分类： entertainment

SAVANNA-LA-MAR, Westmoreland — One of 16 talented, charismatic contestants will walk away with the title of Miss Universe Jamaica Westmoreland 2026 when the annual coronation showcase takes place this Saturday, May 23, at the iconic Hotel Commingle in the heart of Savanna-la-Mar. The road to the parish crown kicked off back on March 18, when each competing candidate received their official sash during a public ceremony attended by event sponsors and a crowd of enthusiastic supporters.

In the weeks leading up to the final night, the 16 hopefuls have stepped into the public eye for a series of official engagements, including a formal courtesy visit to Danree Delancy, Mayor of Savanna-la-Mar and Parish Councillor, to connect with local leadership ahead of the main event.

The highly anticipated coronation evening will follow a structured, engaging format designed to highlight each contestant’s unique personality and strengths. The show will open with all 16 candidates modeling coordinated looks crafted exclusively for the event by Jamaican designer Kadian Nicely. After the opening procession, contestants will take the stage individually for two judged segments: swimwear and evening gown.

Beyond the overall crowning, the event will recognize standout contestants with a range of sectional awards, honoring traits from personality to presence. Award categories include Most Congenial, Best Altruism Presentation, Most Photogenic, Best in Swimwear, Best in Evening Gown, Best Social Media Personality, and Essence of Style.

Following the preliminary judged segments, event organizers will narrow the field first to a top 10 finalists, then cut to a top five. The remaining five contestants will advance to a live interview round, after judges will rank the top three placements ahead of the final reveal of the new Miss Universe Jamaica Westmoreland 2026.

Pageant director Hannah Sheree shared her excitement for the upcoming showcase, emphasizing the hard work all contestants have put into their preparation. “The ladies have worked incredibly hard over the past two months, and they are fully prepared to deliver an electrifying, unforgettable performance,” Sheree said. “This promises to be such a spectacular night that no one in the area will want to miss it.”

Sheree extended an open invitation to local communities and pageant fans across the country to attend the event and support the candidates, who she described as “brains and beauties” representing the best of Westmoreland parish. “Come out and support our ‘brains and beauties’ representing the parish of Westmoreland in what has become one of the most anticipated local cultural events of the year,” she added.

For the winner, the coronation will mark just the first step in a year of opportunities: the newly crowned Miss Universe Jamaica Westmoreland 2026 will earn an automatic spot to compete at the national Miss Universe Jamaica 2026 pageant, scheduled to take place this coming August.

Well-known dancehall performer Vanessa Bling is gearing up to launch one of the most intimate musical projects of her decades-long career, with her deeply personal new single *True Story* set to hit all major digital streaming platforms worldwide on May 20. Far from a standard dancehall release, this track is crafted from raw, unfiltered emotion, framed around themes of self-reflection and perseverance, and sees the artist opening up for the first time about some of the most traumatic and transformative periods of her private and public life.

For Bling, the creation of *True Story* served as a pathway to reclaim her agency, voice and personal power after years of hardship. In a recent discussion about the upcoming track, she emphasized that every line of the song is rooted in real lived experience, moments that shaped both the person and the performer she is today.

“Every challenge I walked through helped build the woman I am now,” Bling shared. “It made me tougher, wiser, and more sure of who I am. As an artist, it taught me to create from a place of radical honesty, to not shy away from putting pain, growth and resilience into my music. As a woman, it deepened my faith and my confidence in myself. I know my story can lift other people up—because even at my lowest, I never stopped believing in myself.”

Centered on core themes of endurance, unforgiving public scrutiny, deep emotional trauma and survival, *True Story* walks listeners through years of personal struggle, unfair judgment and private battles, before landing on a message of celebration for the resilience that pulled Bling through those dark days. The track opens with the simple, deliberate line “Yeah, yeah, true story,” immediately setting an intimate, vulnerable tone as Bling reflects on years lost to hardship, crippling isolation, and the constant pressure of forces working to break her spirit. One raw verse lays out that frustration plainly: “Years of my life that mi can’t get back / No want me free dem want fi take me way.”

