August 6, 2022
60 Best Rock Fab Moments!
Milestones shape our behaviour. They allow us to understand where we were, where we are and where we’re going. Milestones enable us to answer the ‘why’ questions of our path in life. As SO closes the curtain on the 60 Best Rock Fab Moments that allowed us to reflect, realise, and pinpoint how much our country and culture have changed and evolved. Our creative sector has blossomed. Our Jamaican fashion designers, film-makers, writers, visual artists, and chefs no longer have to go elsewhere to “make it”. We’ve become a prouder nation.
Finally, let us be like our track stars. Because in the race, it’s Jamaica vs Jamaica and the world is transfixed. We don’t need others to permit us to excel. Our nation will rise when we lift it.
31 – Though his April 2019 trip to Jamaica was way too brief (less than 24 hours, to be exact), President of the United States Barack Obama had quite a few memorable moments. One such took place backstage at The University of the West Indies, Mona, when cameras captured Obama joining Olympian Usain Bolt for a re-creation of the sprinter’s famous victory pose.Pete Souza
32 – Screen and fashion icon Grace Jones ushered in 2016 at GoldenEye’s New Year’s Eve Party in Oracabessa St Mary, with her son Paulo Goude, and granddaughter Athena.
33 – Emmy award-winning comedian and motivational speaker Steve Harvey displayed his unmistakable sense of style in a Dolce & Gabbana Alta Sartoria suit and Tom Ford Leopard Wilton Chain Loafers during his presentation at Sagicor’s Motivational Seminar Next Level 2019. (Photo: Garfield Robinson)
October 3, 2019Steve Harvey exits his private jet at the I AM Jet Centre in Montego Bay, Jamaica, on his arrival at the three-day Sagicor Motivational Seminar #SMS2019 held at the Montego Convention Centre and Iberostar Rose Hall Suites. (Photo: Leo hudson)
34 – On Saturday, February 16, 2019 — guided by Bishop Dr Wellesley A Blair — Olympian Asafa Powell wed his longtime girlfriend model Alyshia Miller at the Rose Hall Great House in the second city (Photo: Yaw Asiedu)
35 – British-Jamaican actress Jodie Turner-Smith’s GoldenEye photoshoot for the May 2021 Glamour UK issue included the Rock-fab duo of make-up artiste Keneisha Bryan and hairstylist Melleisa Dawkins.
36 – The Real Housewives of Dubai premiered on Bravo on Wednesday, June 1 with Miss Jamaica International 2010, fashion designer, and entrepreneur Lesa Milan (second right) as one of the cast members. Throughout the season, Milan, who was born and raised in Jamaica (schooled at Stella Maris Preparatory School and Immaculate Conception High), acts as a cultural ambassador of sorts, introducing her cast members and viewers to Jamaican food, music and fashion. (bravotv.com)
Jamaican Lesa Milan, cast member, The Real Housewives of Dubai (Chris Haston/Bravo)
37 – DJ Khaled’s April 2021 visit to Jamaica featured swoon-worthy moments at the luxe Rio Chico Villa. (Photo: IG: @djkhaled)
38 – Days after news broke that the pair had tied the knot, we spotted Queen & Slim star Jodie Turner-Smith and her husband, Dawson’s Creek alum Joshua Jackson, at GoldenEye’s 2019 New Year’s Eve party…Garfield Robinson
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39 – …Also at the star-studded event were (from left) Jamaican chanteuse/model/actress Grace Jones, certified public accountant for Los Angeles Marjorie Grant-Fuller, and Ian Parkinson.(Photo: Garfield Robinson)
40 – …and (from left) three-time heavyweight champion of the world, Lennox Lewis; Island Grill CEO Thalia Lyn; and Casa de Oro Jewelers co-principal Aroon Dadlani (Photo: Garfield Robinson)
41 – One of the glam moments of the 2016 Page 2 10th Anniversary Gala, included this capture with (from left) Jamaica Observer former Managing Director Danville Walker, Page 2 Founder & Jamaica Observer Senior Associate Editor Lifestyle Social Content Novia McDonald-Whyte; Gent of the Decade awardee and Sagicor Group President CEO Richard Byles; principal of Resortwear by Eroleen and Page 2 Head-turner awardee Eroleen Anderson-Powell; Sandals Resorts International Founder and Chairman Gordon Butch Stewart; interior designer Cecile Levee, the recipient of the Page 2 Belle of the Decade award: and Caribbean Cement Chairman Chris Dehring, the recipient of the Page 2 Fave Male. (Photo: Joseph Wellington)
42 – Jamaican-Canadian costume designer Antoinette Messam and the genius behind the wardrobe for the Netflix 2021 film The Harder They Fall, attends the movie’s premiere in Los Angeles on October 22, 2021.
43 – Cindy Breakspeare (left), who attended Get Up, Stand Up! The Bob Marley Musical while on a visit to the UK in 2021, caught up with singer and actress Shanay Holmes who is cast as ‘Cindy’ in the musical.
