“I thought it was a scam.”

That was Mone Carnegie’s first reaction when she learned she had won an all-expenses-paid trip to Miami Carnival.

The 26-year-old customer service professional from Kingston admits she was in disbelief after receiving multiple missed calls from Smirnoff, the organisers of the promotion.

“I did not believe it at first,” she recalled. “I got like five missed calls, and usually when you win something, they don’t call you that much. So when I called back and they told me I had won, in my head I was like, ‘Is this real? Is this a scam?’”

The doubts faded once an official e-mail arrived. “After I got the e-mail, I was like, ‘Oh, it’s actually real’,” Carnegie said with a laugh.

For Carnegie, who proudly describes herself as a “Carnival lover through and through,” the win feels like destiny.

She has always been drawn to the rhythm of soca, the vibrant costumes, and the energy of the road, and though she has experienced the excitement of Carnival in Jamaica, Miami marks her first overseas Carnival, and her anticipation is palpable.

“I’m really looking forward to the road march the most,” she said. “In Jamaica, people come out and enjoy themselves, but sometimes it feels like not everyone goes all in and live it to the max. I want to see if Miami gives me the full unfiltered and immersive version of Carnival that I have been craving,” added Carnegie.

That “immersive experience” is exactly what Miami Carnival is known for.

Every October, the city comes alive with the sound of steel pan and the bass line of soca. Feathers, sequins, and Caribbean flags turn the streets into a moving rainbow as masqueraders dance their way behind massive trucks pumping the season’s road tunes.

Carnival is a homecoming for many, a celebration of identity, music, and joy. And Carnegie won’t be experiencing it alone.

Her closest carnival companion, Khadijah, will share the adventure. “I have a good amount of friends who like Carnival, but Khadijah is the only one who truly matches my energy. We’ve been saying for a while that we wanted to jump together, and now we finally get the chance.”

Beyond the glitter and music, Carnegie’s win carries a deeper meaning. It wasn’t a calculated decision but rather a spur-of-the-moment choice that set everything in motion.

While shopping, she noticed a Smirnoff promotion and decided to give it a try. “I had already planned to buy Smirnoff, and the promoter told me I could enter the competition if I purchased the 750ml bottle. I thought, ‘Why not?’ Generally, I don’t win things, but it couldn’t hurt to try,” she explained. What seemed like an ordinary purchase turned into an extraordinary opportunity.

“It has motivated me to always pursue these little chances,” she reflected. “You never know what can happen. Sometimes you just have to take the leap.”

As she prepares for the pulsating streets of Miami, Carnegie’s excitement is unmistakable. From feathered costumes to the thunder of drums, from sunrise fêtes to dancing shoulder-to-shoulder with her friend, she’s ready to soak up every beat of the experience.

CARNEGIE…I want to see if Miami gives me the full unfiltered and immersive version of Carnival that I have been craving