Rihanna craving the taste of home

We had to smile at these pics of Rihanna clutching her Tiger Malt as she prepared to get her Caribbean grub on when she was in London this weekend to perform on X-Factor.

[caption id="attachment_1786" align="aligncenter" width="360" caption="I wonder if these people got conkies to finish off this meal... it IS Independence yuh know..."][/caption]




Two nights in a row, she left out the fancy restaurants for the chance to get some curry chicken and plain rice from Ochi Caribbean take-away in Shepherd's Bush - washed down each time with a Tiger Malt from Barbados' own Banks Holdings.

 

Girl, we know how yuh feel... islandistas, who hasn't been 'over in away' and craved the taste of home? Not to mention if you're from any Caribbean country besides Jamaica (and to a lesser extent Trinidad), getting products from your specific country is difficult so you get super-excited when you do manage to find something... I certainly remember avidly stocking up on Ju-C and Ovaltine biscuits when I found someone in the city I lived who actually sold it.

Oh, p.s to Ri-ri... you can also check out the Humming Bird in North London - they sell greeeat food from all over the Caribbean - even cou-cou! And Jerk City in Central London is an islandista fave too...

Caribbean quartet performs at NFL half-time show

Feeling so proud to be from the Caribbean today.

The Caribbean quartet of Hal Linton, Melanie Fiona, Shontelle and Vita Chambers performed as part of the half-time show today at the NFL game between the Detroit Lions and the Green Bay Packers at the Ford Field in Detroit. The four were part of a six-artiste set from Universal/Motown performing a tribute to Motown on its 50th anniversary.

Just to put it in perspective, previous performers at the half-time shows at NFL Thanksgiving Day games in Detroit (which has the oldest Thanksgiving Day Classic tradition - going all the way back to 1934) have included Mariah Carey and Toni Braxton. And now that list includes our Caribbean quartet.

And they rocked it out - every one of them. Check out the vid below.

Islandistas turn out for Rihanna's Rated R album launch party

The launch party for Rihanna's Rated R album was held last night at the Juliette Superclub in the Big Apple and pure hotness ensued from the islandistas in attendance.

They were led of course by Ri-ri herself in a spiky gold dress and gold Louboutins that aren't even being sold to the public yet - ye, a so de girl hot.

Check it.

[caption id="attachment_1774" align="aligncenter" width="321" caption="photo via theybf.com"][/caption]

She was accompanid by BFF Melissa and changed into a red look later that night which we're not quite as enamoured of... though she is working the sheer black stockings trend that is making some waves right now.

[caption id="attachment_1775" align="aligncenter" width="313" caption="photo via theybf.com"][/caption]

Cayman's own Selita Ebanks was also working this look at the event in sheer tights, a big, luxurious fur and long leather gloves.

[caption id="attachment_1776" align="aligncenter" width="288" caption="photo via theybf.com"][/caption]

Trini-descended 'socialite' islandista aka the chick people love to hate, Ms Genevieve Jones in a dress that looks like something a slutty pixie would wear - with the sheer bodice and kerchief-hemmed skirt. Only Genevieve could get away with it.

[caption id="attachment_1777" align="aligncenter" width="320" caption="photo via theybf.com"][/caption]

Island folk top the World Athletic Awards!

It was a Caribbean sweep at the IAAF World Athlete of the Year Awards in Monaco on Sunday.

[caption id="attachment_1770" align="alignleft" width="319" caption="Photo credit: AP"][/caption]

None other than Usain 'Lightning' Bolt won the Male Athlete of the Year Award - naturally. Who can argue with 9.58 and 19.19?

No-one - ever?

Exactly. And we bet the big man is going to fulljoy himself next week at his 9:58 Super Party in Kingston - this is just icing on the cake of his superlative year.


The Female Athlete of the year was Jamaican-born US Athlete Sanya Richards, who finally snagged her first individual gold medal at the World Championships this year, fulfilling the promise expected of a woman who has the most sub-5o second 400 metres of any female in history.

