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Davia Black “Sugah Faces”
An Unexpected Career Born From Pure Passion
Issue 33
Kisha Joseph
Musical Vibes With Kisha
Kayle Cassius A FETE-ish With a Sole
Felicia Montoute Self Care With a Smile
Kashima Montoute A Brand With Big Dreams
Try me!
Is it Beneficial to Purchase an iPhone 12 Right Now?
from the publisher
A
s we celebrate International Women’s day, Dazzle Magazine is proud to have a full featured female issue. Over the years we have featured and highlight progressive women who have contributed greatly to society. Recognition must be given to their achievements and gender parity should not be used to compare their success with their male counterparts. Looking back on Issue 1 where it all began. Fiona Compton was the one who graced our cover. She was not chosen because of gender but because her ability to harness her talents and succeed at what she did at the time. As we grew, Dazzle Magazine continued feature ladies who have impacted their communities with their innovative businesses and work ethic. In this issue we feature five talented ladies who are focused and dedicated to their craft. Their attitude towards their business and self-development are impeccable and their stories of overcoming various obstacles are inspiring. Kisha Joseph one of the most popular artiste in the Soca industry always knew that should be an entertainer from a child. Kashima Montoute studied Finance and Information Technology to pursue her passion as a swimwear designer. Felicia Montoute used a traumatic dental visit to create a dental hygiene business that focusses on a pleasurable dental experience. Davia Black who was encouraged by a close friend to use her talent to start a make-up business and lastly, Kayle Cassius who created her footwear business from the desire to explore her creative side. With that said, I hope you enjoy their stories in yet another great issue of Dazzle Magazine. Please remember to ‘Like’ us on Facebook (facebook. com/dazzlethemag) & Instagram (instagram.com/ dazzlethemag) and also subscribe to us on Youtube (http://youtube.com/c/dazzlethemagtv). Happy Reading! Rankin Morgan Publisher/Managing Editor
Dazzle Magazine is a dynamic Saint Lucian bi-monthly publication that provides muchneeded exposure to young professionals and entrepreneurs, and established businesses. It covers an array of topics and categories key to starting and running a business. It also offers practical advice on everyday living, tips for a healthy lifestyle and interviews with popular and up-and-coming personalities. Dazzle Magazine is designed to appeal to a diverse range of readers but is especially targeted at working professionals and business owners between the ages of 21-50 years. We provide our advertising clients with value for money by offering them a powerful medium to market their products, offer deals and build their brand. Best of all, we give them the opportunity to be a part of a nationwide and online marketplace of actively engaged consumers who are ready to buy, all at an affordable price. To advertise in Dazzle Magazine, contact our sales agent via telephone 758 484 4642 or email advertising@dazzlethemag.com for more information and terms and conditions.
table of
contents Features 12. Davia Black “Sugah Faces” - An Unexpected Career Born From Pure Passion 18. Felicia Montoute - Self Care With a Smile 24. Kashima Montoute - A Brand With Big Dreams 30. Kayle Cassius - A FETE-ish With a Sole 36. Kisha Joseph - Musical Vibes With Kisha 411 8. A Behind the Scenes Look at Radio Caribbean International
Publisher Rankin Morgan Sales & Marketing Alana M.I Morgan Art Director Aldrin Henry Contributors A.Decor Tanisha Prospere Nadège Knight Imran St. Brice Photography Aldrin Henry
Professional Progress 22. Stress and Discrimination of Staff During COVID 28. Social Media: Separating Personal and Professional Page
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Mastering Marketing 16. How Video Calls Changed the Face of Meetings Health & Fitness 6. Miracle Mushrooms
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Lifestyle 33. Design on a Budget 34. The Evolution of Fashion in the Caribbean 39. RECAP - Grand Army Eating In 43. Cinnamon Rolls Gadget & Gizmos 40. Is it Beneficial to Purchase an iPhone 12 Right Now? Instagram 44. Have You Gotten Your Covid Vaccine?
Kisha Joseph
Davia Black “Sugah Faces”
Musical Vibes With Kisha
An Unexpected Career Born From Pure Passion
Kayle Cassius A FETE-ish With a Sole
Felicia Montoute Self Care With a Smile
Kashima Montoute A Brand With Big Dreams
Try me!
)S IT "ENElCIAL TO Purchase an iPhone 12 Right Now?
On the Cover Kayle Cassius
contact us
For more information visit us at www.dazzlethemag.com or call us at 758.484.4642
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13 Reasons Why
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Miracle MUSHROOMS NUTRIONAL BENEFITS OF EATING MUSHROOMS ANTIOXIDANTS BETA GLUCAN -
Helps protects the body from damaging free radicals that can cause conditions like heart disease and cancer. Helps your body regulate blood sugar and has been strongly linked to improving cholesterol and boosting heart health.
VITAMIN B -
Mushrooms are rich in B Vitamins, riboflavin, niacin and panthothenic acid. This combination helps to improve heart health and maintaining healthy skin.
COPPER -
Helps your body make red blood cells which are used to deliver oxygen all over the body. It is also vital to maintaining healthy bones and nerves.
POTASSIUM -
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This is extremely important when it comes to heart, muscle and nerve function.
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//Feature
Davia BLACK An unexpected career born from pure passion pg. 12
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DAZZLE 7
A Behind the Scenes Look at Radio Caribbean International
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e can be certain that Radio Caribbean International (RCI) is a household name when talking about popular radio stations in St. Lucia. We’ve had the privilege to speak with the current Managing Director, Tamara Gibson. She gave us an inside look on what this company is all about, it’s roots and where the RCI is headed in the near future. Tamara revealed that RCI was started by the French in 1961, and this year celebrates its 60th Anniversary. It was only in 1982 the company’s Trading Name became RCI when the French linked the Francophone Islands across the region. Few years later it was passed over to local handlers. “My mother worked at RCI from the 1970s. Sometime around 1990, herself and another employee at the time bought out the shares from the French and took ownership of it.” Today, RCI’s ownership remains in the hands of the same local handlers.
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Starting with their tagline ‘The Caribbean Sound’, RCI is most well known for playing Caribbean music and featuring news, to keep it simple. Tamara added “We do a mixed programming style to keep things balanced between informative and entertaining.” As we found out, there’s so much more that flies under the radar. For example, their events; Forever
Gold, Big People Party and Party In The Yard. They’re also collaborators for Colour Me RED. “On radio, we have quite a few popular programs. ‘She Speaks’ with Mareen Alexander is one of our most popular right now; this show features St. Lucian women with an inspiring story to tell. ‘The Lunch Room’ with Calixte George, ‘Youth Unplugged’ with Ron Isidore, “Lettre La'' with Iwa. With Lettre La people may be surprised to know that the letters are from actual people and it’s not made up by us.” Lettre La is definitely a staple in the RCI lineup. Alston “Iwa” St. Remy came up with the idea for it. Once it was established, Lettre La pioneered the way for the creation of the other shows that are also well known today. “Since the pandemic we’ve also created ‘Spotlight’ and Drop In, also hosted by Mareen. So far we’ve featured regional and local artistes like Sean Paul, Buju Banton, Teddyson John, and quite a few others.”
When it comes to staying relevant, the team at RCI have always made it a priority to stay on top of their game. However, Tamara will admit that it can become quite challenging, especially with many other radio stations currently in the industry. “We try to keep it interesting and avoid being monotonous. When searching for people to feature on our various programmes we try to find a variety from different walks of life.” RCI also happens to be the radio station with the longest track record of them all. “With Radio St. Lucia not being around anymore, it puts an even greater strain on us to deliver accurate information in a timely manner. Very few of the other radio stations have a newscast like we do; most of them play music and deliver entertainment but we try to balance content with entertainmnet. That being said, it’s also challenging to balance the informative and entertaining side of RCI. Based on our online listenership, we’ve discovered that our listeners range from ages 16 to 65. Keeping such a wide range of listeners interested is a challenge.”
