Getting prepped for the Red Carpet - Reggae Academy Awards
Feb 26th, 2008 | By Irie Diva | Category: All Jamaican, Fashionable Events
Cherine Anderson had the prestigious honour of opening the very first Reggae Academy Awards held in Kingston, Jamaica on February 24th. She was also a nominee that night and we spoke to her about this honour and her preps for the big show. We know by now that Cherine loves the big brands and brings all out glamour when preparing for an appearance and at the Reggae Awards she stayed true to her fabulous form.
On choosing wardrobe and getting prepped:
I believe an award show is a special opportunity to go and celebrate those in the industry who have performed well throughout the year, but its also an excuse to put your stiletto-heels forward and dress up. I think red carpet is about finding that dress that makes a statement on an evening when everyone is out looking their best and in a mood to celebrate. I wanted to find something that was hot , something that said Cherine Anderson, I also wanted something comfortable enough to walk around in, but still had a WOW factor.
Initially we had three looks in mind, an ivory satin Christian Dior dress ( for the red carpet), a white cotton Versace jumpsuit ( for the performance) and a green silk jersey Versace dress that I would present in.
I was initially asked to present an award at the show, so this third look was going to be my award presentation look. However we were told a day before the show that I would no longer be presenting. This look however, was so special that I wore it on the red carpet and after the performance for the rest of the night. The dress accentuated my body without looking scandalous and I felt like a queen in it. It was a green silk jersey Versace dress with metallic gold straps, and at different points I alternated between a pair of Yves Saint Laurent sandals and Cavalli snakeskin pumps.
To perform, I really wanted an oufit that would capture the energy of “Kingston State of Mind”. Something that could be worn to a session like Weddy Weddy or Bembe but with a twist to it. Also, given the fact that I was opening the show and with a song that had such a strong social message, color was important. White as a neutral color and something that would read well on stage, was a good choice for us on this look. After deciding on color we played with whether or not the look should be a dress, pants or something short. This white Versace jumpsuit spoke to me immediately when i saw it because although its very sexy, its also really tough in a feminine way. We’ve added the tights to sharpen it a bit and add some color.. And of course these purple silk Proenza Schouler boots are sooooo wicked, mi did haffi wear dem lol
It took about 4 hours to get ready for the award show. Prepping the Nubian Knots (chiney bumps) took the longest and longtime friend and make-up artist Carol Reid did the make-up. Getting in the dress was easy but my team made sure that I looked the part.
On the show itself:
It’s good to have an awards show to showcase reggae & dancehall music and even more special that it’s being done in Jamaica by Jamaicans. We were happy to receive nominations for Female Vocalist of The Year ( Kingston State of Mind ) and for Best Collaboration /Group/Duo ( Coming Over Tonight feat. Chuck Fender). Unfortunately we were informed that the academy pulled the nomination for Coming Over Tonight about a week before the show. I am grateful for the opportunities to be apart of such a historic event. It’s great to see the reggae industry celebrating the music and the talented artist that make up this music that we love and I am proud to make dancehall soul/reggae music.
On Her Performance:
I feel very good about my performance. The academy requested that I open the show with “Kingston State of Mind” which I thought was a real honor, to set the tone for the first Reggae Academy Awards, fitting also, considering that it was being held in Kingston, Jamaica.
I wanted the performance to be meaningful because the song carries a social and political message, and being a young woman at this early stage of my career I thought the opportunity was symbolic.
The feedback to the performance was wonderful, it was great to hear Ministers, music veterans and my peers come up to me and say things like “That was a powerful opening”, ” Yow deh tune deh bring tears to mi eye” and “What a way to start a show!”
On partying after:
After three consecutive days of playing the Bob Marley Festival in LA & San Diego plus multiple appearances prior to last night I was exhausted so I retired to bed shortly after the awards show.
Cherine’s latest mixtape is available for download at www.cherineanderson.com
Click images to view larger. First pic: Cherine Anderson with the legendary Marcia Griffiths and Queen Ifrica. Second pic: Cherine with dancehall star Assasin. Third Pic: Cherine with Buju Banton. Fourth pic: Cherine’s performance
I found your site on google blog search and read a few of your other posts. Keep up the good work. Just added your RSS feed to my feed reader. Look forward to reading more from you.
- Randy Nichols.
Cher always fabulous. just continue to tek it 2 a new level. Making a statement in what you wear will help to reach a wider audience as people begin to appreciate your sense of style and the dynamics you bring to what you wear.
Keep on looking fabulous and let the Diva in you shine!!!
WOOOOOOOOW MAMA CAN I SAY SEXXXXXXXXXXXY
Cherine has captured the hearts of the Jamaican people since appearing in Dance Hall Queen and Jamaica has loved her ever since. The impressive thing is her transition from the darling sweet heart, into the matured style diva she is now. It is always comforting to see chorine on the red carpet as she always raise the style quotient. Her styling brings to the fore an international flavor that is second to none in Jamaica.
With the powers vested in me as Jamaica’s lone fashion guru, I dub thee, Jamaica’s Style Queen. I love you girl n Keep doing what you going girl.
queen ifrica looks so nice alkll dolled up and shit i jus doan really appreciate chiney bumps… eeek
What can i say Cherine is the new Queen of Reggae
Loving the pictures of the three queens. Cherine you doing great things continue to put out great music and keep looking great as usual
Hey now miss Elly! I know you never come on this Jamaican Fashion website and say you are the lone Jamaican fashion Guru now! i’m so hurt lol
guys cherine is loving the feed back, keep them coming!
hahahah watch you 2 fight over who is the Jamaican Fashion Guru everyone knows that’s me
Cherine looks so lovely definately stepped up her game. She setting trends not just in her music but in her style. She looks like she should be on the font of Vogue or Cosmo with that whole look. loving the chiney bumps!!!!