Sanya said that seeing how her countrymen (the Jamaican ones, not the US ones) like Usain enjoyed their running, helped inspire and lift her to that first gold this year in Berlin.

"These athletes were just having so much fun. I was so focused on winning, the medals and the money and everything that came with being a champion that I forgot the simple enjoyment and fun of track and field. ...I just felt like I was running a lot lighter, the races became a lot easier," she told the AP.

I know nuff yaardies have up Sanya for running for the US of A when she lived in Jamaica half her life (she migrated to Florida when she was 12 years old and she's 24 now) but she doesn't leave out JA, neither in word or deed.

Actually, just this month she was in the island for her third Fun 4 Kidz Fast Track programme event, which provides literacy training and extra-curricular activities for children in downtown Kingston high schools.

So big up yuself Sanya and congrats to all our island athletes both here and in the diaspora who continue to make us proud.
Caribbean to the worrrrld!

Islandistas at the AMAs

So the American Music Awards hit the air last night and everyone is still buzzing about it.

Adam Lambert's performance? Just... wow.

But would people have been so shocked if a raunchy female performer - say a Janet or even a Rihanna, did the same thing? Food for thought, eh?


Speaking of Rihanna, her performance outfit was... pretty risque. We're getting to expect that from Ri-ri, so really the question should be - where does this rank among her more out-there outfits?

Her red carpet outfit - a black and white Marchesa from their spring 2010 line and her red-eyed makeup was pushing the fashion envelope too, which is to be expected.

Islandistas on the fashion scene

As the holidays approach, islandistas have been making some moves on the modelling scene - both the professional catwalkers and the celebs.

Selita, Selina and Shena have all been visible recently.

Teenaged newcomers, Martinique's Selina Khan and Jamaica's Shena Moulton, both scored holiday campaigns for Gap. Selina is featured in the American Gap posters, getting skippy with other models in a red flannel look, while Shena is part of the crew backing up rapper Pharrell in the Japanese Gap promo. Check out the pics below.

Estelle is also featured in the Japanese Gap holiday print campaign, on her own, in a menswear inspired look that we really like.

Meanwhile, Selita walked the runway last night with the rest of the Victoria's Secret Angels in their big annual holiday showcase - and looked fabulous both on the runway, rocking out with the Black Eyed Peas and on the red carpet after the event, as you can see below.

Anya Ayoung-Chee sex tape leaked

From the 'daaammmmmmn!' files - a sex video or rather videos (it's about up to part 7 or so now) apparently featuring Miss Trinidad & Tobago Universe 2008, Anya Ayoung-Chee and her reputed boyfriend, photographer Wyatt Gallery, has been leaked.

Some of the parts also apparently feature them getting busy with Miss Japan Universe 2008, Hiroko Mima, in some threesome action.

Damn!

It seems that Anya has gone underground - the Trinidad Express felt the need to point out that she was "not on hand" to hand over the crown to Miss Trinidad & Tobago 2009, Latoya Woods last week at the 2009 edition of the pageant.

You know what? We here at Islandista are no prudes. Whenever one of these sex vids pop up, the first thing the self-righteous and sanctimonious (who got the same video pon de replay non-stop) like to say is 'oh, she (always she eh? men does get off scott-free) ent had no right to do something so because dem videos does always get out. Is she fault for being foolish and hence I have the right to rewind and rewatch it constantly and stand in judgement.

Well, they don't say that last part cos who the hell admits they're a hypocrite? But you get our drift.

Look, adults have sex. And at 28, Anya is more than old enough to have sex with two other consenting adults and to push the envelope and get freaky if she wants to.

For our part, we're not going to judge her for that. Sex happens. Sex videos do, too.

So keep your chin up, Anya.

Sammy Sosa & black denial in the DR

A friend and fellow islandista brought our attention to this article from the Miami Herald from back in 2007.