Part of their effort to keep up with the times came in the form of a recent rebrand. “Two years ago, we rebranded our look, our website we introduced new programmes and launched an app. We made that decision to keep our younger listeners engaged. I’ve found that the youth spend more time on their phones or computers, so a mobile app for listening will help keep them tuned in to us. On a broader level we try to reinvent our programming on a yearly basis to ensure that we’re remaining relevant. Based on feedback from our clients we can tell we’re doing a very good job at that.” As mentioned earlier, there are tons of other radio stations currently in play, which leaves one to wonder, how does RCI manage to do what they do after all this time? “I believe that if you’re in this business you have to believe and act as if you’re #1. With us, we know that and we’ve certainly proved that we’re #1. Staying ahead of the competition… you just have to use your initiative and invent packages and programmes that will keep your clients interested. Our clients have been loyal, and I believe that’s because we offer them a service that’s a cut above the rest. We strategize as a team and plan what we’ll do and how we’ll achieve it.” Naturally, with constant change there’s sometimes resistance within the team. Tamara though, has a simple but effective strategy in place to keep everyone on board with what’s going on. “I have a fantastic team. My managing policy is that I keep an open door. I encourage my team to come in and pitch me ideas that they can develop with my support. Alston (Iwa) and Orlando (Hyper D) are always coming in flowing with ideas… and they’re always very enthusiastic, so that gives me a drive to want to try things with the business. Naturally you’ll find people in the business who are resistant to change. I think that as a good
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leader you have to be able to assist them in getting past these hurdles. Proper communication and explanation could help us come to a solution that moves us forward.” Closing off our conversation with Tamara Gibson, we had to ask her to shed some light on what goes on outside the RCI studio. In terms of RCI’s corporate social responsibility efforts, what has been going on?
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“Our ‘Feed The Need’ Programme is very near to our hearts; it’s something we’ve been doing for over 28 years. We ask listeners and clients to donate supplies along with us, which we then give out to communities in need during the Christmas Season. LUCELEC have been huge contributors in this. Keeping active even outside of the studio is important to Tamara and her team. “We also have our 'Back to School' Promotion in August. In a similar way, we build up supplies and donate them to children in need of school supplies. Apart from that, we try to do smaller feel-good monthly promotions. With the pandemic it’s very important for people to still have some hope. Even if we don’t do it as grand as we normally would, we still try to do something for others. You can also expect great things from us in the future, we’re working on them right now!” Dazzle Magazine hopes to see what Team RCI has been up to soon and would like to wish them all the best in their future endeavours.
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DAZZLE 11
Davia BLACK
An unexpected career born from pure passion
N
ot everyone is able to achieve a steady balance in life that involves a family, their dream job and a day job all in one. Davia Black, the brains behind Sugah Faces has done just that. She is an alumna of St. Joseph’s Convent and the Sir Arthur Lewis Community College where she studied Hospitality and Food and Beverage management. Although she is very well known in her field now, she revealed that she never pictured herself making a living off of it…
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What are you most well known for? I’m a makeup artiste. I started Sugah Faces 4 years ago. The name came about because people call me ‘bag of Sugar’ because of my spaced teeth. So I took that and came up with the name. I didn't plan on doing makeup as a business though. I’d do my own makeup and then some of my friends wanted me to do theirs. Then other people started noticing and eventually I started getting clients.
Were you employed when you started Sugah Faces? Back then I was already working at the Ministry of Equity as an Accounts Clerk, and I still do today. It’s not something that I’ve ever really enjoyed. I was looking for a path to follow so I brainstormed a few ideas but being a makeup artist never crossed my mind.
What was your first paid makeup gig? It was in June of 2016 for the St. Joseph’s Convent Prom. A friend of mine had a cousin who was attending the prom and graduation that year. She urged me to do her cousin’s makeup, but I initially said no. Then she sent me everything I’d need and told me how much she believed in me. So I took a bus to go all the way to La Bourne to get the job done. I was unsure of myself, but while I was working on the client, she was so impressed and that gave me encouragement. After it was all done I thought to myself that I could really do this.
How did Sugah Faces become a popular name after that? I created a Facebook page because it was more popular back then. I also needed pictures to post so I offered to do faces for free; family, neighbours, friends, anybody who would give me their time to do it. One by one I started gaining a following. There were about 5 clients who would visit me every weekend to do their makeup. Then those girls started bringing friends and they would also share my work. I also have very loyal clients. Some of them won’t go out if I can’t do their face; they’d actually cancel their plans.
Do you specialize in a particular type of makeup artistry? I love glam. A glam look means bold lashes, eye work that stands out, flawless face… I personally enjoy that extra special look on clients. I can also do natural looks and bridal looks, but my specialty is glam.
Doing Bridal looks can be tricky because it’s such a massive occasion, how do you deal with that? I feel the same way about all my clients, I don’t want to mess up any occasion at all. Every appointment for me is very important to get right. With bridal bookings, I always book them early so it’s not in a rush. Sometimes I end up with brides who prefer a glam look instead of the traditional bridal look. That bridal look is soft, neutral tones, light gloss, fresh face… I have brides who request glitter for their eyes, one bride even wanted blue lipstick which isn’t the expected look.
What is the one moment in your career that you’re really proud of? That moment was January 2020 when I opened my own studio in East Winds Marisule. Prior to that, I worked from home in my apartment. Now I have a proper studio to work in. Right now, it's by appointment only.
Is there an entrepreneurial background in your family? There isn’t. I feel like everything I do is different from what everyone in my family does. I’ve always been the bold one but my sisters are all very reserved. Entrepreneurship wasn’t something that I saw but knew it could be done. I always said that I wanted to work smart, not hard. Seeing my mother at a retirement age and not being able to stop working made me think that I didn’t want to be like that when I got older.
What is your support system like at this point in your career? All but one of my sisters is interested in makeup. So, when it comes to makeup talk, those discussions don’t happen at home. My family knows what I do but I don’t get much input because it’s not a field they’re knowledgeable in. With my friends, you don’t say makeup if they don’t mention my name. They do an amazing job with promoting my makeup classes: ‘Sip and Slay’. With everything I do it’s all hands-on deck, whatever I need from them they do it and it makes the experience so much more fun. Prior to COVID-19, it was an event held twice so far; at Palm Haven and Cap Estate Gardens. My boyfriend is also extremely supportive! He can name palettes, products and he’s very knowledgeable on it. Back when I started, he was a huge inspiration for me. His personality, being Ezra all the time... I
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saw how he used it to become an artiste, monetizing it and he’s just really being himself. I figured that I wanted to be happy and making money like that doing something I truly enjoy.
Do you feel complacent at your day job? No, because I’ve learned to totally separate myself. When I go to work on a morning, I focus solely on that, as if I have no clients. When work is done and I get home, I don’t want to hear anything about my day job because I’m with my clients.