Across the track’s runtime, Bling speaks openly about surviving intense pressure, personal betrayal, and public backlash, all while refusing to dim her identity or surrender hope. In one of the single’s most rousing, memorable moments, she declares, “They tried to break me down / They tried to take my crown / They could never take my pride.” The chorus, anchored by the repeated refrain “Freedom, freedom, I deserved my freedom,” elevates the track from a personal memoir to a universal anthem of encouragement for audience members facing their own unspoken struggles.

“*True Story* is me speaking straight from the most real part of my life,” Bling explained. “There were so many moments I felt misunderstood, judged, and pushed to my limit, but through all of it I held onto my faith and stayed standing. I wanted people to hear my truth directly from me, through the music that has always been my way of connecting.” She added that the core mission of the single is to give hope to people fighting battles that no one else sees.

“So many people carry their struggles in silence, so I hope this song reminds them that no matter what they’re up against, they can get through it and come out stronger on the other side,” she said. The emotionally charged track also doesn’t shy away from Bling’s vulnerability: she reflects on friends and loved ones who stepped away during her hardest days, while extending gratitude to the small circle that stayed by her side, offering prayer and unwavering support.

Bling has long built her reputation on blending unflinching emotional honesty with the high-energy rhythm that defines dancehall, and *True Story* continues her pattern of using music as a vehicle for empowerment and authentic storytelling. Following the single’s release, Bling is already booked for a high-profile performance: she will take the stage at the 2026 Best of the Best Music Fest on Sunday, May 24, held at Miami’s downtown Museum Park. She will share the lineup with some of the biggest leading names in reggae, dancehall, and soca music for the widely anticipated festival.

Eight months after the passing of iconic Jamaican singer-songwriter Ernie Smith at the age of 80, family, friends, and industry peers gathered at Metropolitan Baptist Church in Davie, South Florida on May 16 to celebrate his life, legacy, and decades-long contributions to Caribbean music.

Among the most touching tributes came from Claudette Bailey Smith, the songwriter’s widow, who shared the whimsical, unexpected story of how their love story began. The pair met for the first time in May 2022, when Smith arrived at Bailey Smith’s Miami home. Barely an hour into their first encounter, amid casual conversation, the charismatic songwriter leaned in and popped the question: “Will you marry me?” Bailey Smith’s immediate answer was a firm “no.” But Smith, ever persistent, wore down her resistance, and the pair tied the knot exactly one year later, a match Bailey Smith described as ordained by heaven.

Looking back on their time together, Bailey Smith reflected on the profound late-in-life love the pair shared. “After living the first 70 years of my life, to finally find a person that I could love in a proper way… It went beyond the physical, it went to a stratosphere I was not familiar with. But I loved me and he loved me,” she told the gathered crowd.

Born Glenroy Anthony Michael Archangelo Smith in Kingston, Jamaica, Smith built a decades-long career that left an indelible mark on Jamaican music. His rise to prominence came in the 1960s and 1970s at Federal Records, the iconic Khouri family-owned label where he was a breakout star alongside fellow artist Pluto Shervington. Over his years at the label, he racked up a long list of chart-topping hits, including fan favorites *Life is Just For Living*, *Pitta Patta*, *Duppy Gunman*, *Bend Down*, *Ride On Sammy*, *Sunday Morning Come Down*, and *I For Jesus*.

In the late 1970s, Smith made the decision to migrate to Canada, where he continued his music career before eventually relocating to South Florida. He returned to his Jamaican roots in the early 1990s. Even as he found global success, those who knew him remembered that Smith never lost the quiet humility he cultivated growing up in St Ann, Jamaica.

Wednesday’s service brought together a wide cross-section of Smith’s loved ones and industry colleagues. Tributes were delivered by his brother Paul Smith, long-time friend and attorney Merrick Drummar, veteran tour manager Copeland Forbes, veteran broadcaster Clinton Lindsay, Jamaica’s Consul General to Miami Oliver Mair, and George Raymond, an audio engineer who worked alongside Smith at Federal Records throughout the 1960s and 1970s.

The celebration of Smith’s life also featured musical performances from a host of artists connected to the songwriter. Two of his five children, Ojay and Sahara, took the stage to perform, alongside legendary saxophonist Dean Fraser, singer Carlene Davis, Charmaine Lemonious, and Ed Robinson. Before performing her iconic hit *Like Old Friends Do*, Davis shared memories of her longstanding friendship with Smith, which dated back to their time living together in Canada, when she served as his opening act and harmony vocalist.

