Young Voices - Miss Jamaica UK Edition

23 | THE VOICE JUNE 28 - JULY 4, 2012

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POSTER BATTLE

Reunion special DESTINY’S CHILD & MIS-TEEQ

Beverly Hills Cop

Blasted Snoop Lion branded “offensive”

Gemma Feare

Fit for a Queen

Pic Credit: Maurice Sparrow • www.mauricesparrow.com

Eddie Murphy to reprise famed film role

24 THE VOICE JANUARY 31 - FEBRUARY 6, 2013

NO MONEY, MO’ PROBLEMS January is often dubbed “the longest month of the year” as we wait for the first pay cheque since Christmas. Take comfort in knowing you’re not alone.

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MC HAMMER In April 1996, the rapper, who had a number one single and a cartoon series, had to file for bankruptcy with more than $13 million in debt due to a lavish lifestyle and dwindling album sales

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MIKE TYSON It would seem that the millions earned during his boxing career was not enough for Mike Tyson and his expensive taste. He filed for bankruptcy in 2003, owing a debt of $27 million

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WESLEY SNIPES In June 2006, the actor filed for bankruptcy. In October of that same year he was indicted for tax fraud after he failed to pay over $12 million to the government. In 2010 he began a three-year prison sentence for tax evasion

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GARY COLEMAN Famous for his role in Diff'rent Strokes, the late Gary Coleman filed for bankruptcy in 1999.

Just 10 years earlier, the actor was reportedly sitting on a $7 million fortune

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KELIS Following the birth of her son, Kelis was quoted as saying: “I have run out of money. My survival is based on [Nas'] will at this time. If he does not want to pay for an expense, it does not get paid.”

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NATALIE COLE The daughter of legendary singer, Nat King Cole, went bankrupt in 1997 shortly after winning her eighth Grammy.

Cole reportedly sought financial protection because her spending habits were out of control

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TONI BRAXTON

MARION JONES

MICHAEL JACKSON

In the early 1990s, R&B singer Toni Braxton was $3.9 million in debt from financial mismanagement, forcing her to file for bankruptcy

Sprinter Marion Jones was in deep debt after spending a significant sum of money on legal representation to fight numerous allegations linked to the doping

The world's biggest pop star, known for outrageous spending sprees, was heavily in debt before his tragic death in 2009. It is believed he owed $500 million to different creditors

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CHRIS TUCKER

SUGE KNIGHT

He earned millions after starring in the smash hit series Rush Hour, but in 2011, it was reported that he owed more than $4.4 million to the bank and that his $6m mansion faced foreclosure

The Death Row Records cofounder filed for bankruptcy in 2006 after he was sued by business partner, Lydia Harris. Prior to the filing, Knight was ordered to pay $107 million to Harris

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CHRIS EUBANK

MICHAEL VICK The American football star filed for bankruptcy in 2008 after failing to "work out consensual resolutions with each of his creditors". The initial filing listed debts between $10 million and $50 million

MARVIN GAYE Between back taxes and drug addiction, singer Marvin Gaye was made bankrupt in 1979 and suffered the humiliation of living in a bread van while planning his 1982 comeback.

The former middleweight champion was declared bankrupt for debts amounting to $2.34 million last year. He blames his financial ruin on poor advisers during his successful sporting career

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NABIL ABDULRASHID

BOW WOW It was reported that the rapper owed the taxman $90,000 at the end of last year. It is believed the bank is now suing the 106 & Park host for the repossession charges of his Lamborghini Murcielago to the tune of $25,000

SOULJA BOY In 2011, Soulja Boy was served with eviction papers for missing rent payments on his home in Atlanta. The news followed reports that the Crank That star had brought himself a $55m private jet

NABIL ABDULRASHID believes that comedy can change the world.

"It would be a waste of my ability if I didn’t talk about serious topics," he says.

Nabil, who studied Drama and Applied Theatre at St Mary’s College, is the youngest black male to perform stand up comedy at the Hammersmith Apollo and was handpicked by celebrated comics, Omid Djalili and David Baddiel, to perform at the 2010 premiere of the film Infidel.

As a young black Muslim, Nabil feels a sense of heightened responsibility to address controversial issues such as race and religion through his work, and is

unafraid of using comedy as a vehicle to do so.

Nabil, who has Attention Defecit Hyperactive Disorder (ADHD), delivers a comedy workshop at schools across London with the hope of encouraging children to use the art form as an alternative form of expression.

"In my opinion, comedy is the last real art form. You can't auto-tune humour... You're either funny, or you’re not, and if you are then you must use that talent to educate and uplift." www.rarerecruitment.co.uk

LAURYN HILL It was reported that the former Fugees star failed to file her tax returns between 2005 and 2007 during which time she made $1.6m. Some reports claimed subsequent fines made her bankrupt

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JANUARY 31 - FEBRUARY 6, 2013 THE VOICE 25

PIC CREDIT: Maurice Sparrow

The multi-talented Miss Jamaica UK, Gemma Feare, talks to YV’s Bart Chan about success, acting and balancing beauty and brains

B

eing seriously good-looking isn’t enough to win a beauty pageant in this day and age. Judges are looking for more between the ears before they appoint the chosen woman to reign over the other attractive hopefuls and place that coveted diamondencrusted crown atop of her perfectly styled hair.