And ... wow!

It certainly gives a lot of perspective on Sammy Sosa's little 'skin rejuvenation' exercise.

We had heard that 'shadeism' was bad in the DR but we did not know it was as bad as all this.

Some excerpts from the piece:

And to many in the Dominican Republic, to look pretty is to look less black.

Dominican hairdressers are internationally known for the best hair-straightening techniques. Store shelves are lined with rows of skin whiteners, hair relaxers and extensions.

Racial identification here is thorny and complex, defined not so much by skin color but by the texture of your hair, the width of your nose and even the depth of your pocket. The richer, the "whiter." And, experts say, it is fueled by a rejection of anything black.

"I always associated black with ugly. I was too dark and didn't have nice hair," said Catherine de la Rosa, a dark-skinned Dominican-American college student spending a semester here. "With time passing, I see I'm not black. I'm Latina.

Apparently, part of this goes back to the period that the Dominican Republic was colonised by Haiti.

More islandistas at the Glamour Women of the Year Awards

So, we were pretty caught up over Rihanna's gorgeous Stephane Rolland couture dress at the Glamour Women of the Year Awards.

That dress deserved a post all for itself.

Now, onto the other islandistas that were at the event.

Another islandista honouree, U.N. Ambassador Susan Rice was also on hand to collect her award in a sleek strapless black dress with a sharp angled v-neck bodice.

[caption id="attachment_1738" align="aligncenter" width="315" caption="Photo credit: AP/Henny Ray Abrams"][/caption]

Stylist June Ambrose rocked out a sparkly Sonia Rykiel short dress with minimal accessories and natural looking makeup - nice look.




And Estelle performed in a black suit that we're not quite sure about. We like the androgynous look, but we find it should be cut a bit closer and more feminine to really work. As it is, it  just looks like she put on a small fella's suit.

[caption id="attachment_1740" align="aligncenter" width="360" caption="Photo credit: AP/Henny Ray Abrams"][/caption]

Sammy Sosa admits to bleaching

Wow, Sammy Sosa is sounding more and more confused by the day.

He has finally admitted to what we all knew - that he is bleaching his skin.

In an interview on Primer Impacto, a programme on the Spanish-language network Univision, Sammy said:

"It's a bleaching cream that I apply before going to bed and whitens my skin some.

It's a cream that I have, that I use to soften [my skin], but has bleached me some. I'm not a racist, I live my life happily.I want people to calm down and realize that I didn't do any of this with mal intentions."

Asked about the obvious Michael Jackson comparison, Sammy somehow doesn't see the connection, saying:

"What happened was that I had been using the cream for a long time and that, combined with the bright TV lights, made my face look whiter than it really is. I don't think I look like Michael Jackson."

He says that his skin bleaching is a completely different kettle of fish.

"I respect him very much and may God keep him in his glory, but this is not the case with me.

I'm truly shocked that this has gotten so big. This has resonated more than the actual [Latin] Grammys."

Oh, and if that was not enough for you, he has said that he plans to market the "miracle cream" which can only be bought in Europe.

"I'm going to market it, I'm a businessman."

Lawd help us.

Rihanna frills us at Glamour Awards

So the Glamour Women of the Year Awards ceremony was on Monday night.

We could (and probably will in a later post) go on and on about the star power at the event - three Beatles wives, President Obama shouting out via video, Maya Angelou, Bill Clinton and Serena Williams.

But for now, we have just this to say.

WE.

[caption id="attachment_1733" align="aligncenter" width="315" caption="Photo credit: AP/Henny Ray Abrams"][/caption]

LOVE.

Photo credit: AP/Evan Agostini

THIS

Photo credit: AP/ Evan Agostini

DRESS!!!

Dammit man! Ri-ri hit it for six with this dress... if you're a regular Islandista reader, you know the sharp folds and angles on the bodice and skirt would have us dotish.

