Islandistas @ 2010 BET Awards!

The BET Awards were on Sunday night and everyone is still talking about it. The biggest talking point was Chris Brown's emotional (?) tribute performance to Michael Jackson. Ri-ri's ex also won some kind of fan award - the Fandemonium and paid tribute to his legion of stans, saying he won't let them down again.

... Ok.


... If you say so, Breezy.
Moving along... Rihanna won on the night for her collabo with Jeezy 'Hard', but she opted out of the awards and spent the weekend with her new boo, Matt Kemp.

There was still plentiful islandista representation though. Preggy Alicia Keys took home a handful of awards and performed a tribute to Prince, Nia Long had presenting duties alongside former Love Jones co-star Larenz Tate, Nicki Minaj was her manic, dress-up rap doll self and Estelle made an appearance as well. Check more of the pics below.

Islandista becomes Baroness!

Congrats are in order for Trinidad-born islandista Floella Benjamin who took her seat in Britain's House of Lords today as a peer for the Liberal Democrats.

Her official title is Baroness Benjamin of Beckenham in Kent, but she will be known simply as Baroness or Lady Benjamin. She follows fellow Caribbean Baronesses Lady Amos and Lady Scotland.

For those who don't follow British politics, you can check out the Wikipedia article on the Upper House's history and modern day role here. Basically, it is a honorary role but they do debate bills and have some power to amend or reject them - though that power has been greatly (and democratically) restricted over the centuries.

It is a great honour for Benjamin, formerly a children's television presenter and an active campaigner for children's rights. She has previously been rewarded with an OBE (Order of the British Empire), a seat on the Millennium Commission and been made chancellor of Exeter University.

Congrats from Islandista!

Islandistas in June Vogue & July Elle!

It's all islandista, all the time in fashion's biggest magazines this summer! The fashion folk can't get enough of island girls from all spheres, be they designers, models or singers.

In the June edition of Vogue is Jamaican designer Carly Cushnie of Cushnie et Ochs - along with her design partner, they are highlighted in a feature on New York fashion's New Guard. To paraphrase Daddy Screws, big t'ings a gwan fi yu Carly!Also in the same June edition is Puerto Rican/Virgin Islander (St. Thomas to be exact) Joan Smalls, who truly ripped the runway in the FW10/11 fashion season just gone- walking 40 catwalks.

Barbados' biggest Crop-Over bands launch!

 

[caption id="attachment_2392" align="aligncenter" width="490" caption="Power x 4's selection of ladies costumes for Crop-Over 2010"][/caption]

Islandistas, I know it has been a minute - my apologies!

How could I abandon you, especially at a time like this when Barbados' Crop-Over festival is now heading into full swing?

The last week has been the unofficial official start to the festival - Baje International launched last Friday, Power x 4 is officially launching this Saturday, Brewster's Road Crew starting their fetes this Friday and Passion Network this Saturday!

Oh, and two of Power x 4's sections are ALREADY sold out, after 'early registration' started on Monday.

Yeah-  is like da this Crop-Over.

Baje seeing real action too - they launched on Friday and by Saturday, the two Trini sections run by Island People and Tribe were sold out - had chicks in Bim scrambling to pull strings in TnT to get into the sections. Mind you, we never hear of Trinis having to pull strings any place else to get costumes in dey own island but dem must know ...

Take a look at our faves in each band after the cut...