How do you divide your time with family, a day job, Sugah Faces? My brain is always going and I’m never still. It’s a lot to handle but I’ve made up my mind to do it like that only for a certain time, while I build and grow. I do miss spending time with my daughter because she’s mostly with the sitter and other family while I’m at work. You sometimes lose out on a lot; family events, beach days. Sometimes I feel like I’m losing out on life to do work.
fun facts What’s your favourite colour? Rose Gold Name of your pet? I don’t like Pets What do you do in your past time? Cook Most memorable childhood moment? Early morning beach with my father Milo or Ovaltine Milo
Do you think of taking the plunge and going in full time with Sugah Faces? I was very close to making that decision and I felt that it was the right time. Then COVID-19 came in. I was so happy then that I had a day job, another source of income because that’s what kept us afloat. Even now, I haven’t gotten back to my regular client flow. People aren’t really going out and those who are, don’t always have the extra money to spend on makeup. They’d prioritize an outfit, tickets to the event but makeup would become an afterthought. The flow of work can 14 DAZZLE
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be uncertain sometimes as an MUA (Makeup Artiste). When things get back to normal it is something I will consider again though. I’d be bringing in other aspects of makeup as well. There are lots of products that can’t be found here so I’m looking into making them available.
Where do you see Sugah Faces in the next two years? In that timeframe I want to be getting ready to train other makeup artistes. I actually want to get out of doing the makeup myself and get into the business of makeup artistry, like production and skin care. I just want to provide that and give back. We don’t have cosmetology or makeup artistry schools here where someone can learn the skill. Right now, it’s YouTube or taking informal lessons from someone, but I want to establish something official.
What advice would you give to other upcoming entrepreneurs about following their dreams confidently? I’d say do what you love. I wouldn’t advise anyone to get into something that they don’t love doing. Entrepreneurship is hard work and you’ll feel like giving up. The only thing that will stop you from giving up is the fact that you genuinely love what you’re doing. Don’t focus so much on what everyone else is doing. Find your niche and make the most of what you’re good at. We wish Davia all the best in her future endeavours!
//Feature
Kayle
CASSIUS
A FETE-ish With A Sole pg. 30
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How Video Calls Changed the Face of Meetings
S
aying “Let’s have a meeting to discuss…” in recent times has become an unusual statement. Unusual in the sense that, for as long as we could we remember, meetings meant… actually meeting, physically. That’s been true whether it’s for a business meeting, or a get-together with friends. There has since been a new normal for meetings too, and that’s through video calls. Video calls aren’t something that’s new to most. At some point or another we’ve been able to catch up with distant relatives or friends via FaceTime, WhatsApp video calling or even Skype. This time around, video calls have taken on a whole new responsibility that offers both benefits and disadvantages to all who use it as a new form of communication.
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CONVENIENCE The first thing you may think is that video calls are more convenient, and you’re absolutely right. Out goes the long commutes in traffic, dealing with uncontrollable weather and constantly aiming for
punctuality amidst all of these circumstances. You’re already at home with your computer anyway, so it doesn’t take away much time to get to an online meeting. However, there is a disadvantage to this which we’ll highlight in this article.
INACCURACY IN COMMUNICATION This is perhaps the most highlighted disadvantage to video call meetings; inaccuracy in communication. We can probably agree that channels for effective communication follow this hierarchy from worst to best; text messages, phone calls, video calls, face-toface. Video calls are definitely a step up from phone calls but they can’t quite replace meeting in person. That could be due to poor audio which may not represent one’s tone correctly, poor lighting that may disguise facial expressions and so on.
BETTER PREPARATION Preparation is still a key piece to being efficient even in video calls, but the physical demands and time constraints are heavily reduced when there’s little else to do but turn on your computer and ensure that you’re on time. Not only are physical preparations easier because commuting is cut out altogether, but mentally it may be easier for some to prepare. Knowing that you’re in the comfort of your own home and that everything you need for a possible presentation is within reach, can prove to be a huge boost for people who may be more nervous in meetings. This also means that you don’t have to worry about racing back home because of something important that you forgot there.
All in all, meetings have changed during the course of 2020, and we don’t know for how long it’ll be like this. Our best bet would be to maximize the new norm to ensure that we’re as effective as possible, even in meetings.
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fun facts What inspires you? Life, people, nature What was the last gift you received? Two sets of scrubs (uniforms) What was your first job? Accountant's Assistant If you had to be a super hero who would you be? Superwoman so I could travel 18 DAZZLE
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Felicia
MONTOUTE Self Care With A Smile
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e’ve all had an experience going to the dentist that we didn’t particularly like, but Felicia Montoute saw a career opportunity in dental hygiene that she couldn’t pass up. A resident of Bois D’Orange, Felicia attended the Leon Hess Comprehensive School, The Sir Arthur Lewis Community College and then went onto The City University of New York. After completing her studies, she worked in Connecticut for a year before returning home to further her career as a dental hygienist. Now the founder of Smyle Therapy, Felicia sat with Dazzle Magazine to share the details of how she started her career, and her business. Dazzle: What is a Dental Hygienist? Felicia: I get that question a lot because it’s fairly new in St. Lucia. As a dental hygienist I focus on preventive treatments. When I say “preventive treatments” I mean dental cleanings, dental sealants and basically anything to prevent oral cavities and gum disease, we focus on that. The dentist does more invasive procedures; anything to get under the gums or involves cutting, the dentist does that. Dazzle: How did you get the idea for your business and when did you start? Felicia: My business is called Smyle Therapy. As a child, I had a very bad experience with dentists and I found it kind of funny that I got into this profession. I started off as a dental receptionist before I went off to study dental hygiene. I decided to call it Smyle Therapy because it’s more than just focusing on the person’s smile. It involves preparing them psychologically and making sure they’re comfortable and that they feel some sort of support when it comes to their mental health. Dazzle: What inspired you to become a dental hygienist? Felicia: I was inspired by my own experience. As I did my dental hygiene program I learned a lot, and
because I could then understand better, I was able to get my braces done, remove my wisdom tooth and have a surgical extraction. People fear what they don’t understand and I realized that people need to be educated when it comes to dental hygiene or dental care. I saw it from both perspectives and because of that I was able to sufficiently provide the kind of care others needed. Dazzle: When did you establish your business and what challenges did you face during your start up? Felicia: My business was registered in 2016 and I decided to start with education first. I did a lot of educational videos and also did presentations for small groups such as private and public sectors. Then I decided to establish a physical business so I could focus on clients with dental fears. The challenges were mostly personal; such as overcoming my fears in doing something new and innovative. We have approximately 5 registered dental hygienists on the island so venturing towards this new path that not many people have done was scary. Not having anyone else to compare with was also a challenge. My inspiration was mostly from studying in the US and comparing what I wanted to do with dental hygienists there and in Canada. Dazzle: How receptive are your clients? Felicia: As a dental hygienist I know that I have to educate persons on what it is I do exactly. Most of my clients are receptive because my business is focused on persons with dental hygiene fears and 6 out of 10 persons fit that margin. Those who understand, accept it. Dazzle: What services do you offer at Smyle Therapy? Felicia: Smyle Therapy is a dental hygiene spa. It’s not a practice or a clinic, it’s more of a spa. With that in mind, I collaborated with a massage therapist from Body Oasis and also a hair and makeup artiste from The Finished Look. The reason for that is I wanted
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to make an environment and create a space where people thought more about self care and not strictly dental care. As a dental hygienist I do teeth cleaning and teeth whitening currently. Dazzle: What is unique about your business? Felicia: You can get all 3 services in one location. It’s very relaxing and all 3 businesses have people who care about their clients' wellness and their comfort. There’s no waiting and no rushing; all clients are scheduled by appointments only just to ensure that we cater to each person in a reasonable time frame. Dazzle: As an entrepreneur what challenges have you faced? Felicia: I’m learning a lot on how to manage a business. I got training specifically on how to manage my business and my money. I always hear people say when you own a business, it’s not always easy and I understand that. You think that because you own your business you can take the time off that you need whenever you feel like it but it doesn’t happen that way. Before, I worked four days a week and had one day off, but now I’m always at the office. Getting our names out there has also been a bit of a challenge. We use social media to draw in customers; Instagram and Facebook and sitting down for interviews. Dazzle: What do you attribute to your success? Felicia: The fact that I still have a dream and I still feel like I’m growing. There’s a lot that I want to do when it comes to getting the information out there and focusing on clients having a better relationship with dental providers. The fact that I feel that I still have all that information to share is what keeps me motivated. Dazzle: What has been your biggest achievement so far? Felicia: I would say opening my business. Actually taking the first step into opening Smyle Therapy has to be my biggest accomplishment to date. Dazzle: Where do you see yourself in the near future? Felicia: Maybe developing my business further. By next year or the year after, I would like to be more mobile; actually doing home visits for people who have fears and feel more comfortable at home. Dazzle: Any mentors? Felicia: Definitely Dr. Glass, because that’s where I started. I worked for him as a receptionist and that’s where I got inspired to study dental hygiene. My passion has always been education and before 20 DAZZLE www.dazzlethemag.com
this, I always wanted to be a teacher so focusing on educating people about dental hygiene has to come before anything else. Dr. Glass was someone who always took the time to explain things to me when I had questions. Dazzle: Do you have any advice to entrepreneurs just starting out? Felicia: Just do it. Take the leap and try whatever it is. You’ve already failed if you never try, so take that first step. Dazzle wishes Felicia and Smyle Therapy all the best in their respective upcoming endeavors. Good luck!