Oh, origami folds, why do you have us in your thrall?

Now Sammy Sosa's bleaching too?

Well a whaddis fadda?!

Just yesterday we blasted the eediat gal Lisa Hype over her song Proud a mi Bleaching.

At least she owned up to it openly.

[caption id="attachment_1717" align="alignright" width="280" caption="Photo credit: Exposay.com/PRN photos"][/caption]

However, Major League batter Sammy Sosa wants us to believe that he is undergoing a "rejuvenation process for his skin" and that is why he was photographed at two different events last week looking like a duppy.

After the pictures came out of Dominican Republic-born Sammy last week and people (naturally) asked what in the Little Kim, bleach face, Nadinola-rubbing hell is going on, a former Cubs employee, Rebecca Polihronis, the former Cubs Care/Community relations manager, jumped to his defence... and of course, promptly made the whole situation more absurd.

From the Chicago Tribune:

He is going through a rejuvenation process for his skin (read: bleaching)," Polihronis said. "Women have it all of the time. He was surprised he came out looking so white. I thought it was a body double. Part of (the photo appearance) is just the lighting.

"He is in the middle of doing a cleansing process to his skin (as in cleansing it of melanin?). The picture is deceiving. He said, 'If you saw me in person, you would be surprised. When you see me in person, it is not going to seem like the picture.'

"People who saw him in person did not react the same way. He can't believe it is such a big deal."

Polihronis, the former Cubs Care/Community Relations manager for the team, said Sosa told her he has used moisturizing treatment (like Ambi or Fair & White?) at night on his face.

"He has always been concerned with the way he looks (you mean black?)," she said. "Probably just bad timing going to an awards show."

"He was doing a dermatological skin process after years and years (of playing baseball) in the sun," Polihronis said. "It did come out looking weird (in the picture)."

You know what we at islandista have to say to this - EH! Especially when you take a look at the photo below of how he looked back in 2005.

Alicia John-Powell facing down cancer

[caption id="attachment_1709" align="alignright" width="188" caption="Photo credit: Trinidad Guardian"][/caption]

We spent quite some time mulling over the headline for this post.

We really wanted to get across how we feel about how 'Ms. Basia' , tv host and magazine publisher Alicia John-Powell has dealt with her breast cancer diagnosis and battle - with fierceness and grace and can-do spirit.

This is the way I choose to do my fight and anyone who wants to join me is free to do so,” she told the Trinidad Guardian about her all guns blazing approach to the disease.

John-Powell, who is the wife of former WI cricketer Ricardo Powell, found out she had breast cancer earlier this year, on a family trip to Disney Land.

Since then, she has undegone chemo and a bilateral mastectomy (removing tissue from both breasts - done for patients considered to have a high risk of reoccurence).

She has also used her high profile and media outlets to push a message of hope for others with cancer.

Her mastectomy is set to be shown on the Basia TV show at a later date. She explained to the Guardian that she wanted to demystify the disease and educate people.

“I had sad moments, I cried, I had different people hold my hand at different stages. I want to expose things people don’t tell you about, like the early menopause. I know I will save lives and people will discover lumps and go to the doctor.”

She has also formed the Basia Support Network, which was launched last Monday in Trinidad. The theme of the network is 'Maintaining Happiness'  and the network will seek to do that for cancer patients and survivors, through a  different means, including medical sponsorship, therapeutic yoga, inspirational lectures and diet consultations.

 

[caption id="attachment_1710" align="aligncenter" width="392" caption="John-Powell (left) and Marcia Miranda at the launch of the Basia Survivor Network. (Photo credit: Newsday)"][/caption]

 

John-Powell explained the thinking behind the theme at the launch:

"I am living proof that it’s not always that bad, with support and love you can win the battle and that is what the network is about."

We at Islandista say 'fight on!'

 

Susan Rice is one of Glamour's Women of the Year!

