Hobbies: Traveling, cooking, exploring different cultures, teaching children, organizing events against puppy mills and Human Trafficking.
Life’s ambition: My ambition is to become a successful entrepreneur and open my own children’s charity. With God’s grace, I would like to be successful in all that I do.
Miss Guyana: Ayana Harris
Name: Ayana Harris
Age: 23
Country: Guyana
Occupation: Student
Hobbies: Modeling, watching cricket & football, cooking and interacting with friends and family via social networks.
Life’s ambition: I wish to become an established Marketing Consultant.
Miss Venezuela: Xiomery Medina
Name: Xiomery Medina
Age: 20
Country: Venezuela
Occupation: Student
Hobbies: Dancing, modeling, listening to music
Life’s ambition: I would love to model on the catwalks of Madrid! My dream is to be a professional model!
Hobbies: Modeling, surfing the internet, listening to music
Life’s ambition: I would like to become a famous TV-show hostess.
Miss Barbados: Khadija Moore
Name: Khadija Moore
Age: 18
Country: Barbados
Occupation: Student
Hobbies: Dancing, reading and participating in water sports.
Life’s ambition: I wish to establish a consulting business as well as an international modeling career.
Miss St Lucia: Louise Liza Victor
Name: Louise Liza Victor
Age: 21
Country: St Lucia
Occupation: Student
Hobbies: Participating in nature-oriented activities (Going to the beach, hiking etc.), Shopping, Reading
Life’s ambition: My philosophy in life is ‘Carpe Diem- Seize the day’. Another principle which governs my life is ‘Positivity- Think, Do, Be’. Hence, I pursue and engage in activities that I am passionate about and bring fulfillment. Such activities include youth and social development of my country. I am currently the General Secretary of the National Youth Council of St. Lucia, and as for as long as I live I will continue to advocate for there to be greater appreciation of our young people. Another one of my life’s ambition is to have a career in fashion. I intend to attain a degree in Fashion Marketing and Management to make this possible.
Over twenty artistes and bands for Jamzone Chutney Summa Super Concert Early bird tickets go on sale this weekend
Over twenty of the world’s hottest Chutney/Bollywood and Film artistes and bands will be in Guyana next Saturday to perform at the Jamzone ‘Chutney Summa’ Super Concert! It’s expected to be one of the biggest shows of the year! Ashnee Singh and the 2Famous Band are coming all the way from Holland for the occasion along with Caribbean’s best crossover band Karma, Rakesh Yankarran, Chris Garcia, Videsh Sokhoo, Rick Ramoutar, De Hitman and Hunter among many others.
Early bird tickets for this mega event will be on sale this Saturday only at Ashmins Trading for just $1000. Ensure to head down to Ashmins on Saturday because it will be the only day the early bird tickets will be available for Chutney Summer. Regular general admission tickets are $1,500 at Ashmins Trading with tickets being sold for $2000 at the gate while VIP passes can be purchased from Glamour Designer Brands for USD$50. These tickets will be in stores until next week.
Get your tickets as soon as possible to secure your spot in the hottest Chutney mela of 2012.
Elephant Man, Ashnie Singh and 2 Famous Band of Holland ready for Jamzone Summer Break 12!
We’re just two weeks away from the staging of Guyana’s greatest entertainment festival! The artistes and entertainers are doing final rehearsals, stages and venues are being prepared and the organizers are working assiduously to ensure Jamzone celebrates it twelfth birth anniversary in grand style!
This week, the Jamzone updates are hot! One of Jamaica and Dancehall’s brightest stars, Elephant Man will be joining Rick Ross, Spice and Macka Diamond on stage at the 2012 Jamzone International Night concert! This artiste, also known to fans as the ‘Energy God’ is the responsible mastermind behind the idea of making Dancehall music fun. His energy-infused, free-spirited, catchy songs coupled with unforgettable stage presence makes him one of the most loved and respected Dancehall artistes in the industry. His most popular hits include ‘Wille Bounce’, ‘Nuh Linga’, ‘Signal di Plane’ and ‘Pon di River, Pon di Bank’ which snagged him a Source Award for Dancehall/ Reggae Artist of the Year along with a MTV Music Award nomination. Elephant man has also enjoyed several chart-topping collaborations with Lil’ Jon on the “Get Low Remix,” R. Kelly on “Reggae Bump Bump,” Pitbull and Daddy Yankee, Kat DeLuna and Janet Jackson on ‘All Nite (Don’t Stop)’ which was performed on stage at the 2004 BET Awards.