//Feature
Kashima MONTOUTE A Brand With Big Dreams pg. 24
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Stress and Discrimination of Staff During COVID
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he year 2020 proved to be more than challenging for everyone. In every part of the world, some worse than others, COVID-19 has wreaked havoc, and altered the course of lives not nearly for the better. There were high level risks, and alterations in your life whether you were going into work or working from home. Adaptations were necessary, and some of them still apply up to this day. In the midst of a worldwide pandemic, it’s truly a blessing if you were kept utterly sane through it all. Some people lost their jobs, lost their homes and most people cracked under the pressure. But in addition, dealing with COVID-19 and maintaining a healthy work environment proved to be more challenging than expected. 22 DAZZLE
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If you were allowed to work from home you were lucky. You decreased the risk of bringing back the virus to your family, or spreading it to others. But if you were one of those who had little to no choice, the stress of working during something this deadly must have been overwhelming. According to the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention, recognizing the signs of stress whether it be in the workplace or at home, is the first step to diminishing it. If you’re not sure, here’s a list of what you should be paying attention to; 1. Feeling irritation, anger or in denial 2. Feeling uncertain, nervous or anxious 3. Lacking motivation 4. Feeling tired, overwhelmed or burned out
5. Feeling sad or depressed 6. Having trouble sleeping 7. Having trouble concentrating
Work related stress is a common occurrence, especially during a worldwide pandemic. Not knowing how you’ll come out at the end of this is a staggering trigger for fear and anxiety and the reasons why you might be feeling overwhelmed at work could be included in the following; 1. Concern about the risk of being exposed to the virus at work 2. Taking care of personal and family needs while working 3. Managing a different workload 4. Lack of access to the tools and equipment needed to perform your job 5. Feeling that you are not contributing enough to work or guilt about not being on the frontline 6. Uncertainty about the future of your workplace and/or employment 7. Learning new communication tools and dealing with technical difficulties 8. Adapting to a different workspace and/or work schedule In addition to dealing with fear and anxiety, employees sometimes also must battle discrimination, from employers who see the opportunity in such a dark period to take advantage of their workers. Discrimination in the workplace is something that has been a global issue for years. Whether it be because of age, sex, race, disability or any other pivotal characteristic, persons have had to face challenges in their careers and that has surely doubled since the beginning of this pandemic.
With the pandemic forcing small and large businesses to both permanently and temporarily close their doors, some employers took that open window of opportunity to cut a few workers from their payroll. If you’ve been let go or your salary has significantly dwindled because you’re too dark, a woman, too disabled, too young, not heterosexual enough, or don’t conform to certain religious beliefs, then the pandemic has little to no effect on your current employment status. Sometimes that’s worse though, is how your peers or coworkers treat you. Some of us have experienced some harrowing treatments in the workplace but those who sit and eat lunch with you can just as easily turn their noses up at you at the slightest inconvenience.
COVID-19 has had everyone on edge and paranoid, some more than others. They take extra precautions and stay the designated six feet apart but a COVID-19 scare can put a damper on work relationships. The aftermath of having the virus, or being in contact with someone who’s been sick is equally as mentally dilapidating as actually having it. If you’ve tested positive just once, or had the opportunity of being in quarantine it would matter very little afterwards. Discrimination in the workplace comes in all forms, some more noticeable than others. Can you spot the signs?
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Kashima MONTOUTE A Brand With Big Dreams
f you live in the Caribbean, near a beach or in close vicinity to a pool, there’s a high chance you’re a lover of good swimwear. The founder of Pas Jalou, Kashima Montoute is a Saint Lucian born alumni from Leon Hess, Sir Arthur Lewis and Monroe College respectively. At the University of Leicester in the UK, Kashima also studied Finance and Information Technology. Dazzle: Tell us about Pas Jalou Kashima: Originally I launched Pas Jalou in 2018 at the Royalton Resort. It was small and intimate and it started off with a lot of challenges as it was my very first business launch. It was too much of an investment in the beginning and as I moved along in the business I realized that initially I didn’t have to invest so much when launching as it pertains to inventory and products. Moving forward, things slowed down a little. For my women’s line, some of my products were not manufactured satisfactory so there was the challenge of having to go back and forth to have things replaced and redone. When I first launched, people knew Pas Jalou for the sequins and the glitter. Sequins are not the most comfortable to wear so at the time when I launched, perfecting the product and working with various manufacturers has been a challenge. I’m at a point where the manufacturers I work with are great. I had my second launch in 2019 for Miami Swim Week which was based in Florida and that was great exposure for the brand. One of the representatives from Miami Swim Week came across Pas Jalou on Instagram and they said they thought the brand was different and wanted to know if I was interested in participating. Dazzle: The fashion industry is quite broad. Why did you choose swimwear? Kashima: I started with swimwear because I loved it. I changed Pas Jalou swimwear to just Pas Jalou because I wanted to create a household brand where I could take the name Pas Jalou and place it onto any product. For example if I wanted to branch out and do a skin care line, I would be able to put Pas Jalou on there. Usually people would go on vacation and buy swimwear but right now, no ones really traveling so
it becomes very challenging when you’re selling just one product. I had to change up a lot of things as it pertains to the brand and thinking more outside the box. Dazzle: How did you go from studying finance to designing swimwear? Kashima: After I graduated I worked with my college for about a year or two and I realized that I loved to have my own time and be on my own schedule. Having your own business could help you move in that direction. When you’re first starting there are things you have to do on your own before you develop a routine. For me it was more about the passion; like what am I working on today? Or what can I do to make the brand different? Initially when I started the brand, it wasn’t just about swimwear for me. Pas Jalou means ‘don’t be jealous’, so for me, I see people comparing themselves to others and being insecure or envious. So the brand is trying to say don’t be envious of others. Dazzle: Which company do you compare your brand to? Kashima: When I was in Miami for Miami Swim Week, I met the owner of Bfyne. It’s almost like an African print type of brand and I admire them. I feel like they focus a lot on their culture and the designs are mostly African in nature. Even with Pas Jalou I’ve thought to myself, “what can I change within the brand to make it more local?” I’ve thought of making something with madras to tie in St. Lucia with my designs. Dazzle: What is your inspiration currently? Kashima: As I mentioned with the madras, that’s what I’ve been mostly focused on; a design that relates closely with the St. Lucian culture. I’ve met people and they’ve asked why I haven’t been a part of carnival before and that’s a funny thing because the swimwear has a lot of glitter and it fits the carnival look. In 2020 I did speak to one particular band, we signed a contract and everything. I was excited to do this new thing for 2020 carnival, but there was one concern that I had. Brands and organizations in St. Lucia don’t really work together. They don’t uplift each other in the way that they should.
