As a child raised in Santa Cruz in the parish of St. Elizabeth, I always had a wild imagination. I had what can be classified as “the imaginary friends syndrome.” Usually I played different career roles. At first, because my mother was a teacher, in my mind I became one. Had my own classroom, in fact my own school. Later, teaching became dull and I imagined myself as a veterinarian, but true veterinarians had to master the sciences, which was not my forte and so I considered becoming a reporter. Of course by then, my imaginary friends outgrew me and naturally I parted ways.
So it was decided, I was going to be a journalist. Somehow the reporter/journalist I envisioned wasn’t like what I saw on my local tele. I was more intrigued by how the Americans handled things and that’s when I knew I wanted to venture beyond Jamaica. Still I never saw it possible and didn’t know how.
One day, I pounced upon a programme called “Profile,” featuring the late Madge Sinclair and was so impressed that a Jamaican was making waves in Hollywood that I immediately realized my dreams no longer had to be limited to my country. I then quietly vowed that I would be above average, if not someone great.
I convinced my parents to allow me, their youngest, to study abroad. After Manchester High School I received a scholarship to study at Albion College in Michigan, and gladly attended with the secret desire to pursue acting myself. I figured the closer I was to America, the closer I would be to achieving my goal. During College my interest in journalism faded and my friends encouraged me to consider a modelling career and though initially I was hesitant, I took it more seriously in my final year when I realized my collegiate journey was ending.
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| A happy Albion College Grad. |
I travelled to New York and stayed with my brother, attended the open calls of some of the different agencies and I received a million nos. Nonetheless I made use of my work permit and received my first job at Macy’s in Herald Square, Juniors Department, utterly dissatisfied with the way my life was unfolding. I had a BA degree in Communications and there I was working in a retail store, failing at my new found passion to become a high-fashion model. Eventually, I signed up with a temp agency and secured a few fleeting jobs. The most memorable was working as a receptionist at the showroom for Donna Karan New York. Worst job ever! It was grossly mundane as all I did was sit at an empty desk, stationed directly before the elevators, with a clipboard and greeted people as they entered, while hearing the same promo video over and over again. I literally wanted to shoot myself in the foot. This was supposed to be a two week stint, but on the third day I called my temp agency declaring that I was leaving the job. They coaxed me to stay and I did, but I watched insufferably as models tried on clothes for perspective buyers, wishing it was me.