Also, two of Holland’s top Chutney entertainers, Ashnie Singh and the electrifying ‘2 Famous’ band have joined the huge cast of the Jamzone ‘Chutney Summa’ concert which includes top acts such as the incredible Karma Band, De Hunter, Terry Gadraj, Soca Elvis, De Hitman and Rakesh Yankaran among many others! This event is billed for August 18th at the Guyana National Stadium!
Twelve years of success is certainly a monumental achievement that deserves an unforgettable commemoration. This year, we are sparing no efforts to ensure that Jamzone Summer Break 2012 goes down in history! In addition to an incredible musical experience, one will definitely enjoy all the attractions only Jamzone can offer.
Designed By: Dester Jennings of Trinidad and Tobago
Guyana Fashion Weekend commemorates five (5) years. The second longest running fashion festival in the region features thirty (30) Guyanese Designers with guest designers from Janelle Oosterling (Janoos Collection) of Suriname, Sharlene Lagon (Jhaylene Designs) of St. Lucia, Donna Weekes (Ethel Fashions) St. Vincent and the Grenadines/ USA , and Karl Brown (Khalil’s Hattitude) of Jamaica and Robert Young (The Cloth), Dexter Jennings (Concept Studio),Anthony Reid for Meiling, Dominic La Roche (DLR Designs), Omzad Khan/Nigel Eastman (Zadd and Eastman) all of Trinidad and Tobago . Set on a two hundred (200) foot pentagon runway tented at the GCC Ground.
Come 23rd – 25th September, the Guyana’s own ‘Bryant Park’ will be ablaze with designing and performing talent celebrating the local creative energy confirming our regional fashion identity. The Caribbean brand is coming of age with the existence of fashion initiatives like GFW. The show will pay tribute to ‘The Cloth’ of Trinidad and Tobago acknowledging the designer Robert Young’s the Cloth; 25 years in the business. ‘The Cloth’ will present two (2) collections and host an interactive workshop with the up and coming designers.
Designed By: Janelle Oosterling of Suriname
Sonia Noel gives accolade to Bob Marley as one of our pioneers of style by carrying our style to the world with his idiosyncratic lyrical reggae music. It is now time to bring the world to us, through our compelling style. One of her two collections for GFW 5 is aptly titled ‘Natural Mystic.’
Another feature this year is the incorporation of the crochet designs from the prison rehabilative initiative. Urban, ready to wear and crochet designs in the most modern silhouette surpass expectations.
Designers from far afield – Linden, Berbice, Essiquibo, Bartica- join Georgetown designers, stylists, make up artists and models in exalting Guyanese style. Designs showcasing vegetation and leather, appliqué, tie dye, batik, crochet and collage art – apparel designers including milliners, accessories’ designers, footwear and bag craftsmen have pitched in to shout style. It’s more than garment manufacture and clothing design; it’s about creating a look – a Guyanese look evidently but moreover a Caribbean look ultimately.
Designed By: Karl Brown of Jamaica
GFW 5 pays tribute to the UN declarations – international year of the forests, celebrating forests for people as well as acknowledging people of African decent.
It has become traditional and also imperative that we utilise the utilitarian platform of fashion to engage global campaigns and prompt critical and current awareness drives. Indeed we are consistently committed to youth empowerment; we are consumed by our environmental eco-balance concerns; we are engaged in holistic living practices and above all we pledge to sustainable development action. All in all, we promote Guyana not only through event tourism for destination marketing purposes, but to encourage pride in nation building.
Designed By: Donna Weeks of St. Vincent and Grenadines/USA
Sonia Noel, CEO of Guyana Fashion Weekend is passionate about building the Fashion Industry in Guyana. Her convictions has carried her throughout the region and the Diaspora proclaiming a Caribbean fashion perspective for which she is being honoured at the U.S Virgin Islands Fashion Week with an award for ambassadorial service by the Governor J.P De Joung.
