Stylish Rewards with
Back for the second year after a successful launch in 2017, Campari Pop Style officially kicked off on Tuesday, September 18 with a media launch event at J Wray & Nephew’s multi-purpose event space @ Twenty Three. The event diverted from the typical media launch rubric by having male and female media practitioners getting in on the action by competing for the evening’s best dressed and two $50,000 cash prizes. Host Khadine “Miss Kitty” Hylton gave attendees an overview of the 2018 Campari Pop Style competition and unveiled the official video advert, which by the way, is visually appealing. Campari Pop Style is a no-entry-fee four-stop party series that rewards fashionable party-goers with cash prizes. The series kicks off in Kingston on Saturday, October 6 at the Terrace Bar and Grill. It then moves to Pines Plaza in Junction, St Elizabeth on Saturday, October 27 and then Skateland in Linstead on Saturday, November 17. At each of these parties, a group of judges will select the most stylish individuals in the crowd and from the judges’ selection, the audience will choose a man and a woman who will each win $100,000. At the grand finale in Kingston (location to be announced) on Saturday, December 1 the regional winners will vie against each other as well as “wildcards and contestants selected at the finale” for the title of Most Stylish Male and Female and a grand prize of $250,000 each.
Campari Pop Style 2018 resident judges are Deeshagaye “Deesha Ravers” Davis — the only female dancer in the Ravers Clavers crew and Orville “Tony Krash” Lewis, Campari Pop Style 2017’s Most Stylish Male winner. They are supported by guest judges Shanice ‘Shanzi’ Allen, 2017 Campari Pop Style regional winner, Sulliman ‘Fashion Barber’ Brown and Shop Neccessits principal Taanania Tracey.
Want an insider’s tip on how to “pop style”? According to Alison Moss-solomon, brand PR manager, J Wray and Nephew, “We are looking for persons to just be themselves. Style is something that is subjective. You don’t necessarily have to come in gowns and suits and you absolutely don’t have to wear red.”
Most importantly, Moss-solomon wants Campari Pop Style contestants to be “comfortable in their own skin”. When asked by the host for a few tips, Campari
Pop Style 2017’s Most Stylish Female winner and Tia Clothes Girl principal Kristia Franklin suggested thinking outside the box.
It has to be said that Hylton had the audience in stitches with her natural wit and observational humour. She reminded guests that Jamaicans have always been a stylish people who take pride in individuality and creativity. Between imploring people to stop leaving their houses looking like the broken handle of a kitchen knife (pause and imagine it) and encouraging women to not be ashamed of their wigs — Weave it until you achieve it and if you can’t grow it, sew it,” Hylton encouraged guests to abandon the traditional rules of fashion and embrace innovation. “Beauty and fashion are who we are” and since these flow in our blood, the 2018 Campari Pop Style should be an extravaganza.