Thu | Mar 28, 2024

QORIHC to honour ‘queens’ on Sunday

Published:Saturday | March 25, 2023 | 3:25 AM
Model and lifestyle coach, Althea Laing, is the Tribute Queen for QORIHC.
Model and lifestyle coach, Althea Laing, is the Tribute Queen for QORIHC.
Jenifer ‘Jenny Jenny’ Small will be crowned queen on Sunday by QORIHC.
Jenifer ‘Jenny Jenny’ Small will be crowned queen on Sunday by QORIHC.
QORIHC founder, Laurell Nurse.
QORIHC founder, Laurell Nurse.
Yendi Phillipps in a QORIHC 2023 awardee.
Yendi Phillipps in a QORIHC 2023 awardee.
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On Sunday, March 26, 23 women from various categories of entertainment will be honoured at the Queens of Reggae Island Honorary Ceremony (QORIHC) and Ball at the Courtleigh Auditorium in New Kingston.

Laurell Nurse, founder and chief organiser, shared that the event seeks to highlight women from various sectors of the entertainment industry for their stellar contributions.

“QORIHC is multi-generational. Honorees this year include, but not limited to, model and lifestyle coach, Althea Laing, who is the Tribute Queen; Bridget Anderson; Jenny Jenny; Lorna Wainwright; Debbie Bissoon; Susan Simes; Pamputtae; Sharon Schroeter; Monica Jackson; Gem Myers; Yendi Phillip; Brick and Lace; Sher Luxury Doll; Terminal 4 Medial; Donna Hope, and Neahlis,” Nurse said.

Nurse started her mission in 2016 and currently there are more than 80 queens proudly wearing the QORIHC sash.

“Being a singer and a nurse contributed to me wanting to do this project because the nurse side of me knows that it takes many complicated systems within the body working together to make the whole body function well. So I placed that thinking on the entertainment industry observing that it takes many categories to make it work and that they should be recognised. QORIHC is synonymous with nurture and glamour,” she explained.

Nurse added that QORIHC was privileged to have been able to honour the late Dorraine Samuels and Leonie Forbes before their passing, but lamented that the organisation “missed recognising the late Elva Ruddock, Barbara Gloudon and Karen Smith, who were all slated to be honoured as time continued”.

Taking immense pride in her passion project, she shared that comments from former queens are testament to the importance of events such as QORIHC. She noted that international model Stacey McKenzie, who was honoured in 2019, in her acceptance speech stated, “I have received much recognition from all over the world as a successful international model, but this award is extra special for me because this award is my first recognition award from my country of Jamaica.”

“Another honoree, DHQ Carlene Smith, who was a premiere honoree in 2016, stated in her acceptance speech that ‘it is great to be honoured while you are alive’. And there are countless others that I could quote,” Nurse said.

She explained that this year’s event will see the “queens” for 2022 and 2023 being honoured simultaneously.

Guest speakers on Sunday will be Mr Vegas and StacyMac, while there will be performances by Jahdore, Diego the Comedian, D-Major, Mary Isaacs, Black Queen and Zah-Lee.