[caption id="attachment_1704" align="alignleft" width="239" caption="Photo credit: Matthias Vriens-McGrath/Glamour.com"][/caption]

 In all the fuss over Rihanna's interview in Glamour's year-end edition, we nearly overlooked Susan Rice,  the United States' U.N Ambassador of Jamaican heritage, who was also named one of Glamour's Women Of The Year.

No less than President Obama bigs her up, telling Glamour she deserves to be a WOTY because:

"She understands the complex threats we face in the twenty-first century, and when those challenges demand action from the international community, Susan gets it done through a combination of skilled diplomacy and sheer determination.”

We love, love, love positive, progressive islandistas and Susan Rice always rises to the occasion as an ambassador not just for the U.S. but for women of Caribbean descent the world over.

Kudos, Ms. Rice.

Lisa Hype's proud of her bleaching... no, really.

Well, just listen to this mess.

We wish she was being tongue in cheek, but no, Lisa Hype, the 'first lady' of Vybz Kartel's Portmore/Gaza Empire is dead serious about being proud of bleaching out her skin.

She told the Jamaica Star earlier this week:

"A bleaching a run the place and it all right because dat fi show yuh seh yuh a tek care of yourself."

EH? I cannot even follow that logic... so destroying your skin is taking care of yourself now? Since when and how come nobody ent tell us here at islandista?

Lisa's well proud of the track too, telling the Star that it running tings:

"Di girl dem seh mi a lock it fi dem this year. A me alone a talk fi dem. Mi nuh know which girl nowadays nah bleach, even fi use likkle Nadinola and rub on fi mek dem face cool.

People a bun it (bleaching). Nuff a dem a bun it and dem gal a do it. Mi nuh hear nobody lash out against the song. Everybody see mi and seh it gone."

She also admitted (as if we couldn't tell from her duppy face) that she has been bleaching for about two years because she likes the look.

Ordinarily you know, we would want to just throw up our hands in despair but trust, this got we vex.

What de hell is wrong with Kartel and Gaza? A so dem mus dark and anti-progressive?

Everything that is wrong and despicable in society them must tek up and glorify, from sexing underage teenagers (Virginity) to dissing up university students to pushing this destructive Gaza/Gully rivalry to bleaching?

Blasted idiots.

Gaza we seh? Am, NO.

Red carpet islandistas - Soul Train, EMAs and Latin Grammys

Islandistas have been spotted on red carpets all over the place in the last week or so - from the Soul Train Awards to the Latin Grammys and the MTV European Music Awards.

Check them out below.

Estelle has been showing up on red carpets galore in recent weeks. We saw her down south in Brazil at the Fashion Rocks event in a Manish Arora dress that thrilled some and turned off others.

We're sure opinions will be less divided on her look at Sir Richard Branson's Rock the Kasbah gala in Los Angeles. It's beautiful and on trend in every way - colour, cut, fabric and shoes. A +!

 She also was in form at the Soul Train Awards earlier this week, in this gold and black number.

 Melanie Fiona also brought some shine to the red carpet - in pewter instead of gold, with this gorgeous one-shouldered dress with a peplum skirt. See even more red carpet looks when you read more.

'When is it going to stop?' Rihanna gives details on assault

Really graphic and honestly... just sad details are coming out today from Rihanna's extensive interview on ABC with Diane Sawyer, which has ABC has been leaking in bits and pieces over the last two days.

She told Sawyer:

"It wasn't the same person that says I love you. It was not those... eyes. He had ... no soul in his eyes. Just blank. ...He was clearly blacked out. There was no person when I looked at him."

"All I kept thinking all the time: When is it going to stop? When it is going to stop?"

She also shot down the loose talk that it was anything like a fight in the Lamborghini that night - it was a beatdown.

Rachel Christie gives up Miss England crown after bar fight

Lawd. have. mercy.

De Christies could well sing the old calypso:

"Woe is me... shame and scandal in de family!"

