A fabulous celebration of women unfolds at QORIHC
Published:Thursday | March 28, 2024 | 12:06 AMYasmine Peru/Senior Gleaner Writer
A fabulous celebration of women of varying ages, shapes, colours and form – united through natural sisterhood, and also by being threads in the fabric of the entertainment industry– unfolded inside the Karl Hendrickson Auditorium on Sunday evening.
Dressed to impress and savouring their moment in the spotlight, the Goodies and the “Dolly dem” showed up and regally strutted their stuff. Audrey Reid slayed in a blue dress with a high side split; Press Kay was a vision in a dazzling, body-hugging gown; Sharon Marley turned the elegant knob all the way up; and dancer Kiss Kiss was daring in a pants that had one foot missing. It was truly an evening of camaraderie rather than competition and all bombastic side eyes were checked in at the door.
“This girl is on fire!” declared singer Mary Isaacs during her acceptance speech, and she spoke for many of the queens. But, in a rather interesting twist, which few saw coming, Isaacs said she just could not leave the podium without singling out at least one person on her long list of favourites – herself.
The audience was endeared to each queen through a two-minute video in which they spoke of the journey, achievements and desires. For 2024, QORIHC founder Laurell Nurse, had two tribute queens instead of one, the on-form, 96-year-old retired dance instructor, veteran broadcaster and media trainer, Alma Mock Yen, and public relations and marketing consultant Jackie Knight.
Mock Yen declared that she felt “very good” to be so awarded and “grateful that QORIHC dug me out at 96”.
“A proud nation is not made entirely of its politics, its foreign affairs, its commerce. It’s all the citizens ... but equally important are the little things, because little things mean a lot. And those little things improve the ‘feel-good feeling’ that some of us will feel particularly strong tonight when we receive that recognition ... and the rest of you, I hope will feel equally happy for supporting the QORIHC cause,” an age-defying Mock Yen stated, to much applause.
It was a profound moment when she received the award from her former student, L’Antoinette Stines.
Another first was the recognition of the QORIHC Angels, among them Doreen ‘Pinky’ Prendergast, the elder sister of Dancehall Queen Carlene, who lost her battle with cancer last year, and media personality and comedienne Elva Ruddock, who passed away in 2018. Their posthumous awards were collected by their sisters.
In her acceptance speech, Dancehall Queen Carlene could only manage to say, “Pinky, you know I miss you. I can’t do this,” and, with tears in her eyes, she hurriedly left the stage.
Ruddock’s sister Karen said that it was “gratifying to know that more than five years later my sister is being honoured”.
Guest speaker for the evening was the ever-regal Miss Jamaica World 1978, Joan McDonald, who delivered a solid presentation. She praised Laurell Nurse for “working assiduously to develop this outlet that will give a big push to women leaders in entertainment to be recognised, granted equal and full voice, gain participation and leadership in every aspect of the industry”.
McDonald added, “All too often we neglect to see the true value of women in this entertainment industry who are extremely talented and are innovators but have gotten no recognition by their peers or society.”
She spoke passionately of the importance of bonding together, and to “let our voices be that choir which decries the lack of skills training available for the more vulnerable in our society to propel them to national and personal advancement”.
Her challenge to the newly crowned queens was “to think carefully at what our collective legacy will be like for the next generation of queens”.
Among the honourees for this year were entertainers Sister Carol, Macka Diamond, D’Angel, Sharon Marley, Press Kay, Tifa, Vanessa Bling; radio host, Denise Miller; actress, Audrey Reid; event planner, Marcia McDonnough; media expert, Judith Bodley; TV/radio personality, Amelia ‘Milk’ Sewell; marketing and artiste management consultant, Jade Lee; dancers Mad Michelle and Kiss Kiss; fashion designer, Sophia Jones; Yolande Rattray-Wright; and film producer, Marcia Deans.
The incomparable Dr Myrna Hague Bradshaw served as the patron of QORIHC 2024, with Dufton Shepherd and Neisha-Yen Jones as the evening’s hosts. And, singer Nadine Sutherland joined them at the podium after serenading the queens. Also in attendance was Lady Patricia Allen, the wife of the Governor General, who had met some of the queens during a courtesy call last week.
One of the most heart-warming parts of the ceremony was the determination from those who attended to be present. Vanessa Bling missed her flight and made a yeoman effort to be present; Sharon Marley also had flight struggles, but she had to be there; Tifa had last-minute issues with her dress and ended up rummaging through someone’s closet and shared that she was “wearing one of Mummy’s dresses”.
Some queens dedicated their awards to family members and those who were there to cheer them on during the good times and bad. A high point of the celebration was the unscripted dance-off with Mad Michelle, Carlene, Latoya Style and L’Antoinette Stines after which the audience got out of their seats to “drift” all over the auditorium when Teejay’s hit song of the same name was played.
Performances came from Gem Myers, who exuded pure class, and the Rash Royalty Dancers.