Top 30: Jamaican Public Figures Who Age Well

In other cultures, public figures are often slaves to the cosmetic industry.  A little nip tuck here, a little botox there and enhancements everywhere and anywhere in between.  However, in Jamaica, people pride themselves on being able to ‘look good’ and age gracefully while remaining as youthful as they possibly can.  These 30 Jamaicans seem to have found the fountain of youth and are maturing like fine wine.

# 30) Neville Bell

You have been waking up to him on Smile Jamaica for years.  His career in media started over two decades ago and yet somehow he has managed to look pretty much the same. Guess all that football playing is paying off.

#29) P. J. Patterson

Can you believe that he is 78 years of age? Mr. Patterson served as the sixth prime minister of Jamaica and led the country from 1992 to 2006.  This man became the face that this generation associated with politics, and to honest, he looks exactly as he did during the 90s.

# 28)   Michael Lee Chin

Mr. Chin is money in motion.  At 62 years old, he can retire now and just focus on remaining youthful.

# 27) Kerlyn Brown

The day Kerlyn leaves CVM TV is the day that station should come off air.  She has been the face of the 8:00 pm news since the 90s and she gets hotter and hotter each year.

# 26) Lady Saw

The Queen of the dancehall, Mumma Saw, at age 45 is looking sexier and more refined than most of the emerging dancehall ladies half her age.

# 25) Amelia Milk Sewell

Did you know that Milk has been involved in the local entertainment industry from as early as 1998?  Fast forward to 2013 and she still ‘stay good’.

# 24) Sean Paul

Dancehall superstar, Sean Paul at the moment could pass for a 29 year old, but if you were to check his birth paper you’d discover that he is a 40 yrs old…. Buju Banton is the same age. See the difference?

# 23) Beenie Man

The ‘Girls Dem Sugar’ , at 39 is probably the youngest looking grandfather in Jamaica.

# 22) Ken Boothe

This 65 years old reggae icon seems to have been sheltered from that storm called aging.

#21) Fae Ellington

This woman’s glow is the source of her youthful appearance. Always radiant. Always charming. 60 and still looking sweet.

# 20) KD Knight

Doesn’t he look exactly the same now as he did when you were a child?

#19) Dorraine Samuels

Miss RJR, now Miss Prime Time News. She is as gorgeous and she was at the beginning of her career.

# 18) Michael Anthony Cuffe

Y’all remember in the 90s when he used to host the morning show on CVM TV?

# 17) Mazie Miller/Dorothy Lightbourne

 Mazie Miller aka Miss Creative Cooking has been hosting that show for over two decades. Dorothy on the other hand, has spent her life in politics.  I still cannot believe that she is 76 years old.

# 16) Delano- Renaissance

 The Renaissance sound system has been around for years yet Delano’s appearing younger than many of the new disc jocks. Weird isn’t it?

# 15) Cindy Breakspeare

58 and still looking as fab as she did back in 1976 when she won the Miss World crown.

# 14) Shaggy

Mr. Boombastic , at 44, looks younger than many of the current dancehall acts,

# 13) Tony Matterhorn

Yes, Tony Matterhorn is actually 41 years old. Surprised?

#12)  Audrey Reid

Popular Jamaican actress, Audrey Reid , at 43, doesn’t look any different than she did when she played the sassy role of Marcia in Dancehall Queen. I guess black really doesn’t crack.

# 11) Carlene Davis

God is really working on this woman because age 60 never looked this good.

# 10) Ian Boyne

For over 25 years, Ian Boyne has been interviewing people on his popular television show Profile.  I dare you to find an old Profile video and compare it to how he looks presently.  Time has been good to him.

# 9) Merlene Ottey

 Sprint Queen and Jamaican treasure, Ottey is the epitome of determination. Oh and by the way, she is 53 years of age.

# 8 ) Professor Nuts

“You are only as old as you feel” and this 51 year old dancehall veteran not only feels young, he looks it.

# 7) Marcia Griffiths

Over six decades on this earth and she is still glowing. Sweet reggae music must be the reason.

# 6) Kiprich/Ding Dong

These two men somehow have no intention of aging any time soon.  Both began their professional careers over 15 years ago.

# 5) Portia Simpson-Miller

Portia is just three years shy off 70. Just look at her.

# 4) Jenny Jenny

 Media personality, Jenny Jenny, at 37 just keeps looking better and better.

# 3 ) Cham

 Does Cham look like at 34 year old? Nope. I guess that’s what happens when your wife ‘Tun up, Tun up’.

# 2) Denise Hunt

 I have a feeling her face will remain like this for the next thirty years.  Did y’all know she had a role in How Stella Got Her Groove Back?

# 1) Lisa Hanna

 Lisa Hanna, Oh Lisa Hanna.  Why must you age in reverse? “No primples, no mosquito bite”. Miss World 1993 must be on some vampire diet because not many people can say they look better now than they did when they won a world title. Lisa Rene Hanna at 37, you are a timeless… ageless beauty.

Forced Out: Story of a Gay Jamaican Teen

Strikingly bold yet sedate eyes move frantically around the room seemingly fishing for something missing.  His clothes stretch across his noticeably altered skin.  He glides towards the door as his hands caress his fastidiously braided hair.  He is not the stereotypical Jamaican male.  He doesn’t want to be.  He is a courageous young man clutching to a relationship with his family while learning to adjust to the consequences of having an unpopular identity.