In addition to the performers and speakers, the service was attended by Smith’s immediate family: all five of his children and three of his four grandchildren, alongside five of his siblings. Notable industry figures also turned out to pay their respects, including reggae legend Freddie McGregor, Inner Circle band member Roger Lewis, and iconic music impresario Tommy Cowan. Smith passed away on April 16 this year at his Miami home, leaving behind a rich musical legacy that continues to resonate with fans across the globe.

Nearly seven months after a life-altering on-stage accident left her with serious injuries at the Miss Universe competition in Thailand, Dr. Gabrielle Henry, the 2025 Miss Universe Jamaica, has stepped back into the public eye for a high-profile charitable event. As first reported by *People* magazine, Henry appeared as a featured speaker at the Integrity Children’s Fund’s annual Dinner en Rouge Gala, held May 16 in Atlanta, Georgia. For the engagement, she delivered her remarks from a seated position on stage as she continues her ongoing recovery process. The non-profit organization that hosted the gala, founded in 2002 and based in Georgia, works directly to address persistent childhood illiteracy, a cause Henry has prioritized supporting even amid her own health challenges.

In November 2024, Henry suffered traumatic head injuries and multiple additional wounds when she fell from the competition stage during the preliminary evening gown round of the Miss Universe pageant held in Thailand. The accident forced her to withdraw immediately from the international competition, derailing what she had hoped would be a chance to represent her home country at the highest level of the pageant world.

In a reflective Instagram post shared earlier this year in February, Henry opened up about the emotional and physical journey of her recovery. “This season has redefined restoration and renewal for me,” she wrote at the time. “At a time when I wanted only to represent Jamaica at my fullest, I faced the most unexpected injury of my life. It shifted everything. Yet I have learned that a fall can uncover a depth of strength you did not know you possessed. My greatest strength has been in choosing to rise, even while I am still on the journey.” She also extended public gratitude to the medical teams in both Thailand and Jamaica who have supported her care throughout her recovery.

Speaking at the Atlanta gala, Henry reaffirmed her commitment to her advocacy work, explaining that even months of intensive rehabilitation could not keep her away from an event supporting a mission close to her heart. “Despite the prolonged recovery I have been going through, I could not miss being present to support such a remarkable event,” she told attendees. She went on to recognize the contributions of Jamaican diaspora members who have dedicated their time and resources to advancing the organization’s work: “Today we recognise and celebrate the amazing efforts of our fellow brothers — members of the Jamaican diaspora who have poured out their hearts and souls into something so meaningful.”

Looking ahead, Henry emphasized that her accident does not mark the end of her public journey, but rather the start of a new chapter focused on impact and legacy-building. “This period has given me space to reflect. I know my story is still unfolding,” she said. “What happened was not an ending; it marked the beginning of building a stronger legacy, creating impact and leaving a meaningful mark. I remain committed to making my country proud and to inspiring every person I encounter along the way.”

One of dancehall music’s most iconic figures, Bounty Killer, has thrown his weight behind emerging Jamaican dancehall artist Keywee, amplifying the rising star’s latest single 9 to 5 via a high-profile repost on his Instagram platform.

The endorsement has already generated massive engagement, racking up more than 4,000 likes and over 2,000 additional reposts from fans and industry followers across the platform. For the up-and-coming musician, the co-sign from the legendary entertainer has already translated to tangible career growth.

In an interview following the viral repost, Keywee expressed overwhelming gratitude for the veteran artist’s support. “Big respect to Bounty Killer,” he said. “Ever since he shared my song, YouTube views have skyrocketed, Spotify streams have jumped significantly, and I’m now getting booking requests from top selectors for custom dubs. Bounty Killer is the real general of this culture.”

Centered on the daily grind of traditional full-time work, 9 to 5 carries a raw, lyric-driven sound that aligns with Bounty Killer’s well-documented commitment to elevating authentic, socially conscious new dancehall work. The track’s core lyric laments, “9 to 5 ah kill we, ah beat we / man affi work so hard to make ends meet,” and lays bare the financial frustrations facing everyday working people.