This time, it's Rachel Christie, reigning Miss England and niece of former Olympic gold medallist Linford Christie, who's in scandal and passa passa, after being arrested for a nightclub brawl with Miss Manchester.

And apparently over this joker.

[caption id="attachment_1664" align="aligncenter" width="277" caption="Gladiator fighter Tornado"][/caption]




I'll let that marinate for a minute.

Yeah... I know... me too.

Ok, so the story such as it is right now is that Rachel, who was crowned the first black Miss England a few months back and was set to head to South Africa next month for the Miss World contest, has today 'given up' her crown.

The Miss England website had a statement from the organisers which read in part:

Due to the media attention following the allegations against her, Rachel Christie has now decided to withdraw from the Miss World competition and relinquish her Miss England crown. Rachel will concentrate on clearing her name and focus on training for the 2012 Olympics until this case is resolved."

According to media reports, Miss Manchester, Sara Jones, is the former girlfriend of Christie's boyfriend, David Mcintosh, aka Tornado, a fighter/personality on Sky1's Gladiators programme. Reports are that she flaunted a text message on her phone that was supposed to be from this Tornado fella (it sounds like a good kaiso name though doesn't it? He might need to add Mighty in front of it though).

Rachel then allegedly punched Jones in the face - nuff times.

Sigh.

I could bawl.

It's all over for Jamelia and Darren

More bad news on the Brit-islandista front.

After four years together, singer Jamelia and her footballer husband Darren Byfield are divorcing.

[caption id="attachment_1669" align="alignright" width="287" caption="Photo credit: Joel Ryan"][/caption]

Her rep announced it in a statement this week which read:

It is with regret that Jamelia and Darren Byfield today confirm they are splitting up and getting a divorce.
"No one else is involved. Their priority is naturally their two children."

Very short and to the point. Wonder if more will come out later on.

Interestingly enough, just two weeks ago, Jamelia was posing on the red carpet with 50 Cent at a movie premiere. (check pic at right)

We didn't think anything of it then... but now... well, clearly she was sending out a signal.

Islandista we love- Sharmadean Reid

 

[caption id="attachment_1636" align="alignright" width="283" caption="Photo credit: Wah-magazine.com"][/caption]

 

Sharmadean Reid is one of the coolest girls around.

Says who?

Well, us for one and that should be enough for you. :)

  But if you insist... the New York Times' The Moment Blog said pretty much the exact same thing about the 25 year old islandista-descended Brit, who is the sportswear editor of Arena Homme Plus.

 Dazed and Confused loves her hot online magazine WAH (as in wahgwan or in her words 'we ain't hoes'. Good to know).

 The Independent listed her as one of the '15 People who will define the future of arts in Britain' (no pressure!)

 And Elle UK loves her nail bar, WAH Nails. So does style.com.Good enough?

 Ok, so why do they love her so much? Well, she's just effortlessly cool. Despite being the editor of a menswear magazine, she's still girly, which is why she opened the WAH nail bar, as she told Elle:

"I love menswear, I was brought up on Arena Homme Plus, but at the end of the day I’m a girl!"

Her style, as reflected in WAH the online mag and WAH the nail salon is a tongue in cheek mix of street style and high end style.

For instance, you can get a Balmain-inspired nail design or even the classic Chanel logo, as seen below.

 

[caption id="attachment_1637" align="aligncenter" width="242" caption="Photo credit: The Moment"][/caption]

 

[caption id="attachment_1638" align="aligncenter" width="283" caption="Photo credit: Elle.co.uk"][/caption]

The style influences and trends she champions are right on the cutting edge of what's hot - early 90s hip hop culture and style, vintage, body con, Shoreditch (it's a London thing) and hot sneakers - among other things!

Not to mention - did you check the line up of all the girl has going on right now? Magazine editor, nail salon owner, online magazine publisher ... oh and she's a stylist and a consultant for Nike, as well.