44 – Jamaican-born artist Hugh Findletar, while sitting in a Murano glass studio, displays some of his creations for Architectural Digest’s February 2021 issue. Hand-blown in the form of friendly faces, Findletar’s signature glass vases are so full of personality that he refers to them as ‘Flowerheadz’. (Photo: Valentina Sommariva)
45 – 2019When British singer/songwriter/producer Estelle noticed the statue of Usain Bolt during her performance at Tracks & Records, Montego, she knew exactly what to do. The singer was in Jamaica to celebrate the launch of VP Records 58th and 59th Strictly the Best Live reggae and dancehall albums.
46 – n 2019, when British singer Mica Paris (centre) marked her 50th birthday party with an exclusive dinner party at China Tang, part of the London’s Dorchester Hotel, her daughter Russia Mae Newmann (right) and Jamaica Patty Co co-principal Theresa Roberts were there to celebrate with her..
47 – November 2017… track legend Usain Bolt and Miss Jamaica World 2007 Yendi Phillipps team up for the GH Mumm Celebrate Your Next Victory campaign video by Jamaican film producer Maxine Walters.
47 – Film producer and artist Maxine Walters.
48 – July 2017… while still riding high from her raunchy performance at Reggae Sumfest, dancehall artiste Grace Hamilton, more popularly known as Spice, was named the fashion-forward Queen of Dancehall by Vogue magazine.
49 – The King’s House meeting on March 6, 2012 between Prince Harry and politico Lisa Hanna took place during the prince’s four day visit to Jamaica.
50 – Guests of honour, fashion designer and philanthropist Ralph Lauren (left) and his wife Ricky, are escorted into the 2018 Sugar Cane Ball at Round Hill Hotel and Villas by the hotel’s managing director Josef Forstmayr.
51 – To commemorate her 28th birthday (July 27, 2022), Jamaican-Canadian model Winnie Harlow staged a photoshoot at the Devon House mansion — one of Jamaica’s most celebrated historic landmarks, and the architectural dream of Jamaica’s first black millionaire George Stiebel. (Photo: Jamie Bruce)
52 – 2018Jamaican-born UK resident and promoter of all things Rock and fab Theresa Roberts and her husband Andrew (left) with Prince Charles at the annual dinner for patrons and supporters of the Royal Drawing School.
53 – In 2017, Prince Harry returned to The Rock, this time with Meghan Markle (right) as his date, to his best friend Tom Inskip’s wedding at Round Hill Hotel and Villas in Montego Bay. The engagement and marriage followed in quick succession thereafter.
54 – The March 2022 opening of the University of Liverpool’s new Yoko Ono Lennon Centre was celebrated with the world premiere performance of composer and Liverpool alumna, Professor Shirley J Thompson’s One World – a reimagining of and homage to John Lennon’s iconic song Imagine.
54 – Shirley J Thompson takes a bow after the premiere of One World.
55 – Shirley J Thompson and Sean O Lennon (son of John Lennon andYoko Ono) at the lunch reception for Yoko Ono Lennon Centre.
56 – Four Jamaican models, Saint International models Naki Depass… (Filippo Fior/Gorunway.com)
…and Tami Williams… (Photo: Filippo Fior/Gorunway.com)
…Pulse model and Miss Universe Jamaica 2020 Miqueal-Symone Williams… (Photo: Filippo Fior/Gorunway.com)
…and supermodel Naomi Campbell walked the runway at the Valentino Spring 2019 couture show in Paris. (Photo: Filippo Fior/Gorunway.com)
57 – British soul singer Mica Paris performed her acclaimed live show Mica Sings Ella at a Hanover Grange benefit on Tuesday, December 4, 2018, much to the delight of wife of Prime Minister Andrew Holness, and Member of Parliament for St Andrew East Rural Juliet Holness (centre) and the fund-raiser’s host Theresa Roberts. The benefit was held at Hanover Grange, at The Tryall Club, the vacation home of Theresa and Andrew Roberts. (Photo: Naphtali Junior)
57 – Wife of Prime Minister Andrew Holness, and Member of Parliament for St Andrew East Rural Juliet Holness (left) enjoyed Mica Sings Ella alongside British philanthropist and the fund-raiser’s host Theresa Roberts. (Photo: Naphtali Junior)
58 – For a midnight ceremony on November 30, 2021 that simultaneously swore in the first-ever Barbadian president, Dame Sandra Mason, in Bridgetown, Barbados, and acknowledged Rihanna as a national hero, the Fenty mogul wore Bottega Veneta Resort 2022. (Photo: AFP)
59 – Jamaican-Canadian model Winnie Harlow lands her first Vogue cover, fronting the Arabia edition’s June 2019 issue. The model, who first rose to stardom in 2014 as a contestant on Tyra Banks’ America’s Next Top Model expressed her excitement for the achievement on Instagram: “My first Vogue cover… I’m crying right now.” (Photo: Dan Beleiu)
60 – Out of 206 countries competing in the Rio de Janeiro 2016 Summer Olympics, American GQ listed the Jamaican Olympic team among the most stylish opening ceremony uniforms. The Rock athletes were officially kitted out by German athletic brand Puma. Additionally, Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce’s two-toned ombre mermaid tresses got her pronounced best opening ceremony hair by media networks, the British Broadcasting Corporation and the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation.
