The seventh season of the Digicel Rising Stars competition is coming soon. Reviews and auditions are scheduled to start airing from as early as June 6 this year.

The show promises to be more exciting and will feature a new host who will be selected by the Jamaican public.

As part of our mandate to keep you in the loop of all the excitement, TEENage gives you a peek at the profiles of those vying to host this season’s show. Now is the time to start thinking about who you want to see on the stage once the live shows begin!

Name: Cameka Kimone McCrae

Age: 27 years old

Residence: Kingston, Jamaica

Hosted: Portmore audition show

Educational Background: Attended Webster Basic School, Suthermere Preparatory, Meadowbrook High School and Northern Caribbean University (BSc in Information Science and Mass Communication).

Media Experience:A television producer by profession.

Presenter: G-10 (gospel programme) on PBCJ TV

Reason for entering: She was encouraged by friends and family who knew she had something special to offer to the programme

Description of personality:Bubbly, free-spirited and spontaneous.

Reasons Jamaica should vote for her: She has a “lovely personality” “natural charm and wit”, and “loves providing entertainment.”

— Gavin Plowright

Name: Deidra James

Age: 30 years old

Residence: Kingston, Jamaica

Hosted: Montego Bay audition show

Educational Background: Attended Wolmer’s Girls’ School; University of Technology (BSc in marketing)

Media Experience: Worked with Hype TV as a TV host and currently works as a radio presenter on Fame 95 Fm

Reason for entering: Friends prompted her to enter because of her ‘personable’ character

Description of Personality:Real and approachable

What Jamaica can expect: Sheer realness and ‘tomfoolery’ (laughs) as expressed on her current radio programme.

Last word to Jamaica: Vote for who you genuinely feel can host the show and who you can connect with. Be open-minded and give who is ultimately selected a fair chance. Vote for me, pleaseeee!!!

— Shawna Kay Williams 

Name: Terri-Karelle Griffiths-Reid

Age: 28 years old

Residence: Barbican, Kingston

Hosted: Kingston audition show

Educational Background: Attended Fay Simpson Preparatory School, St Andrew Preparatory (head girl), Campion College (deputy head girl) and La Universidad de las Villas (Cuba-Veterinary science)

Media Experience: Featured in Global Courier advertisement; Guest speaker at various local functions

Work: General Manager at Spartan Health Club

Reason for auditioning: Strangers encouraged her to enter.

Description of personality: Down-to-earth”, “articulate”, “able to relate to anyone from any background”, has “mass appeal”, and will be able to console contestants during the competition.

What Jamaica can expect: The same vivacious energy that has many people calling her their “Jamaican Girl”, and a personable mixture of her predecessors’ (Denise Hunt and Yendi Phillips) presentation styles.

Reasons Jamaica should vote: Will represent Jamaica well with her naturally energised and charming persona.

— Shawna Kay Williams

Name: Julie Loraine Malcolm

Age: 31 years old

Residence: Rocky Point, Clarendon

Hosted: Ocho Rios audition show

Educational Background: Attended Kemps Hill High, Vere Technical High, Mico University College (Diploma in Education history and social studies) and the University of the West Indies (BA in Drama and Linguistics)

Best Remembered: Miss Vere Technical High

Miss Clarendon Festival Queen (2003)

Work: Teacher for 10 years; part-time voluntary performing arts instructor at the St Thomas Moore Preparatory School in Clarendon.

Reason for entering : Loves the media from childhood days and wants to be an inspiration to viewers and contestants

Media Experience: None, but believes she has the “element of surprise” that will encourage the Jamaican public to vote.

Description of personality: Warm, vibrant, bubbly and charismatic.

Last word to the Jamaican public: “Jamaica, you love fun, excitement and you love Digicel’s Rising Star. I am fun exciting and a lover of Digicel Rising Stars. (laughs), so tell yuh bredda, sista, madda, aunty, uncle, pickney seh fi vote fi Julie Malcolm.”

— Yunique Francis

Name: Kemesha Bolton

Age: 24 years old

Residence: Vineyard Town, Kingston

Hosted: May Pen audition show

Educational Background: Attended Excelsior High, Excelsior Community College and currently the Mico University College (first year primary education)

Media Experience: No formal experience, but has written for Yaad Flex online magazine and made appearances in music videos, such as Da’ville’s Always on my Mind and the Courts commercial.

Reason for entering: Loves to be in media and enjoys performing and entertaining

Description of personality: Down-to-earth, a people person who can bring real vibes to the set and can connect with the audience and the contestants.

Reasons Jamaica should vote for her: She is “fresh” and “has something new to offer”.

Last word to Jamaica: Vote for someone who will represent you well. Do it for me, do it for you! Vote Kemesha Bolton!”

— Antonette Leon

Name: Rennae Garrel

Age: 25 years old

Residence: Kingston, Jamaica

Hosted: Kingston audition show

Educational background: Attended St Peter and Paul Preparatory, St Andrew High School for Girls, University of the West Indies (Carimac BA Media and Communication)

Media Experience: Currently presents on RE TV (RE TV School Tour and Di Show) Freelance presenter on FAME FM; Presenter on Roots FM community-based radio.

Reason for auditioning: Loves the performing arts and the entertainment industry

Description of Personality: Real, down-to-earth, humble, humorous and relatable

Reasons Jamaica should vote for her: She has the vibes and energy that will catapult the show and contestants to even greater stardom.

Last word to Jamaica: “I’m just like you, a person who loves my country and supports Jamaican talent. As such, I will shine remarkably and represent you well if given the opportunity to host Digicel Rising Stars! Vote Rennae Garrel!!

— Shawna Kay Williams