ST ANN, Jamaica — For 38-year-old Anna-Kay Boswell Johnson, life rarely slows down. Living in Ocho Rios, the mother of three rises before dawn each day, juggling school drop-offs, managing her family’s hardware store and running her own Airbnb business in Buckfield.

By the time most people have started their mornings, Boswell Johnson is already knee-deep in her daily responsibilities.

“My day starts at five o’clock,” Boswell Johnson told Observer Online. “I have two teenagers who go to school, and a little one that I have to get ready as well. I take her to school, then head to work. If I have a guest coming in, I go to the supermarket for snacks, help my cleaning lady ensure the place looks presentable, and then go back to work. How do I balance my day? Most times I’m not sure myself, because sometimes I get really stressed out and want to give up—but because of the kids, we can’t do that.”

It was during one of her regular supermarket runs—this time, shopping to restock her Airbnb—that she found herself at Rexo Supermarket late last month. What began as a routine errand turned into something life-affirming when she was named the winner of Smirnoff’s $50,000 shopping spree, part of their “We Do Carnival” store activation.

When she received the call that would change her life, Boswell Johnson had stepped into a telecommunications company to handle some personal business.

“I was like, ‘Really? That’s nice,” she recalled. “I was excited, so I had to step away from customer service to talk.”

It was her first time entering a promotion of that kind, and it paid off. Her first thought, she admitted, was disarmingly honest: “I can now buy some chicken.”

Even a seemingly modest win can offer much-needed breathing space. Boswell Johnson spoke candidly about the financial pressure she faced, especially as a working mother supporting a household.

“You have to work twice as hard in Jamaica at the moment,” she said. “Every time I go to the supermarket, it’s like $30,000 to $40,000 for the week. It’s very expensive, and sometimes when you get your pay and begin to budget it out, you realise it’s already in the negative.”

When asked what the win meant to her emotionally, Boswell Johnson didn’t hesitate.

“I’m just really excited to have won. It was my first time participating in a promotion of this nature, and I won something—it feels good. It’s the first time I’ve ever won anything,” she shared.

To others facing similar struggles, particularly fellow women shouldering multiple roles, her message was grounded in quiet strength.

“Don’t give up,” Boswell Johnson said. “It’s hard sometimes, but don’t give up.”