TzNojnMI/AAAAAAAAANo/UYC6T2by6_A/s1600/W+Sept+10-+Lyndsey+Scott.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="262" ox="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Q9cn3mnHBeo/TH8TzNojnMI/AAAAAAAAANo/UYC6T2by6_A/s400/W+Sept+10-+Lyndsey+Scott.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo credit: Ben Hassett</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Q9cn3mnHBeo/TH8UcICagVI/AAAAAAAAANw/GaZ4qi7Zx1o/s1600/Elle+cover+Naomi+C.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" ox="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Q9cn3mnHBeo/TH8UcICagVI/AAAAAAAAANw/GaZ4qi7Zx1o/s400/Elle+cover+Naomi+C.jpg" width="302" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo credit: TESH</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Islandistahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08968769409188118315noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-240811584673996507.post-14101785022611814472010-09-01T03:29:00.000-07:002010-09-01T20:15:16.098-07:00Shontelle gets patriotic ink<span style="color: #fc028e;">Bajan singer Shontelle went under the needle recently to get a patriotic tat done - of Barbados' broken trident. Check the vid below.</span><br />
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<object height="405" width="500"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/yEcU7U9WuNo?fs=1&hl=en_US&rel=0&border=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/yEcU7U9WuNo?fs=1&hl=en_US&rel=0&border=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="500" height="405"></embed></object>Islandistahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08968769409188118315noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-240811584673996507.post-67069842285440847422010-08-31T20:39:00.000-07:002010-08-31T20:39:01.741-07:00Ef ah laugh...<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Q9cn3mnHBeo/TH3Jw9xeIHI/AAAAAAAAAM4/oGVIRCcpSn0/s1600/grace+pepper+sauce.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" ox="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Q9cn3mnHBeo/TH3Jw9xeIHI/AAAAAAAAAM4/oGVIRCcpSn0/s320/grace+pepper+sauce.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">You know you want it too...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Two little tidbits from the world of islandista-ness that made us lol in recent days.<br />
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First, Naomi Campbell, her bajillionaire Russian boyfriend and actor Leonardo DiCaprio were dining out recently at an appropriately high-priced Italian restaurant when she commanded her bodyguard to bring what one diner thought (per the New York Post) was "her own salt and pepper shakers."<br />
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However, Naomi's rep clarified that it was actually Naomi's "Jamaican hot sauce."<br />
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As dodgy as it is to bring your own condiments to a restaurant, we totally get this one don't we islandistas? <br />
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And I can't stop laughing at this recurring vision of Naomi travelling the world for the last 25 years with Grace pepper sauce stashed in her purse for any eventuality. Ef a laugh ah dead...<br />
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And speaking of chicks who seek out comfort food from home, island girl Rihanna has taken over her tweeting - at last.<br />
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With the declaration: "No more corny label tweets", Ri-ri got to tweeting over the weekend and started out with a twitpic at her own expense.<br />
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The pic shows off her new, longer red hair and with it, a fresh new curling iron burn on her ahem... famous forehead.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Q9cn3mnHBeo/TH3KszU856I/AAAAAAAAANI/LrEXo-PbiEU/s1600/Rihanna+fivehead.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="285" ox="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Q9cn3mnHBeo/TH3KszU856I/AAAAAAAAANI/LrEXo-PbiEU/s400/Rihanna+fivehead.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo credit: Twitpic</td></tr>
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“New hair….new curling iron BURN……damn 5head always in the way,” she tweeted.<br />
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Ri-ri, de worst thing is to know girl.<br />
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At least she can laugh at it ... and wear bangs.Islandistahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08968769409188118315noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-240811584673996507.post-57097778771854521482010-08-31T19:54:00.000-07:002010-08-31T20:04:41.884-07:00Darren Sammy to tie the knot!<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Q9cn3mnHBeo/TH3ALdIQcqI/AAAAAAAAAMw/3AKea8-b9DQ/s1600/Darren+Sammy+and+fiancee.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Q9cn3mnHBeo/TH3ALdIQcqI/AAAAAAAAAMw/3AKea8-b9DQ/s320/Darren+Sammy+and+fiancee.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo credit: St. Lucia Star</td></tr>
</tbody></table>From the St. Lucia Star, <a href="http://stluciastar.com/content/archives/15253">comes this tidbit</a> that cricketer Darren Sammy is engaged to his girlfriend, fellow Lucian Cathy Daniel, a model and former Carnival queen.<br />
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The two are set to get married this weekend coming - but not in bel Sent Lisi!<br />
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The location is being kept a secret for now but the Star says Sammy and Daniel are expected to "wed in a lush Caribbean island straight out of heaven next weekend."<br />