Her partner in passion is the production designer Richard Young who is the distinguished purveyor of a concept of the Caribbean aesthetic . Being creative director of GFW as well as Fashion Week Trinidad and Tobago and soon to be a more regional brand in the upcoming Caribbean’s Next Top Model. Richard Young continues to spread the word that Caribbean style is the alternative ‘new-world brand.’
Guyana Fashion Weekend is less that a month away and designer Sonia Noel excitement is evident. This Caribbean fashion designer has even more reason to be excited because she will be receiving a Caribbean Fashion Ambassador Award from USVI Fashion Weekend. This two(2) days glamorous event will be on the 8th and 9th of October at the prestigious Frenchmen’s Reef Resort on the beautiful St Thomas USVI. Noel was describe by the CEO of USVI Fashion Week Henry Marshram as a phenomenal woman and an inspiration to many including himself. The launch was held in New York on July 29th, and the CEO of GFW Fashion was given the opportunity to tell the audience about Guyana Fashion Weekend(GFW) and Guyana.
“To be acknowledged out of my country for my contribution not only to the fashion industry in Guyana is an amazing feeling and it propels me to do even more in the future because I know we in the Caribbean have something special to offer the world in fashion”
A small contingent of models and designers from GFW will be joining her on the catwalk to promote the tremendous talent we possessed her with in Guyana. Most promising designers of GFW 2008 “Marcia De Santos”, most promising designer of 2010 “Nelsion Nurse”, Winners of 2010 Model Search “Steven Bagot”, Alana Pheonix and designer “Paul Burnett” will be the GFW team in USVI.
‘I am so excited to have the contingent from Guyana to the Virgin Islands for this years fashion week “Caribbean Catwalk” and we welcome them. This is what I want to see more of as it is my goal to help and promote the free movement of fashion professional in the region to promote their line and to network and build a bridge so we all can cross and unite as one in the fashion industry. I believe that designers, models, stylist and other fashion industry professionals are talented and have a lot to show to the world. This year Virgin Islands Fashion Week(VIFW) will be presenting two awards, and as the Founder/CEO of VIFW I have been involved in fashion for more than ten years and also following what’s happening in the industry in the Caribbean. I am please to announce that the “Caribbean Fashion Ambassador” award will be presented to Ms. Sonia E Noel of Guyana for her outstanding work and contribution in the Caribbean and particularly the US Virgin Islands in the area of fashion.
This is a well deserving award and on behalf of the the people of the US Virgin Islands I congratulate Sonia Noel and we look forward to having you this year to bestow this honour upon you. The award will be presented by the Governor of the US Virgin Islands Mr. J.P De Joung at the opening of the 2nd showing of the Caribbean Catwalk on Sunday October 9th at the host hotel Marriott Frenchmans Reef Resort.
Sonia Noel is the 1st Caribbean designer to be invited to Brown University in Rhode Island to give a presentation on Caribbean fashion duringCaribbean Heritage month. She also received the Shabeau Magazine Award in 2007 and the GMSA presented her with an award last November for significantly raising the bar in the local fashion design industry. She was also awarded for initiating a process for accelerating cross border services trade in the fashion business. In addition, Noel recently celebrated one year anniversary of her popular TV Show “Diatribe”.
Noel is also looking forward to attend the Caribbean China Economic Forum next week in Trinidad. October and November will be busy months for this Guyanese leading lady apart from her participation in USVI she will be in Trinidad for a four day fashion event at the Hyatt, Caribbean Top Model Fashion Show in Tobago, Caribbean Fashion against AIDS” on the island of St. Eustatius and Antigua Fashion Week. In November she and her team will be hosting an appetite for fashion fusing the food and fashion in Guyana.
BRAVO ARTS, the premier body art creative company is all poised to launch another of its one of a kind exhibitions at Castellani National Art Gallery on Friday 9th September next.
Titled “EXTRA TERRESTRIAL”, this time around the eye catching body art models will have the added adornments of prosthetics. These will include the rubber latex representation of exaggerated body parts, providing special effects for the “alien” models. Special laser like lighting effects and creative greenery will produce a Guyanese type extraterrestrial habitat to intrigue and delight the audiences.