At 19, Keive Dyre is a humble, hopeful, humanistic Jamaican homosexual.  In a country in which males are easily and openly rejected for any public portrayal of a perceived ‘deviant’ lifestyle, he is somehow brave enough to reject social norms and embrace his ‘true’ identity.

Born and raised in Salem, a relatively small community in St. Ann, Keive grew to appreciate family life and develop a sense of independence and responsibility from an early age.  His mother, Carlene Moodie, has five children; each with a different father.  With no stable father figure present, Ms. Moodie had to assume the role of a single parent.  “She had to struggle to make ends meet especially being a mom with five kids. Dad assisted financially but not always,” explained Keive.

In 1999, five year old Keive experienced his first major dramatic incident.  The place he had called home was burnt to the ground, forcing the family to move to his grandmother’s house.  To this day the cause of the fire is unknown.  The family stayed there for approximately three years until his mom was able to stand on her own again.  Ms. Moodie stated, “I did have to stay till I could buy back few furniture and find a new place to rent…Wen mi lef grandma him a did bout eight”.

During his childhood, Keive remembers sharing wonderful moments with his family.  “I was a jovial and outspoken child…I lived like the average child.  I played nuff games and had a free spirit,” shared Keive.  He adds that the only thing he did that may be considered ‘different’ was to participate in ‘female’ games such as dolly house and dandy shandy.  He maintains that his gender bending behavior was never seriously addressed by his mom.  “Mommy did jus laugh wen mi gwan like girl and stuff…she and my sister found it entertaining,” revealed Keive.  His father, on the contrary, was never amused by it.  He recalls a conversation he had with his dad in which he asked his father to purchase additional underwear.  His father replied “panty or brief”.  Keive laughed.  “I distinctly remember him telling me dat mi gwaan like too much gal and dat any day him hear seh mi gay him a go kill mi,” disclosed Keive.

The relaxed and fun relationship Keive had with his mom was something his other siblings envied.  “They laughed like best friends. They were inseparable. If dem di any closer dem wuda be conjoined twins,” shared Keive’s eldest sister, Michele.  “I rememba dis one time me and mum did a chat dis woman from down di road bout how she smell bad.  Fun times,” shared Keive.  In addition to conversing about trivial subject matters he remembers discussing with his mom his dreams, getting out of poverty and developing a strong sense of self.

At 13, while attending Ochi Rios High School, Keive’s sexual identity began to develop.  He started having feelings for other boys and desperately tried to come to grips with his emotions.  “I liked girls enuh but my heart was never really with any of them,” revealed Keive.  As he progressed through high school, he met other gay teens, gained friendships and started dating.  He states that he would often regret having feelings for boys.  “I would never even wish this life on my worst enemy…jus coming to terms with yourself is extremely draining,” stated Keive.  He argues that he never viewed himself as a misfit.  He simply wanted to function as a normal teen. His only concern was disappointing his family and having to deal with people’s reactions.  Losing his mother’s support was never a primary issue.  “I know my mom.  I knew if she found out her greatest problem would be others harming me,” divulged Keive.  On the flipside, he vehemently worried about his father knowing of his sexuality.  “Mi kno seh if he found out, he would stop financing me”.  So as a precaution, he masqueraded as a heterosexual around his family and community members to avoid scrutiny.

However, this did not end up happening, as things took and unexpected turn.  After returning from church one day, his mother greeted him at the door with his diary in hand.  He was speechless.  His diary held captive his daily activities, tales of all his relationships and confirmation of his sexuality. That night the closet crumbled leaving him open to the world.  “Da night deh, I’m not gonna lie I was upset…Mi did always have a feeling but just seeing di proof like dat…I just wasn’t prepared,” revealed his mom.  Keive added, “My mom and sister were very upset. They yelled, cried and mom even threatened to tell my father if I didn’t stop being gay”.  Not once during the confrontation did Keive speak.  “Him jus stand up wid dis sad look pon him face,” shared Michele.  It wasn’t until bedtime that tears rushed from his eyes as he recapped the day’s events.  After a few tense days, life at home returned to normal the following week.  “Wi jus reason wid him and tell him we love him sameway and wi soon realize dat he was the same lazy boy,” shared Ms. Moodie.

Now that he and his mom had regained their relationship, the only other person to confront was his father Raymond.  After leaving high school, gaining employment and moving out of his mom’s home, Keive prepared to break the news to his dad who had just migrated to the United States.  He decided to send him a text message.  “I jus got up and sent him a three word text “I am gay,” stated Keive.  In less than a minute his father responded, “Thanks for the truth”.  Understandably, Keive was quite surprised by his father’s seemingly positive reaction.  Never in a million years would he have expected such a sincere answer.

Today, Keive enjoys a harmonious and honest relationship with his mother and siblings.  “We are the closest we have ever been,” expressed Keive.  He mentions that he communicates with his mother daily and for the first time, is able to discuss his relationships with her; something he finds a bit cumbersome.  Contrastingly, he is yet to develop such a bond with his father.  “My father never calls.  We speak like every six months or so and I’m the one who always calls,” shared Keive.  He describes the conversations as brief and forced.  Still he wishes to have his father’s support.  He shares, “I know it must be hard for him to deal with having a gay son but I would love to have him in my life.  I don’t need society to approve of me; I would rather to have family. I’m not a rapist or some demon child… I just want him to see that I’m an intelligent and ambitious young man who wants nothing more than to make him proud.”