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Style Observer
Sunday, November 08, 2009
Local television's newest face Christina Benjamin, host of College Lifestyle, the pilot for which aired Monday last on CVM TV, is a breath of fresh air. She's a self-professed live music junkie with a heart for charitable service, and she's sipping vino at her favourite chill spot - Red Bones Blues Café - and sharing what her new role as presenter is like.
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| Photos: Bryan Cummings) |
What are you sipping?
I'm not a heavy drinker so I usually have a single glass of Merlot.
What do you love most about chilling at Red Bones?
It has so much character: the lights, the trees, the stained-glass windows and the cool photo collages.I follow live music so it's always a good place to come and hear the city's best bands.
Socialite or homebody?
Both.equally too. There's a time and place for everything.
Flats or stilettos?
Both. I love flats, but ever since I entered Miss Jamaica I've become a stiletto-faithful.
What's your style?
Exotic and vintage. I like the idea of having history behind my pieces.
What's in your handbag?
My fan, my purse, my flash drive, BlackBerry, College Lifestyle paraphernalia and my voice recorder, lip gloss, my book for those slower moments wherein I might catch up on my reading, and I'm addicted to chewing gum.
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Who does your hair?
Jazz Hair Salon in New Kingston.
Who does your nails?
Ava's Jus' Nails in Manor Park.
You're the host of a new show, how's that been going?
Love it, OMG! The show is new, fresh and necessary. It has subject matter that I believe is cutting-edge, inspirational and educational.
Your target audience is youth. What's the most amazing thing about catering to that demographic?
A lot of shows underestimate youth, even those that are created for them. Not because they're a certain age, it doesn't give television producers the right to shove just music or just this or just that. That's an insult to a young person's intelligence, and that's the difference with CLTV, we have variety.
TV or good book?
Both. I love movies, documentaries, but then again, there's nothing like a great read to stir the imagination. I'm reading The Alchemist right now and I'm enjoying it thoroughly.
What's your idea of the perfect date?
The perfect date can be anywhere as long as it's with the perfect person.
What's your idea of the perfect man?
Women always say there's no perfect man and I believe that's nonsense! I'm an intelligent, aspiring young woman who tries to be perfect, so who says a man out there isn't trying to be those same things?
What qualities should your Mr Right have, then?
He must be educated and be a man who is interested in art and music, because if that is the case he would more than likely be open-hearted and -minded.
What turns you off?
Conceited people.
What's your latest obsession?
I don't obsess, but I'd say right now I'm just trying to grow by gaining as much exposure as I can.
What's in your car stereo?
Damian Marley, Blue Grass In The Sky, Makeda, Ella Fitzgerald, Tessanne Chin, Estelle, Pink, Mykal Rose, Black Uhuru, and I could go on and on. I'm in love with music.
What's the best piece of advice you've been given?
Believe in yourself, which is sometimes hard to do but it is something you must do.
What's the best piece of advice you've ever given?
When you work, work hard. When you play, play hard; and when you chill remember to actually take a break.
What projects are you currently working on?
My charity One People, which I started in Canada, where I assisted battered women and the homeless. And locally I'm trying to get that up and running, but with more of a focus on youth, a mentorship programme because I believe that some of the people who our youth look up to aren't really role models. And I'm also working with the Institute of Sports for the All-Island Football Championship, which seeks to target gifted youth who are unattached to football clubs.
And 10 years from now?
I want to have filmed some documentaries and firmly cement my charity One People. And maybe even be the host of my own television show.
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