One year ago Steve Douglas Bravo Arts earned rave reviews with his inaugural “Unearthed” presentation at the same Castellani venue. For many, it was the first local exhibition to highlight the body as the canvas which, that time, depicted the country’s flora and fauna. Since then the art form has been in demand by Corporate entities, dance companies and private party socials.
The Friday September 9 presentation will portray a diversity of peaceful aliens who are closely knitted and live in harmony with their environment. This will be done within the bounds of propriety.
Patrons will again experience live body painting on demand as well as the appearance of a surprise alien character known to most movie goers and internet fans.
Amongst the artists and models will be Jackie Hanover, Courtney Douglas, Cassandra Chu and Paloma Bristol, to name a few. Challenges of sponsorship during this season compelled the Bravo Arts organisers to charge $500.00 for adults whilst children under ten will enjoy free admission.
The exhibition runs from 16:30hrs to 19:30hrs (4:30 – 7:30pm).
With contracts signed and the National Stadium booked all roads lead to the venue for a real Bollywood concert featuring four mega acts dancing and singing in true Bollywood style in Guyana. Through collaboration with Guyanese and Europe based officials boasting decades of experience, Lux Entertainment has been formed and is ready to take Guyana entertainment offerings to another level. “Think of three or more hours of live performances from names straight out of Bollywood: Sunidhi Chauhan, Neha Dhupia, Riya Sen, Rakshanda Khan…we have got them on contract already!” This concert billed for October 29, will redefined mega concerts in Guyana.
Over the years we have seen a plethora of International shows featuring names from Jamaica, Trinidad, and Barbados. Most recently some have tapped into the North American market while bollywood has only been brushed. We are not brushing; we are digging deep into an industry that’s considered bigger than Hollywood, hence, this mega event. Bollywood Divas Mega Concert is our private imitative aimed at showcasing to the rest of the world that Guyana is as good a venue as any other country to stage mega events. It also is aimed at attracting tourists to the local shows as these artistes are not billed for any other Caribbean country but are celebrated in most. Our package guarantees a real full length enlightenment of dynamic and entertaining showcase for all despite of culture or creed.
Meet the Divas
Sunidhi Chauhan
Sunidhi is an Indian playback singer, best known for her Hindi film songs in Bollywood Such as ‘Desi Girls’, Sheila Ki Jawani, Aaja Nachle and Mere Mehboob etc. She has also recorded songs for Marathi, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Bengali, Assamese and Gujarati films and is credited with over 2000 songs. She’s is also an excellent exotic high energy Live stage performer. Her breakthrough was Ram Gopal Varma’s film Mast, in which she sang the hit song, “Ruki Ruki Si ZindagiShe has been nominated for fourteen Filmfare Awards, winning it on three occasions. She has won two Star Screen Awards, two IIFA Awards and one Zee Cine Award. And she’s still in Bollywood churning out Movies todate.
Nehia Dhupia (photo taken from gobollywood.com)
Neha Dhupia
Neha Dhupia is an Indian actress who appears in Bollywood films. She is a former beauty queen and winner of Femina Miss India 2002 and placed in the top ten for the Miss Universe 2002. Dhupia made her acting debut in a play in New Delhi called Graffiti. Thereafter she appeared in a music video for Indipop band Euphoria and also modeled for various advertisement campaigns. She then appeared in the TV serial “Rajdhani”. In 2002 she entered the Femina Miss India pageant finishing in first place, winning the Femina Miss India Universe title, and was subsequently sent to the Miss Universe 2002 pageant in Puerto Rico. She was placed in the top 10. Dhupia made her film debut in the 2003 Bollywood film Qayamat: City Under Threat (2003), and She rose to fame with her role in the film Julie and then appeared in Sheesha (2005) in a dual role of twin sisters, then starred in films such as Kyaa Kool Hai Hum (2005) and Shootout at Lokhandwala (2007), which did well at the box office, and also featured in a segment of the anthology film Dus Kahaniyaan (2007). In the following years, Dhupia appeared in supporting roles in multiple critically and commercially acclaimed films including Chup Chup Ke (2006), Ek Chalis Ki Last Local (2007), Mithya (2008), Maharathi (2008), Singh Is King (2008) and Dasvidaniya (2008). In 2011, she plays Eva Braun in the film Dear Friend Hitler -a film about Mahatma Gandhi. Incidentally she is also a model.