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Dazzle: What challenges do you face producing your product out of St. Lucia? Kashima: I started working with a local manufacturer here in St. Lucia and let’s say I did 100 pieces with that particular manufacturer, the quality of work was 90% but the cost of production is expensive. If I’m based in New York, I set up my designs and I say this is what I want, I need to purchase the fabric, ship it down and clear it. Then I have to pay the manufacturer to make the swimwear. It’s great to say your stuff is made in Saint Lucia; that’s what I want, but when it pertains to someone asking for a bulk order, I really have to drive up my cost to make a profit. Moving forward, one of the things Pas Jalou has been working toward is having the product physically available for customers to view. Pas Jalou is mainly online and that has been a challenge. I’ve been working towards having pop up shops so customers can have a feel for the product. Dazzle: Do you have a team? Kashima: Yes I do have a team. I feel like 2020 has really given me the opportunity to sit back and say, hey, this is what you should be doing. During that time it was a lot of restructuring and making sure I had the right manufacturers and someone to give me a little bit of advice. I’ve been in St. Lucia for a couple of weeks and my main focus has been finding St. Lucian based brand ambassadors to help promote the brand. Dazzle: How do you deal with criticism? Kashima: I actually really love criticism. I like when someone points out something that isn’t good or isn’t working because it helps me improve my brand. I want feedback from the brand ambassadors as well. I’ve told them, “you guys are brand ambassadors but if something isn’t working or doesn’t feel comfortable, I want you to tell me. I would rather you tell me so I can improve on whatever needs improving." I try to be personal with my customers and ask them for feedback on how I can improve the brand. Dazzle: What have been your challenges so far? Kashima: I think 2020 took the cake for most of my challenges thus far. In terms of sales, it dropped tremendously because of shipping. I would go through with an order and then ship it out but a month later someone would come and say they haven’t received their product as yet. It became very stressful so I stopped sales completely so I could see how things were going shipping wise.
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Pre-Covid, I didn’t really have any challenges. The brand was just picking up being that I had just launched in 2018 and then the following year with another launch internationally. So for me, I feel like the first two years was more about getting the brand out there and perfecting the product.
fun facts What’s your favourite dancehall song? Lighter - Shenseea What do you do in your spare time? Watch movies Favourite colour? Pink Childhood dream job I actually thought I wanted to be a doctor Memorable High School Teacher Mr. Lubon from Hess, who’s now the principal
Dazzle: Tell us about your biggest achievements. Kashima: I’ve had two big achievements. Miami Swim Week was an amazing opportunity in 2019 and 2020 was having Mya wear my swimwear. She took part in Girls Cruise which was a series by Lil Kim on VH1. Mya and I originally connected in Jamaica. She was doing a collab at the time with Jah Cure and I was there for a friend’s wedding and we met there. I met her in 2018 and we reconnected the year after and she contacted me looking for swimwear.
Dazzle: e noticed you start a new fitness line. Tell us more about it. Kashima: I recently did the line Pas Jalou Sports because I think that fitness and swimwear coincides a little. Everyone wants to look good in their swimwear. A lot of people go to the gym and love working out and for me it was about creating lounge wear for mainly females so far. It’s all based here in Saint Lucia for purchase. Dazzle: Where do you see yourself and the brand in the near future? Kashima: I’m thinking I’ll just take things one day at a time and see how it goes. For 2020 I was really looking forward to partnering for carnival and hopefully expanding the brand. Dazzle: What advice would you like to give upcoming entrepreneurs? Kashima: Study your market in whichever business that you’re getting into. You should have passion for whatever it is you’re doing, especially now with Covid. If you don’t have a passion for it the drive won’t be there either and you need that to make it work. Dazzle Magazine wishes Kashima and Pas Jalou all the best for their respective future endeavors! Follow Pas Jalou online (@pasjalou)
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Social Media: Separating Personal and Professional Page
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ocial media has been a staple in both online and instore businesses for a few years. If you’re an entrepreneur, then you should think about marketing your business on social media. It might not be something you’re used to, but anyone can argue that social media can be essential to the progress of a business. Online businesses have been on a rise since the start of COVID-19 and while most people are not new to social media, persons who venture into online businesses are relatively unaccustomed to how managing a business whether it be online or in store, works. A single post can cause irreversible damage to a business, but social media is necessary in almost every aspect of a business. It’s up to you to master how to separate the personal from the professional. Managing a business or professional page takes more than just the knowledge of how to set up a Facebook and Instagram, or how quickly you answer messages. There’s a level of patience and tolerance that goes 28 DAZZLE
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into communicating with the general public and as an everyday consumer of social media, it’s something most people lack when using their personal social media pages. Why is keeping your personal and professional social media pages separate important?
It helps to be professional. Posting about your dog or your significant other in the same week that you post about your service or product is confusing, and a major turn off for potential customers or clients. It seems tedious to have to sift through your everyday, personal posts to get to what you’re offering professionally or vice versa. Who you are with your friends and family is most likely not the person you are when conducting business and your personal life and views might not interest other professionals.
freedom to post when and if you want, because the page is there for your own manipulation. However, your professional page is for others, and consistent posting is mandatory. Both pages cannot have the same schedule plan, because both pages may not have the same audience. Even when you’ve successfully branched off from your personal social media to create a professional account, there’s the fear of accidentally posting something inappropriate on your business account. It’s happened, and it might happen to you. Social media platforms such as Instagram, Facebook and Twitter give you the option to have more than one account signed in, or more than one page and switching back and forth sometimes gets tricky. You have to be extremely conscious of where you post.
It also helps to ensure that you’re reaching the appropriate target market. Merging business with pleasure is never a good idea and if you’re selling jewelry, own a tattoo parlor or do makeup, creating a separate page that persons can find easily when scouting is the best idea.
Create a business aesthetic; only what has to do with your business should be on your professional page. Accidentally posting on the wrong page is bad, but deliberately mixing business with pleasure is something you should never do. While your friends and family might not be bothered with your business ventures, clients, customers or coworkers might not be too thrilled about what goes on outside of the business. Managing separate accounts is surprisingly easier. You know what you’re posting and when you want to post it. With your personal page, you have more
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H
ailing from the community of Laborie, Kayle Cassius is the founder of FETEish, a local footwear brand. With a Degree in Management Studies from UWI, Kayle is a hardworking creative at heart. If you’re looking for the most unique and comfortable footwear, word is, FETE-ish is THE place to go. Kayle sat down with Dazzle Magazine to highlight her journey into footwear making.