Gemma Feare, or “The Feare” as she likes to brand herself, knows what it is like to stand on the beauty podium beneath no other. The 21-yearold was crowned Miss Jamaica UK on December 1 last year - a time when many are scrambling to eat the first chocolate of their advent calendar. Feare, despite a somewhat intimidating sur-

name, is as sweet as candy, and it quickly becomes apparent why the judges picked her to represent the Caribbean island on our British shores.

“It’s all about the era of beauty and the brains,” she tells me in her warm-hearted, friendly tone. She is adamant that competitions like Miss Jamaica UK are more than merely subjecting pretty women to superficial judgments by men, objectifying the fairer sex in the process.

“There are independent women who are in it for the opportunities we feel it can present to us. There are a lot of ambitious ladies out there, and hopefully that was encountered in the competition I was in. So I’m very proud to become the winner of that.”

“I think beauty pageants are constantly changing with [different] generations and societal issues. I really think that with Miss Jamaica it depicts females today – a lot [of participants] work in education or in very professional lines of work,” she hastens to add.

The UK’s Miss Jamaica avoids declaring whether or not she is a feminist, unlike her predecessor, 2010’s winner Salema Junior-Radford who thought women become feminists because boys don’t like them. Instead, Feare has a less controversial opinion, yet coyly remains seated on the fence.

“As a woman, obviously there are certain barriers that you do come up against, and I’m also speaking from the race that I am,” she says.

“So there are always these societal issues, but I think it’s about the person that you are; your own mentality you adopt and how you deal with it really, because I think your biggest barrier or enemy is yourself if you don’t adopt the right approach.”

Clearly, Feare does not believe in playing the victim; her own mentality of “dreaming big to achieve big” shines through as does her determination to cross the finish line first.

“I see obstacles as hidden opportunities, and you’ve got to be open-minded and really just hit everything head-on.”

Her mantra of self-empowerment stems from unabashed self-confidence, and she is not afraid to illuminate her own brain power either. Last year, the beauty queen, who was born in Rugby, Warwickshire, graduated from Westminster University in business management and commercial law. “I got first-class honours, that’s going to lead me to a bright future and I hope to do my Masters this year as well,” she says proudly.

“I’ve always had split interests, between media and business. I’ve always had an entrepreneurial flair, which I get from my father.”

“I’d love to have my own business in the future,” she adds.

Apart from looking good and acing university papers, Feare likes to keep herself busy with bits of acting, TV presenting,

launching her own website and charity work.

“I throw myself at a lot that comes my way; I don’t like to close my doors to many things.

I’ve been involved in acting – I’m a member of the National Youth Theatre of Great Britain.

“I’ve done a lot of theatre mainly,” she says, and not surprisingly she savours “any role that is challenging… Something where I really have to feel the role and relate to it – do a bit of research and just go for it, and really push the boundaries and break the mould in terms of stereotypes.

“I don’t like playing stereotypical roles at all,”she adds.

Being boxed in and defined by one title is evidently not for the current holder of the Miss Jamaica UK title – her business card reads: “Lifestyle & Media Personality” and “Business Entrepreneur”.

ALESHA DIXON:

The singer announced that she is working on a reunion with former girlgroup Mis-Teeq.

Feare, who loves “exercising consistently” and eating healthy, does not hesitate when asked where she would like to go if a magic button she pressed could whisk her away.

“Jamaica, obviously!” Her answer, though she visits the Carribean island every year and has only recently returned, is impassioned and lights up her entire face.

Travelling and reading is how Feare escapes from the mundane. “It’s great to be able to get away from everything and just switch off with a good book, have a good read and just chill out.” And it’s apt she employs literary imagery as she looks to the future, “I’ve had a long journey, but I see this as the beginning of the next book, because I feel like I’ve closed a few books in my time.”

For more information about Gemma Feare, visit www.thefeare.com

EDDIE MURPHY:

The comedian is set to reprise the role of Axel Foley in the TV version of Beverly Hills Cop.

OR BUSTED? F F U B Dear Kat, I’m being bullied in school but I can’t tell anyone in my family.

This girl doesn’t hit me or get in my face, but she spreads rumours about me and then tries to turn people against me. She is making my life hell and I have started making excuses so I don’t have to go to school.

I know that I should ignore it but it has got to a place where it is too much.

What should I do?

BEYONCÉ:

The superstar was slated for lip-synching the national anthem at US President Barack Obama’s inauguration.

Uli, 14

Dear Uli, There are several forms of bullying so although you say she has not been physical with you, it still doesn’t make it okay.

BUSTED

BUFF

I know you say you can’t tell anyone in your family, but I strongly advise you to talk to a responsible adult about what you’re going through. You shouldn’t be made to forfeit your education because someone is taking their insecurities out on you.This adult could be a teacher a school counsellor, or even an older sibling. They will be able to come up with better solutions and arrange help for you.

You don’t have to go through this alone and you shouldn’t.

JENNIFER L Mutton dres sed as lamb

OPEZ:

TWEET OF THE WEEK Wretch 32 took to Twitter to commend fellow XYZee act, George The Poet, for his sold-out performance at London’s Royal Albert Hall on Jan 14.

NICOLE SCH

Sexy, risqué, hot

SNOOP LION:

Rastafarian officials allegedly asked the rapper to change his name on claims that it was “offensive” to the culture.

ERZINGER: Wretch 32

"George the poet is making my eyes water "royal albert hall" #renowned."

J COLE

26 THE VOICE JANUARY 31 - FEBRUARY 6, 2013

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