Keywee explained that the track draws directly from the universal experiences of working-class people navigating economic inequality. “The 9 to 5 song was inspired by everyday living within the working system,” he noted. “The system was created to entrap the unfortunate, and this creates a bit of a paradox for most, because the harder you work, the more taxes you pay, the less money you take home and the bills just keep hiking. It is a vicious cycle and a very relatable topic.”

This public endorsement of Keywee is far from an isolated gesture. For decades, Bounty Killer has made mentoring and uplifting emerging Jamaican artists a core part of his cultural legacy. In recognition of his decades of contributions to Jamaican music and community, the icon is set to receive one of Kingston’s highest honors in 2026: the Key to the City, alongside an official street renaming in his childhood neighborhood of Seaview Gardens.

9 to 5 is featured as a track on the newly released Jamtor riddim compilation, which also features collaborative and solo work from a roster of emerging and established talent including Semojrah Naki, a joint project from Nature Ellis and Keywee, Empress Leh Leh, Planky Don, Izrel Di Cotton Pikka and Kae Music. Prior to dropping 9 to 5, Keywee built a small but loyal fanbase through earlier breakout singles including 2020’s Melanin Pop and Clean Like Skeleton, and 2021’s Nuh Use to Gyal.

As the world enters a new year of musical releases, multi-talented artist Krueshef kicks off his 2026 output with two distinct tracks that showcase his range as a creator: *My Sound* launched in January, and *Blaze dem Up* set to drop on May 15. Both releases are heartfelt tributes to the Jamaican music that shaped Krueshef’s childhood growing up in St. Croix, weaving personal history and cultural legacy into every bar. The first offering, *My Sound*, features guest work from artist Lawgiver, and counts Krueshef himself, Steely and Clevie, Jtwist, Lawgiver and Kimani among its co-producers. The second track, *Blaze Dem Up*, was created in collaboration with co-producers Austin Joseph and Lloyd Laing.

In sharing the core messaging behind his new work, Krueshef broke down the distinct purpose each track serves. For *My Sound*, the artist frames it as an anthem of self-affirmation, designed to lift listeners up and reinforce a strong sense of personal identity rooted in royal African heritage, rather than being defined by the legacy of slavery. “My Sound is a song to uplift and strengthen one’s self-esteem and have confidence in knowing who you are and where your history began. It didn’t begin with slavery but it began with royalty,” he explained. *Blaze Dem Up*, by contrast, carries a message of accountability and spiritual protection: the track encourages listeners to hold loved ones accountable when they make missteps, while leaning into faith for security, reminding audiences that divine protection ensures enemies cannot overcome them. He said, “Blaze dem Up is a song to rebuke and correct your friends and family when they mess up and to stay with Yah Jah because you are protected by the blood of Yahusha Jesus, so your enemies will not triumph over you.”

The theme of overcoming adversity is deeply personal for Krueshef, born Clarence Joseph, who built resilience growing up in the United States Virgin Islands long before he launched his music career. As a young artist, he drew influence from a wide swath of Jamaican music, cutting his teeth on iconic roots-reggae from legends like Bob Marley while also immersing himself in the hard-hitting sound of leading dancehall acts including Bounty Killer and Merciless. Early in his career, recording under the stage name Splittt Personality, Krueshef cut multiple tracks that paid homage to these foundational influences, blending the two genres that shaped his creative identity. Today, he remains equally comfortable working in both styles, having grown up writing and performing to legendary riddims out of pure love for the craft. “Both genres I am very comfortable with because I grew up listening and making songs to both legendary ‘riddims’ for fun and for the love of music. I still love listening to Bob Marley and the latest dancehall kings,” he noted.

Krueshef’s ability to roll with life’s challenges extends far beyond music, too. Before he focused full-time on his recording career, he was a competitive super-middleweight boxer, compiling four wins as a professional and even earning a spot on the United States national team for the 2004 Olympic Games held in Athens, Greece. His musical discography reflects his evolution as an artist: under his earlier Splittt Personality alias, he released the full-length album *Introspective*, and as Krueshef, he has already dropped one previous project, the EP *We Rise Up*. With his two new 2026 releases, he continues to build on his legacy of genre-blending, message-driven music that honors his roots while speaking to universal experiences of identity, community, and faith.