Really, who can top us islandistas for drive and hustle?

Rihanna speaks out

Rihanna has finally spoken out about her feelings about what went down earlier this year after she was beaten by her ex(?) boyfriend Chris Brown on the morning of the Grammy Awards.

She did an interview with Glamour magazine, which is set to come in their December issue - they dropped a preview of it today (no doubt to beat out ABC).

A few of the snippets:

On the photo of her being leaked.

It was humiliating; that is not a photo you would show to anybody. I felt completely taken advantage of. I felt like people were making it into a fun topic on the Internet, and it’s my life. I was disappointed, especially when I found out the photo was [supposedly leaked by] two women.

On the chaos immediately afterwards:

It has taught me so much. I felt like I went to sleep as Rihanna and woke up as Britney Spears. That was the level of media chaos that happened the next day. It was like, What, there are helicopters circling my house? There are 100 people in my cul-de-sac? What do you mean, I can’t go back home?

On what she wants her message to other young women suffering from domestic violence to be:

Domestic violence is a big secret. No kid goes around and lets people know their parents fight. Teenage girls can’t tell their parents that their boyfriend beat them up. You don’t dare let your neighbor know that you fight. It’s one of the things we [women] will hide, because it’s embarrassing. My story was broadcast all over the world for people to see, and they have followed every step of my recovery.

Our take on this?

We're glad she spoke. We really hope against hope that she is not being pressured to do so just to pub her album. That would be the rankest exploitation.

We know a lot of the ignorant commenters out there would like domestic violence to be a black or white issue, so they can justify their hatred/jealousy of Rihanna.

Oh yeah... islandisto Jaicko doing big t'ings!

[vodpod id=ExternalVideo.890749&w=425&h=350&fv=m%3D62482167%26type%3Dvideo%26a%3D0]

more about "Oh Yeah Video Video by Jaicko - MySpa...", posted with vodpod

 

Ok, islandistas, it's a bit of an embarassing confession for us because we're a good ten to fifteen years older than the target demographic but we're pretty hooked on Bajan teeny bopper Jaicko's tune 'Oh Yeah'.

Jaicko, who signed to Capitol Records earlier this year (de Bajan invasion is real peoples!) even broke into BET's 106 & Park charts a few weeks ago with the bouncy, insanely catchy tune.

Yes, yes we know, we know ... shoot, even he knows it's a bit repetitive as he sings:

"I know this song a little annoying, oh yeah
But now I'm making' dollars, so i really don't care
Now I got the whole world singing oh yeah, oh yeah, oh yeah"

He ent lie yuh know - de damn song does just stick in my head every time I hear it. The freaky thing about this song is that for some reason I'm always hearing it when I'm on the road and true enough I don't even know whyI'm  turning up my radio but dammit if I don't find myself bobbing my head in my car cos I feel it though.

Next t'ing yuh know it is six hours later and I still humming de song, so clearly he's doing something right and we love to see island people do well so we don't mind too much!

 

Bits and pieces - Leona's race ban, red carpet sightings and Rihanna to speak out

You know every now and then we have to do a pelau post when there's so much going on that we need to put it all in de pot! This is one of those - we have news from all over - on Ri-ri, Leona (Le-le?) and islandistas on the red carpet from Rio to London to L.A.

So to start with - islandistas have been all over people's red carpets over the last week - from the premieres of the Michael Jackson This Is It movie in London and Los Angeles, to Fashion Rocks in Brazil.

Check out a few of the looks below.

[caption id="attachment_1644" align="aligncenter" width="306" caption="Former Sugababe Keisha Buchanan was hot at the London premiere of This Is It in a jewel panelled LBD with a jewelled halter neckline."][/caption]

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="222" caption="Nia Long in textured black leggings and a black leather jacket at the LA premiere."][/caption]

For more looks and news on Rihanna's first public interview and Leona's racism run-in, read on.