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After more than 15 years of development and cross-continental filming, American filmmaker James Williams is preparing to wrap production on his genre-defying thriller *Squatta* on location in Jamaica, with a planned theatrical and streaming release scheduled for this October. The 50-year-old director, a retired U.S. Army major and Howard University graduate, first launched principal photography on the project in his hometown of Warrenton, Georgia back in June 2025, building a story rooted in his longstanding admiration for Jamaican crime cinema and firsthand observations of Caribbean informal settlements.

The global fashion industry is undergoing one of its most transformative cultural shifts in recent memory, and at the forefront of this movement stands Jamaican industry veteran Romae Gordon, whose remarkable return to the international runway has been featured in a landmark cover story by *The New York Times*. Penned by the outlet’s chief fashion critic Vanessa Friedman, the in-depth profile, headlined “Ageless Beauty: A Longer Runway to Be in Fashion,” anchors Gordon as a defining face of a generation-changing push to reimagine what luxury fashion can look like. The feature was featured on the front page of *The New York Times*’ widely read Sunday Styles section, shining a bright spotlight on the growing influence of older women as trailblazers reshaping the global fashion landscape. Gordon shares the spotlight with some of the industry’s most legendary figures, including Christy Turlington and Paulina Porizkova, as one of the trailblazers redefining modern beauty standards for fashion. Across the industry, from iconic luxury houses such as Chanel, Givenchy, and Proenza Schouler to major global cosmetics brands, leading companies are increasingly signing older women as brand ambassadors. This wave of partnerships signals a deep, structural shift in who fashion is designed for, and who gets to set the industry’s beauty standards. As Friedman emphasizes in her reporting, this is not a passing trend — it is a lasting change that paves the way for older women to build long, sustainable careers in fashion and see themselves represented in the space they help support. According to statements from the Sheldon Alexander Group, Gordon’s comeback to professional modeling is nothing short of extraordinary. For more than three decades, Gordon worked behind the scenes of the fashion industry, scouting emerging talent, nurturing new careers, and launching some of the Caribbean’s most successful models, including Jeneil Williams, Jaunel McKenzie, Nadine Willis, and Oraine Barrett. Now, she has stepped back into the spotlight to claim her own place on the runway. Gordon’s return to international fashion began with a historic appearance at Versace’s Milan Fashion Week show, marking her first turn on a major global runway in more than 30 years. Following that debut, she walked in Chanel’s Haute Couture show in Paris, then delivered a standout appearance at Proenza Schouler’s Fall/Winter 2026 collection presentation in New York, and closed out the run of shows with a spot at Diotima’s presentation. Today, her decades-long journey from behind-the-scenes talent developer to frontline runway star has become one of the most compelling narratives of fashion’s growing push for inclusive, age-diverse representation. In her profile, Friedman draws heavily on Gordon’s own decades of experience and unique perspective on the shifting industry. “There’s a practical reality agencies have to face: that older women have the purchasing power to buy what is being presented and they have a desire to see themselves and their lived experiences in these spaces,” Gordon told *The New York Times* in the profile. Deeg, head of the Sheldon Alexander Group and a core member of Gordon’s team, summed up Gordon’s impact this way: “Gordon epitomises the essence of the modern woman, a mom, a versatile and exceptional multi-hyphenate.” The group added that Gordon continues to break new ground for women across the industry, while cementing Jamaica’s reputation as a source of world-class talent in the global fashion space.

Veteran Jamaican gospel recording artiste Dr. Carlene Davis has expressed profound gratitude and humility after securing a nomination in the coveted Best Gospel Entertainer category at the 2026 installment of the International Reggae & World Music Awards (IRAWMA).

The 2026 IRAWMA ceremony is scheduled to take place on May 17 at the Lauderdale Performing Arts Center in South Florida, bringing together top talent from across the global reggae and world music landscape for a night of celebration and recognition. Davis joins six other talented nominees in the category: DJ Nicholas, Kevin Downswell, Papa San, Judith Gayle, Prince Saj, and Jason Mighty, all of whom have made significant contributions to gospel music within the reggae genre.

In a reflective statement following the nomination announcement, Davis shared that while industry nods are never a given expectation, she deeply values the recognition from IRAWMA organizers, particularly for the space they reserve to center gospel messaging in an international awards platform. “Nominations are a part of life, something that happens based on how people see things and not necessarily what you expect. I do appreciate the nomination, especially from where the message of the Gospel is recognised and is so necessary in our society. So much so that the organisers of IRAWMA would give the Gospel of Jesus Christ a category,” Davis explained.

For the long-serving gospel minister, the nomination carries far deeper meaning than just industry acclaim: she frames it as a tangible reminder of enduring hope, aligned with her faith. “It means ‘as long as there is life there is hope’, according to how the Holy Spirit guides us through all truth—including myself—who I seek to give me guidance in all that I do and say,” she said.

Davis is no stranger to recognition from IRAWMA, with a history of award wins dating back to the 1980s, when the organization was known as Martin’s International Reggae Music Awards. Over the decades, she has taken home honors including Best Female Vocalist, Best Music Video, Best Gospel Oriented Entertainer, and 1992’s Best Gospel Album. Most recently, she claimed the IRAWMA Best Gospel Album title in 2015 for her project *Dripping Blood*.

Even with her extensive trophy case, Davis emphasizes that any future win would not be a personal victory, but a win for the global Christian ministry she has built over decades. “I am not a competitive person by nature. But, by being nominated in this international event that gives recognition to persons in the music industry on a global level, I am already a winner being a part of the Kingdom of God and if Carlene Davis wins, it is a victory for the Kingdom and for that I say to God be the glory,” she shared.

Davis remains active in ministry and music production, with a packed schedule of engagements across North America and the Caribbean in recent months. She has ministered to congregations and audiences across Jamaica, multiple Caribbean nations including Barbados, St Lucia, Dominica, and Guyana, as well as cities across the United States. Her latest creative work includes the co-produced project *Songs of Zion* and the single *Holy Forever*, released under the Glory Music label in partnership with VPal Music. Another of her recent singles, *No Regrets*, earned the 2025 Outstanding Reggae Recording honor at The Marlin’s Awards in the Bahamas.

The celebrated artiste has also earned high-profile non-music recognition in 2026 already: in February, she received the Marcus Garvey Iconic Award from the Commission of the City of Miramar, Florida. Most recently, she delivered a ministry set on the Love & Harmony Cruise on Easter Sunday, April 5, 2026, continuing her streak of active outreach through her music.