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Kayle CASSIUS A FETE-ish With A Sole
Dazzle: Tell us about FETE-ish Kayle: “FETE-ish is a footwear brand born out of a desire to explore my creative side. I’ve been operating for about five years. Before I started making footwear a couple of years ago, I was reflecting and realized I wasn’t really doing or involved in any creative art. I had all the signs of being a creative as a child. I liked creative writing and making things. But as an adult, I was not really nurturing that kind of creative expression. It was then that I decided that I would take something up as a hobby. I decided on shoes because not only do I love them, I wanted something that would be sufficiently challenging to keep me engaged.” Dazzle: What’s unique about your footwear? Kayle: “They’re not just made to be beautiful, they’re made to be strong. I get a lot of satisfaction from people who’ve proudly worn my sandals for a long time. I think I also present an opportunity for people with unique needs. Some people have difficulty getting footwear that is attractive because of various reasons. It also offers people the opportunity to inspire others to activate their creative side as well. I like collaborating with my customers and basically co-designing with them. So that’s what’s unique; with FETE-ish, you can really customize your footwear to fit your taste and style.” Dazzle: Where did you learn how to make footwear? Kayle: “Through a variety of sources; it wasn’t very easy because there isn’t a lot of information available online and there aren’t a lot of people who make them here. I had to invest in some paid online courses and as well as some in-person workshops overseas. I’m still learning and it’s a journey for me. I’m excited because there’s still a lot more to explore and learn.” Dazzle:How can I differentiate Fete-ish with other footwear on the market? Kayle: “People have said to me that they recognise FETE-ish's style by simply looking at a pair of shoes
I’ve made. I believe it’s something unique to my style. FETE-ish designs are intended to stand out, so a FETE-ish design will never look like something mainstream or mass-produced. “ Dazzle: What challenges do you face as a young, female entrepreneur and how do you overcome them? Kayle: “One of the biggest challenges in this particular industry is the unavailability of the resources from materials to tools, to industry-specific skills and information. In other parts of the world, someone who’s doing what I’m doing would normally spend time as an apprentice and that is really important in the learning process because footwear making is very hands on. That’s something that’s not available to me here. If I need to go to an in-person practical class it’s not always possible and some training is not as easy to deliver virtually. As such, anybody that I hire, I must train them as beginners, so building a team is also a challenge. Another major challenge is the availability of the components I use. 99% of what I use is imported. Sourcing materials is a challenge, shipping and import duties make materials expensive. Because ordering timelines are long, maintaining inventory of materials is important and that comes at huge cost. ”
fun facts What’s your favorite day of the week? Saturday Heels or flats? Heels Most memorable childhood moment Tasting coffee for the first time Champagne or wine? Both What tv series are you currently watching? - Marcella
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Dazzle: Tell us about your team Kayle: “I have one assistant and she learned very quickly. She’s been with me about three years now, and I’m lucky to have her.” Dazzle: How long did it take you to perfect your first shoe? Kayle: “I won’t dare say that I have made a perfect shoe. I never put any work out there that I’m not happy with but I don’t think there’s anything such as perfection. I’m always working on refining my techniques, improving my materials and make my shoes even more attractive and unique. The very first pair of sandals that I wore were perfectly fine, in that they were wearable, functional and strong. Although there is trial and error in the learning and growth process, whatever I made, from the very first shoe, was beautiful wearable and comfortable, which is what I really aim for every time, because that’s what makes my customers happy and brings me joy.” Dazzle: Have you been able to satisfy your customers? Kayle: “I believe and hope so. I try to make sure they’re more than just satisfied; that they’re happy. I have a lot of repeat customers so that tells me we’re doing something right.” Dazzle: Have you ever had a dissatisfied customer? And if so, how did you handle that situation? Kayle: “Fortunately I’ve had very few situations like that. If there are any lingering dissatisfied customers, I don’t know about them. If I’ve made something for someone and they’re not happy with it, I will always work on addressing their concern, even if that means making a completely different shoe altogether. Whenever I make for someone, I always let them know to let me know if something is not right or not satisfactory. I have only twice in all these years offered a refund customers simply because at the time, I felt like I did not have the ability to give them what they wanted.” Dazzle: Tell us about your support system. Kayle: “When it comes to footwear, my assistant Leane is really a God-send. I certainly would not be able to do what I’m doing as well without her. Also my family, especially my mother, is very supportive and helpful. As an entrepreneur you need the guidance and support so it pays to have people who’re there to catch you or give a hand when you’re unable to do it alone.” Dazzle: What did you do before FETE-ish and what was the transition like into making it a business idea? Kayle: “Most of my pre-FETE-ish background was in the telecoms technology. FETE-ish is still not the only 32 DAZZLE
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thing that I do professionally. I still work in technology but now in a different industry. I believe that a person doesn’t necessarily have to be just one thing. The transition from hobby to business was hardly noticeable. I had been making shoes for other people for some time already when I decided to make it a business. Of course some considerations and some decision making are different when you compare a hobby and a business, but it was important to me when making the transition that I always kept the enjoyment in it. That’s where I derive the biggest value.” Dazzle: Do you ever find the two businesses clashing with your time? Kayle: “No. There are no clashes. I believe I manage my time reasonably well and that’s mostly because of the nature of what I do, how I organize my activities and because of the support I have.” Dazzle: What’s your daily inspiration? Kayle: “That there are people who need me, support me and have invested in me. I think what inspires me is the desire to be able give back to the people closest to me and those who have supported me. I also want to be able to reflect and feel that I’m giving myself my best effort at living a purposeful and happy life.” Dazzle: Where do you see yourself in the near future? Kayle: “One of my favourite things about Fete-ish is the ability for customers to customize their footwear, so I want to be able to continue to do that and to offer more types and styles of footwear. High heels are coming in the very near future. I like my current model which is primarily made-toorder, online and not on physical shelves in a store. I feel like that is where the world is headed, even more so now because of the risks and lessons from COVID-19. Things may change, but in that respect, right now I like things how they are for me and FETEish.” Dazzle: Is there any advice you’d like to give young entrepreneurs? Kayle: “If there’s something that you have a desire to do, and you’re feeling that pull and calling, then try. Give yourself that.” Dazzle Magazine wishes Kayle tremendous success in her future endeavours. Visit her store online (@feteish) for all your footwear needs!
Design on a Budget
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et’s get to decorating on a budget. Most people I know (unless you are part of that 1% with lots of extra cash) want a well-designed house; however we need to do it on budget. Don’t let that deter you from creating a beautiful, functional house. Here are a few tips:
Reorganise Furniture can unintentionally create dividers and depending on placement, could make a room end very abruptly or start awkwardly. Think about the activities that take place in your room and ensure that your layout is functional. Does your current layout allow for maximum utilization and natural flow? Play with different layouts to determine what is best for you. Another more obvious tip, is to declutter and find a home for all your personal items.
Repurpose/ DIY Have a look around your home for items you can reuse. Change an old lamp shade with a new one or instead of replacing it, painting over it works just as well. Create wall art out of scrap pieces of fabric and add a frame for that finished look. There are loads of ideas out there to recreate and create home décor from things you already have or out of things you can find that are inexpensive. Don’t limit yourself; let your creativity run wild.
Throw Pillows Throw pillows are a nice way to add new life on a dime. There are many local home goods stores with a variety of throw pillows. They can be used to introduce colours or even a theme to your space and pull your look together. You can also go to the local fabric stores and get your own fabric to create some gorgeous throw pillows.
Paint It is said that paint can take years off a building. I believe that to be the gospel. You don’t have to paint every room in the house. As a matter of fact, painting an accent wall or even just the trimming, can have maximum impact. Just be sure to find a colour that works with the look you want to create.
Ambience The scent of a house can have a positive or negative effect on its occupants and their guest. Get some scented candles; it defuses to create the atmosphere you want in your home. Another mood booster is adding greenery to your space in the form of plants or even flowers. These inexpensive elements can add a whole lot of charm and life to your space.
