“One of my fondest

memories in Carnival was being on the road with CAMPARI in both Trinidad and

Jamaica earlier this year. Being atop the trucks while the music is blasting;

dancing with everyone, and taking it all in. It embodies freedom, the freedom

of expressing who you are.”

Trinidad and Tobago’s Rinelle Francis is a model, businesswoman, and, interestingly, something of a serial ‘Carnivalist’.

The social media influencer champions the Carnival scene in the persona of ‘Superstar RiRi’, whom she says is very different from the ‘Rinelle Francis’ the public never sees.

“RiRi is more openly

sensual, you know, she appears brave and outgoing. Rinelle though is very shy.

She likes to stay at home, watch television. Until it’s time for the next job

and RiRi takes the stage.”

Shy Francis may be behind

the scenes, but that doesn’t stop her from shining when it’s Carnival season.

Francis flew to Jamaica in early November to link up with the CAMPARI family in

time for the Xodus Carnival Band Launch which took place on November 9. It was

not her first trip to the little island in the sun.

“I love the experience being in Jamaica, especially in Carnival time. I get to hear dancehall and soca when I’m on the road, and I get different adrenalin when I hear dancehall,” she said.

The model and

businesswoman expressed that friends back home always ask her how it is that

she works so closely with the CAMPARI team. Francis says there is natural

connectivity at work.

“I can only sum it up to

that I love CAMPARI, and CAMPARI loves me back,” Francis added, laughing. “But

really when I come to Jamaica, the people, in general, are nice and welcoming.

I love experiencing the music, the rum; it’s just a nice vibe.”

Carnival culture has been

ingrained in Rinelle Francis since birth. That she should shine so brightly on

the Carnival scene, wherever in the world that scene may be, is no surprise.

The Carnival star has been an item on the scene for almost a decade and has

jumped Carnival all over the world.

“I’ve jumped Carnival in

Miami, Barbados, St. Lucia, and of course Jamaica and Trinidad. I do them

yearly,” she said. “I find that Carnival across the world is somewhat similar

but different at the same time. Outside of Trinidad, you will find that they

emulate the Trinidadian Carnival vibe, but the music, for instance, will be

different. It will reflect a bit of that particular country’s culture.”

Francis has big plans for

Carnival 2020. “We start with Carnival in Trinidad; it’s going to be something

special. My birthday will fall on Carnival Tuesday, and I will be with the

CAMPARI team. I also got my friends to play the same [bands] as me. I’m already

excited.”

Rinelle Francis has been

jumping Carnival since she was twenty-years-old. Saving up money to buy her

first costume won her the attention of sponsors nine years ago. She hasn’t had

to pay for a costume since.

Francis may be a

successful businesswoman and model on the side, but Carnival is something

always dear to her heart:

“[For me] Carnival is a

means to express my freedom, who I am; my culture… You get a chance to be who

you really are; you whine and rave, and you get to do it this way for two days.

It’s perfect!”