Riya Sen (photo taken from hotindianactressphotos.com)
Riya Sen
Riya Sen is an Indian film actress and model who hails from a family of actors including her grandmother Suchitra Sen, mother Moon Moon Sen and sister Raima Sen. She began her acting career in 1991 as a child artiste in the film Vishkanya. Her first commercial success in her film career was with Style. Some of her other films include producer Pritish Nandy’s musical film, Jhankaar Beats (2003) in Hinglish, Shaadi No. 1 (2005) Malayalam horror film Ananthabhadram (2005).
Riya was first recognised as a model when she performed in Falguni Pathak’s music video Yaad Piya Ki Aane Lagi. Since then, she has appeared in music videos, television commercials, fashion shows, and on magazine covers. She has been a heartthrob sensation throughout India and is known for her gorgeous smile. Her most recent films are Paying Guest, Action Replayy and De Dana Dan. She has also worked on her first international project with Chris Kattan in IFC’s Bollywood Hero.
Rakshanda Khan
Rakshanda Khan is a former Model and a Television Actress, and an Anchor in the Indian Television Industry. She is better known for her role as Mallika Seth in Jassi Jaisi Koi Nahin, Tanya Virani in Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi, and Roshni Chopra in Kasamh Se. She is the Divas show emcee.
Three time road march queen Melissa ‘Vanilla’ Roberts is set to release her new music video on Saturday 20th August 2011. The song All Night Long was remixed by one of Brazil’s top producers Jeremias Lima of Alquimia Digital following on the heels of the original first release of the song by Kross Kolor Records.
The video was shot entirely on location in Barbados at Fouls and Batts Beach and saw the feature of extras from Barbados, Jamaica. Suriname, St Vincent and Guyana.
The video is the first project done by IRebel Productions of which Vanilla is a member, the company is Caribbean based with members from Guyana, St Vincent and Barbados
The video is directed by Akley ‘Irebel’ Olton, Director of Photography is Jason Russell, Makeup Artist: Lia Gajadhar: Stylist Candis Birch and Vanilla opposite in the video is Miles Walcott. Vanilla would like to give special recognition the University of the West Indies, Errol Barrow Center for Creative Imagination for making this video possible.
All Night Long The Brazilian remix will be launched on Saturday the 20th August at 14 hours on your favorite channels. Berbice we are coming your way next weekend. The video will then be aired on other TV stations across Guyana. The launch is sponsored by Kross Kolor Records.
Thirty-two (32) local celebrities including West Indies Cricketer Ramnaresh Sarwan and reigning Sportswoman of the Year Shondell Alfred will be competing on Saturday August 20that The Knights Basketball Club Second Annual Celebrity Basketball Game.
The event is billed for this Saturday at 19:00hrs at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall and apart from the Celebrity Game, There will be three supporting games featured top local teams. The Celebrity Game cast has been beefed up this year to include a wider pool of celebrities.
The list includes twice the amount of females from last year, athletes from more sports disciplines and even prominent professionals. Proceeds from last year’s event were donated to Joshua’s House and this year The Support Group for Deaf Persons has been earmarked. Scotia Bank and Republic Bank will play the first supporting game followed by Giftland Office Max versus Qualfon and Youth Basketball Guyana’s (YBG) Elite versus Knights.
Below is a complete list of this year’s participants:
Athletes
Ronson Williams (National Football goal keeper)
Theodore Henry (National Rugby Coach/player )
Godfrey Munroe (Former National Table Tennis Champion)
Ramnaresh Sarwan (West Indies Cricketer)
Charles Ramson (Cricketer/Attorney-at-Law for Office of President)
Chris Barnwell (National Cricketer)
Kiev Chesney (2007 Junior National 800m champion /2010 Sports Reporter of the Year)
Steven Jacobs (National Cricketer)
Stephen Vieira (Superbike champion )
Edison Jefford (Former National Runner/Sports Reporter)
Leon Johnson (National Cricketer)
Paul DeNobrega (National Junior Cyclist Champion)
Leer Nunes (National Cyclist)
Jody-Ann Blake (National Female Tennis Champion)
Shondell Alfred (Guyana Female Boxing Champion/Sports Woman of the Year)