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The Evolution of Fashion in the Caribbean
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ashion can often be perceived as expressive, and creative. You wear what speaks to you, and sometimes you wear what’s expected.
A look back at how our mothers and grandmothers used to dress is a huge contrast for Caribbean attire today. Caribbean fashion has been influenced by African, Indian, European, Amerindian and Asian traditions. Over time, as the years of technology have evolved and new and old designers coexist, the style of fashion has changed into what we wear today. Still, we can appreciate how different yet ironically similar Caribbean fashion was back then. In the late 1930s and 1940s, suspenders were popular among young men and boys. This was during a time where belts were not a trend, or perhaps had not come into play yet. Men wore suspenders to hold up their pants and even today, suspenders are relatively popular with both men and women.
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Back in the 1940s and 1950s, women’s attire were simple, practical and used little fabric. The dresses were often A-line and conservative and the skirts were either knee length or calf length, both light and airy. The men wore suits inspired by African Americans, which were high waisted trousers with a long jacket in the 40s, while they added in fedora hats in the 50s.
Fashion was often influenced by the cinema/ television, as that was one of the places Caribbean people went to for entertainment. While the 40s and 50s fashion trends continued into the 60s and 70s, international influencers played a major part in that era. The 1960s saw sheath dresses and boxier cuts with hairstyles such as the beehive and bobs. Jumpers and cardigans were prominent with the introduction of knitting by Caribbean women and by the end of the 60s, fashion was less conservative. Women wore tight pants and shorts skirts. The 70s were a period for the American Civil Rights, Disco culture, Rastafarian culture and Reggae music, all of which influenced Caribbean fashion. Men wore bell bottoms and open shirts while women sported midriff tops and patterned scarves. The 70s were also the era for afros, which tied in with the Disco culture. The 80s and 90s saw loose fitted clothes and jheri curls. Influencers such as Jamaican singer and actress Grace
Jones served the 80s with her massive contribution to fashion as she donned her unique style and geometric hair. Bright makeup, jewelry and shoulder pads were also on trend in the 80s. In the 90s, trends such as baggy clothes, high waisted trousers, round glasses and pan-African prints were popular. Caribbean people were by then, actively spending more money on their hair and clothes, following trends and staying in the loop. By the 2000s, Caribbean culture and fashion became a worldwide trend. Fashion statements like midriff tops or crop tops became popular once again and men wore vests and embellished belts. Caribbean artists such as Rihanna and Sean Paul were helpful in shining the spotlight on Caribbean fashion. Fashion was then less conservative as women began showing off more skin. Now in 2020, we appreciate the fashion trends that we welcome back into Caribbean culture and how they fit in so well with the fashion world today.
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KishaJOSEPH
Musical Vibes With Kisha
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hether you love soca music or you just simply listen to it, there are certain artists that you’ve more than likely paid attention to. Kisha Joseph, a young soca artiste who is known for songs such as “The People Man” and “Cool Out.” An alumna of Ave Maria, Corinth Secondary and then Sir Arthur Lewis, Kisha began her music career while she was still a student. She sat down with Dazzle Magazine and gave us a look into her life as an artiste.
“I’ve been in the industry about four years now,” Kisha shared with us. “I began singing while in Secondary school. I took part in song writing and soca competitions, but my first competition was actually a calypso competition where I came in second.”
fun facts Favorite artiste - Destra How old were you when you knew that you wanted to become a soca artiste? - Around 7 years old Favorite hang out spot - The beach “I remember we had this mathematics song competition at school,” Kisha went on to say.”Fay-Ann Lions from Trinidad, one of the biggest soca artistes in the industry sent me a beat to use after I messaged her. I was thankful that she even responded. I wrote the entire song, performed it and I won.” Kisha recalled her first time recording professionally in 2014 with a song called “Fire Waist”. “I started off with Fire Waist and the following year, I did my first groovy song called “D’ Vibe”. I think that that song actually created a buzz for me because back then, people didn’t know who Sweet Kay was.” Which is what she was previously known as on stage. In 2016, Kisha took part in her first ever groovy soca competition and became the youngest artiste at the time to make it to the finals. “I think I was around
16 then. When I entered the competition I went in with a mindset that said, I’m not going in to win. I’m going in to do my best and gain experience.” She explained. “I was proud of myself for doing it. I didn’t expect the crowd to support me the way they did but I was proud.” Kisha spoke about how winning that first mathematics song competition at school, boosted her confidence enough to continue singing. “I always envisioned myself being on the big stage. At a young age, I would watch the soca monarch competitions on TV and I used to say to myself, 'I want to be there, among those big guns on stage' but I didn’t have the connections at the time.” Her drive, or her hunger as she called it, pushed her towards seizing her big opportunity. “I think I was hungry for it so I started reaching out and looking for links in different places to make things happen for me.” While she spoke about her confidence and determination to make things happen for herself, we were curious as to how the transformation from Sweet Kay to Kisha Kay came about. “I think with age comes maturity,” she explained. “I thought the name was a little too childish or juvenile so I wanted to rebrand, and I did that in 2016.” “I think it was Shemmy J who told me about Takeover Tent,” Kisha added when we asked her about her encouragement to join a tent and enter competitions. “At the time, in order to compete in any national event, you had to be with a tent. He told me about it, encouraged me and both of us joined.” Despite not placing in her first 2016 competition finals, Kisha went on to acquire third runner up in the 2018 groovy soca monarch. “I think 2018 was my best year. That’s the year I came out with “The People Man” and it was very successful for me. I even won Soca Switch that year and I was able to travel to different counties to perform such as Miami, Barbados and St. Vincent.” For her 2018 groovy soca finals, Kisha sang “Vaval Vibes” produced by De Red Boyz out of Barbados. “I got the link from my Uncle and I was excited to www.dazzlethemag.com DAZZLE 37
work with them because they were one of the biggest production companies, working with artistes such as Patrice Roberts and Destra.” Kisha told us. “I knew in order to record with them, I needed to be in Barbados so I was excited to be in a studio where some of my idols recorded.” We asked Kisha about her work ethic. “Normally when producers send me riddims, I have to listen to them on a loudspeaker so I can actually feel the vibes. I’m particular when it comes to riddims because I’m a very hyped artiste so the riddim has to fit me and my energy.” She shared. “Sometimes, it’s hard to write songs because you have to be in a good mental environment but normally I write at home in my room.” When it comes to sharing music, Kisha explained that she uses her platforms efficiently to broadcast her music and her work relationships with djs in the industry. Staying current with her music and keeping up with the ever flowing trends is a difficult task, but Kisha has managed to stay on top for the past few years. “I was still new in 2018, but people started to know who I was then and what I realized when it comes to music, people tend to navigate more towards the controversial content.” She added. “They want things that they could relate to and in order to stay relevant, I give them what they want.” On the topic of controversy and spicy, Kisha’s song “TPM” made waves when it was released. “I got the idea from a friend. She was on a call and I heard her mention TPM and she told me that it meant The People Man so I told her I’d use it in a song. It’s relatable.” We know Kisha as the soca artiste, but Kisha the young entrepreneur has a nice ring to it too. “Currently I don’t have anything happening apart from making music but I’m looking into opening my own small business,” she told us. “I’ve always seen myself doing or selling merchandise but ever since COVID-19, everything has been on a pause.” “My biggest achievement to date has to be TPM reaching one million views,” Kisha said proudly when we inquired. “I hope to have something like that happen again but I’m proud of this one.” When it comes to being a female artist in the music industry, we wanted to know how much pressure she felt, and how she dealt with it. “At times I do feel pressure,” Kisha admitted. “I always say to myself I 38 DAZZLE
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want to do better than I did the year before. I always want to up my game and sometimes, the songs that I think will do good, don’t do as well as I hope. Sometimes I feel disappointed, but I try to better myself every time.” “As a female artiste, it is very difficult because the industry is dominated by males. I believe a lot of females don’t want to come out because they’re scared of how people will perceive them. You have a lot to prove, with how you dress and what you sing so it’s a lot.” Many young artistes like herself are up and coming in the industry and Kisha added in a few words of advice. “I believe that nobody should stop your vision. If you know that you want to be an artiste then go for it. Don’t make anyone hinder you. Have faith and believe in yourself.” With parting words, Kisha hinted at new and upcoming changes in her music style. “This year will be a different year for Kisha Kay in a sense that people will be able to see a different side of me. I know people categorize me as a soca artist but this year I’ll be giving them something different in terms of genre. They’ll be hearing a lot more dancehall and reggae so look out for that.” Dazzle Magazine wishes Kisha a successful 2021 and we hope to hear more from the promising artist in the future.