Jonnell i think the the reason you might not appreciate chiney bump is because there is a stigma attached to it. Wi fraid a wi blackness. IT”S NOT LONG CURLY HAIR nor is it LOCKS. But i believe Cherine has the natural beauty and confidence to pull it off and look amazing. She looks like a goddess
tell me how many women in reggae or otherwise could wear their hair in a similar style at such a huge event look as hot as she does???
She taking risk and changing the entertainment fashion game
GO CHERINE!!!
Cherine yuh ting sell off. The chest section looking propa lol
Sexiness mi need some a dat
Yes my girl! Love how she steppin out. Luv the white ensemble
She has a great body and the dress was very lovely. The dress goes perfectly well with her beautiful skin tone.
Cherine is just toooo cute for words. Keep doing ya thing mama
nice outfits
I really like that white outfit
How much does that green versace dress cost cost? Is there a lower end line that copies the same design?
I love how it compliments her figure
Cherine is not all that, a whey she a go inna jumpsuit and boots, certain people well want fi live Inna Jamaica, and swear sey them they inna America, girl you would have looked better inna a nice pair of heels instead of boots, Some one please call da fashion police fi her. And one last thing the chiney bumps they gots to go, inna america we would say she forced it!!!
Big Respect to all the Reggae Stars !!
“certain people well want fi live Inna Jamaica, and swear sey them they inna America.”
Ms Lee, y u hating?
Cherine, doan watch da hataz. yuh looking hot and sexy and you thing look different.
one question tho, “Are you coming over tonite?”
Andre it is very funny how you mention “certain people well want fi live Inna Jamaica, and swear sey them they inna America.” but I think it is very funny that I do live in America and can totally agree with Ms. Lee because no where in America would a jumpsuit like the one she wore and those boots look hot - NOWHERE not even if Beyonce herself endorsed it! I do think she has a nice fashion sense because I have seen her other looks through her myspace page and other photos on the web BUT what we are commenting on is the ugly concoction that she wore at the awards. Try and link up with her through her myspace if you are feeling lonely otherwise keep your desperate calls for affection to yourself!
It’s amazing how Jamaicans bun gay people and they are the first to put money in their pockets. I work in a high-end store in New York and let me tell you all something. When black people walk in the high-end stores they watch them like a hawk. Do you know that most upscale tycone designer didn’t design their cloths for blacks. They would care less if we support them. I have work in the fashion industry for over twenty years and I know for a fact that Christan Dior and Versace was gay. I also know that there are pleanty talanted designers in Jamaica that need Cherin endorsment. I also know for a fact that Versace would not show his white cotton jump suite with tights and winter boots on a run way in France or Milan never mind endorsing it to be worn in HOT! HOT! HOT! KINGSTON. Cherin you are beautiful and people see you as a roll model, so please BIG UP YOUR OWN JAMAICAN DESIGNERS before you ENDORSE people who don’t give a dam about you. So please visit fashion week in J.A. and SUPPORT YOUR TALANTED BLACK BROTHERS AND SISTERS. At the end of the day they only see you as a WANT TO BE.
Hahahaha I really like what Cherine is wearing. I was at the awards and it looked really good on stage.
I actually think she is prettier in person though
and KERI alot of jamaican stylist and designers are gay suh does it really matter
whey deh deal. Designers if yuh want cherine fi wear yuh brand contact har management. We jamaicans dont even eat much of our own food. All haters what happen MONEY dun. I was at deh award the Versace did a teck life.
Rock stone do we actually hate our chiney bumps? Whats wrong with the boots? Stage is different from regular wear isnt it?
Niko, relax uself, not because u live in america mean seh u can speak for america, americans or american style. Ur opinion is jsut that, an opinion, so seckle down.
next thing as somebody else done say it, stage is different, and I was at the show. on stage Cherine yuh look sell off and make a profit. its not about how versace would show it or wear it, different country, different sensibility. when u go in a store and buy tings do u wear dem exactly how dem stay on di mannequin? If you do, then maybe u shouldn’t be criticizing pple who have something u lack… a sense of style…. seckle yuhself.
wearin dat white ting wid heels mite be you niko or ms lee, and who knows u probably boring and ordinary as hell. Di girl wear her thing with her own sense of style… appreciate the difference and stop hating.
the way u write mek it sound like seh dressing a certain way should only be left to certain pple. i dont disagree that local artists can and should also support local designers but when u make a big statement bout wearing clothes from “pple who dont care for u” and all of dat is just u exposin ur own prejudice… when rihanna wears versace, you expect it so you dont have no criticism, but if a jamaican girl wear it she is a want to be. when rihanna was in barbados would you have said the same thing? just open ur mind to a new ting and stop hate. A so wi fight down wi one another all di while…. seckle yuhself.
Cherine is a very beautiful and talented artist. People who are jealous of her beauty needs to get the hell of this page and appreciate a good woman when you see one. Who the hell cares what the woman wears. I think she looks gorgeous with her smile. If you don’t have something appropriate to say then keep it to your damn self.
Love how Marcia just have Cherine and Queen under har fold. Bless up di woman dem rastafari positive artists Respect
Ras Peter
Shes Royal . Nuh seh nutting
Wow Cherine yo living it up mama Congrats