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And clearly, even after years of of the relationship, Darren is still thoroughly in love with his bride to be. <a href="http://twitter.com/darrensammy88/statuses/22654613469">Just yesterday he tweeted</a>:<br />
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"I'm enjoying a beautiful sunset with my miss universe"<br />
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Say it all together now ... <em>awwwwwwww!</em><br />
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Congrats to the happy couple!Islandistahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08968769409188118315noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-240811584673996507.post-66550163881909991882010-08-29T21:21:00.000-07:002010-08-29T21:21:06.440-07:00Ivy Leaguer wins Miss Jamaica World ... and the chatter begins<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Q9cn3mnHBeo/THswgcn9atI/AAAAAAAAAMM/1xpzCKFKtMA/s1600/Miss+Jamaica+World-+Chantal+Raymond.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Q9cn3mnHBeo/THswgcn9atI/AAAAAAAAAMM/1xpzCKFKtMA/s400/Miss+Jamaica+World-+Chantal+Raymond.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo credit: Jamaica Gleaner</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Awoah!<br />
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Jamaica, Jamaica ah tell yu! Only in JA would a beautiful Ivy League grad not be good enough for some folks as Miss World.<br />
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Let us explain.<br />
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The Miss Jamaica World <a href="http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/entertainment/Harvard-Law-grad-cops-Miss-Jamaica-World_7896742">contest went down last weekend in Jamaica</a>. That has always been the 'big one' of the two pageants for Jamaicans, simply because three Jamaicans have copped the Miss World title - Carole Joan Crawford in 1963, Marley mistress Cindy Breakespeare in 1976 and Lisa Hanna in1993.<br />
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Harvard law grad Chantal Raymond won the competition and will go on to represent Jamaica in Sanya, China later on this year. Raymond seems like an impressive kind of chick.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Q9cn3mnHBeo/THsxKcVSqsI/AAAAAAAAAMU/_0rpUCRifeQ/s1600/Miss+JA+World+10+-+swimsuit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Q9cn3mnHBeo/THsxKcVSqsI/AAAAAAAAAMU/_0rpUCRifeQ/s400/Miss+JA+World+10+-+swimsuit.jpg" width="267" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo credit: Livestush.com</td></tr>
</tbody></table>This was her second go-round in the competition, after having entered in 2008 and she was in it to win it this time because clearly she is one of those Type-A personalies that has to excel at everything.<br />
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But from the comments on the Observer's story on the coronation, not everyone thinks she fits the 'beauty queen' mould with folks debating her shape, looks and of course, complexion.<br />
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A selection:<br />
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<blockquote><b>I agree, the runners up fit the visual profile of a Miss World/Universe. Bad choice. Doesn't make sense. It boils down to visual beauty when the Judges choose a Miss World!!!</b></blockquote><br />
Another reader thought her Harvard credentials helped her get the crown, writing:<br />
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<blockquote><b>hmm..not sure how many of u were actually there. I think the winner is OK, but thats as far as it goes. She has no curves whatsoever, & mustv won cuz shes Harvard grad. I wouldv chosen any of the other 4 runners up, & if judges were confused they shouldv simply picked the runnerup voted 'most aware' ie Amanda McReath, who many thought shoudlv won! Organisers need to revamp judging, they keep voting based on scholastic merits..Lisa Hanna was only a HS grad when she won!! CIndy..same thing!! duhhh</b></blockquote><br />
One commenter dismissed other readers who put the criticisms down to colour since Chantal is darker than the two runners-up or than two of the three Miss Jamaicas who went on to win the title.<br />
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<blockquote><b>Stop the foolish talk... WE always bringing up this "Oh, I want 1 that look like me..." Then they don't count/place - nothing! Every jamaican represents me in some way... we are a mixed race/culture people. Plus to be fair we have had darker hued and/or shorter haired JA girls represent - Look at Cathy Levy, a woman name McDonald back in the 70s (very dark, with short nappy afro), etc.</b><br />
<b>This girl is a nice girl, but she's no Cathy Levy!!! Good luck all the same...</b></blockquote><br />
Now there may be arguments for both sides. No doubt Chantal is not the curviest as her swimsuit pics show. She's got a very trim, athletic frame and flaunted a mean six-pack in the contest.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Q9cn3mnHBeo/THsxbPdDLyI/AAAAAAAAAMc/h4DYSJElDBk/s1600/Miss+Ja+World+10-glamor+shot.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Q9cn3mnHBeo/THsxbPdDLyI/AAAAAAAAAMc/h4DYSJElDBk/s320/Miss+Ja+World+10-glamor+shot.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo credit: Brian Rosen</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Beauty wise? Well that is in the eye of the beholder and if the eye that's beholding you is Jamaican,you have to consider that country's history and question whether shade plays a role someone commenting about who fits 'the visual profile' for these contests. Did Mpule Kwelagobe (Miss Universe 1999) fit this visual profile perchance? I'll leave it up to you islandistas to decide. Does Chantal have a chance?Islandistahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08968769409188118315noreply@blogger.com0