recap
Grand Army
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f you’ve spent 2020 like almost everyone else, which is working from home one second and binging Netflix shows the next, then you might have come across Grand Army.
Grand Army aired on Netflix in October and since then, we’ve seen the talented cast of young actors portray teenagers who’ve, at some point, had to overcome challenges both in school and at home. The series is set in Brooklyn at a fictional High School called Grand Army. Set around the lives of five high school teenagers, the series explores subjects like race, sexuality, economic strains and the urge to belong. We meet the characters individually; Joey Del Marco (Odessa A’zion), Jayson Jackson (Maliq Johnson), Dominique Pierre (Odley Jean), Siddhartha Pakam (Amir Bageria) and Leila Kwan Zimmer (Amalia Yoo). We meet them at different times in the first episode after the school is put on lockdown following a bombing and then their lives sync in various ways throughout the season. Joey is the school’s free spirit who becomes a shell of herself after she’s dealt a heinous hand by the people she trusted the most. Jayson is a music lover, a saxophone prodigy and an active speaker against racism. Dominique is the one with too much on her plate and responsibilities no child should have to carry. She’s set on her goals, despite the economic and family based challenges she faces. Siddhartha “Sid” is
a high school jock with secrets that threaten to derail his social life and that of his relationships with his family. Leila is the new kid at Grand Army and despite being of Chinese descent, she realizes she doesn’t fit in with the Chinese girls at her school. Struggling to fit in with her new peers, Leila becomes someone she doesn’t even recognize.
Five students, all with different woes and challenges but fighting equally as hard for something they desperately want. Grand Army is a mixture of Euphoria, Degrassi and 13 reasons Why; intense and fast paced but worth it if you love the drama.
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DAZZLE 39
Is it Beneficial to Purchase an iPhone 12 Right Now?
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pple unveiled their latest phones last year and with that, in came four new devices to their catalogue. Is getting the new iPhone worth it right now?. iPhones are known to not have easy price tags so to make it a must get, would be based on your daily mobile activity for work or pleasure and of course, your preference. Let's see what you'd be paying for if you do choose to get it.
UPGRADED SCREEN This is the first iPhone generation to include OLED (Organic Light-Emitting Diode or Organic LED) in every model. The display uses Apple’s Super Retina XDR technology with a 2 million-to-1 contrast ratio with better HDR and true blacks. This display comes in at 460 ppi and can display up to 1200 nits of HDR content. Apple states this is the most durable iPhone display ever made. It has a new Ceramic Shield, which improves durability when dropped. The temperature crystallization process used to toughen the glass improves drop protection by up to 4x compared to older models. The 6.1-inch display size is not new to the baseline model, though the flat bezels and improved design give way to a better screen to body ratio.
REAR CAMERAS The rear camera setup is similar to the iPhone 11. There are two 12-megapixel rear cameras— one wide and one ultra-wide. The layout is the same as the iPhone 11, but the sensor is bigger and features wider aperture on both lenses. 40 DAZZLE
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PROCESSOR The A14 Bionic is a custom Apple Silicon processor that uses the 5-nanometer process. It features a 50% faster CPU and GPU than other manufacturers' smartphone chips and has over 11.8 billion transistors. The Neural Engine features a 16-core processor that is up to 80% faster than the A13 Bionic. It performs over 11 trillion operations per second. The Neural Engine is responsible for everything from machine learning to photography when using the iPhone.
WIRELESS CONNECTIVITY 5G will bring a new level of performance to streaming, gaming, and workflows. The Wide Camera has an f/1.6 aperture, allowing 27% more light for better low light photos and videos compared to last year’s models. Computational photography is vastly improved thanks to the A14 Bionic processor. Deep Fusion and Night mode work on all the cameras, including the front-facing selfie camera. Smart HDR 3 uses (Machine Learning) to adjust white balance, contrast, texture, and saturation in every photo. The iPhone 12 can shoot video in HDR with Dolby Vision grading.
Apple built the iPhone 12's frame with custom 5G antennas and has enabled more 5G bands than any other smartphone. iOS frameworks have been tooled to work with 5G from the ground up for maximum optimization. To finalise your decision, if you already own an iPhone 11 or any phone from that series, immediately upgrading to the iPhone 12 right now is not necessary. There are only a few minor changes design wise and a few changes in the specifications. However, if you’re using an older iPhone and you are able to buy the new one, go for it! This phone is a safe bet if you’re trying to future proof it.
FRONT CAMERA The front-facing camera is still a 12-megapixel,f/2.2 lens. The TrueDepth system is unchanged. The front camera features a portrait mode with advanced bokeh and depth control, Portrait Lighting with effects, up to 4K video recording, and nextgeneration Smart HDR. It also features cinematic video stabilization, wide color capture, Live Photos, burst mode,and auto image stabilization.
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DAZZLE 41
Now Available At Courts Marisule
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Cinnamon ROLLS
INGREDIENTS
DOUGH
1 cup warm milk 2 eggs 1/3 cup melted margarine 4 ½ cups bread flour 1 teaspoon salt ½ cup white sugar 2 ½ teaspoons yeast
INSTRUCTIONS
FILLING
1 cup brown sugar 2 ½ tablespoons ground cinnamon 1/3 cup butter
ICING
1 3oz package cream cheese ¼ cup butter 1 ½ cups confectioners' sugar ½ teaspoon vanilla extract 1/8 teaspoon salt
• Dissolve the yeast in the warm milk in a large bowl. Mix in the sugar, margarine, salt, and eggs. Add flour and mix well. Knead the dough into a large ball, using your hands dusted lightly with flour.
• Put in a bowl, cover and let rise in a warm place about 1 hour, or until doubled in size. • After the dough has doubled in size turn it out onto a lightly floured surface, cover and let rest for 10 minutes. In a small bowl, combine brown sugar and cinnamon. • Roll dough into a 16×21 inch rectangle. Brush dough with melted butter, then sprinkle with sugar/cinnamon mixture. Roll up dough starting along the long side and cut into 12 rolls. Place rolls in a lightly
greased baking pan.
• Cover and let rise until nearly doubled, about 30 minutes. Bake rolls in preheated oven until golden brown, about 20 minutes. • While rolls are baking, beat together cream cheese, 1/4 cup butter, confectioners’ sugar, vanilla extract and salt. As soon as rolls come out of the oven, remove them from the pan.
• Spread any filling that has seeped out over the top and then spread frosting on rolls before serving.
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