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It was love at first sight for the ‘Sub-10 King’

Published:Monday | February 25, 2019 | 12:00 AMKrysta Anderson/Gleaner Writer
Asafa and Alyshia Powell after their nuptials.
Asafa Powell and his groomsmen.
The couple's first dance as husband and wife.
The wedding party.
Asafa Powell and his bride, Alyshia Miller.
Asafa Powell and Alyshia Miller reciting their vows.
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Hand in hand. Heart to heart. Fate prevailed to a happily ever after for handsome sprint sensation Asafa Powell. who made beautiful Canadian model, Alyshia Miller, his wife.

The two met in 2012 in Toronto. Asafa was in Alyshia’s neck of the woods for a track meet. She was accompanied to the event by her friend who, at the time, was head over heels in love with the athlete. Star-struck, she rushed over for a picture, leaving Alyshia waiting in the wings. Asafa obliged the photo op, but he secretly had eyes for someone else to be his leading lady.

Fast-forward to 2015. The model unexpectedly received a direct message from the track star via Instagram, casually saying hi and requesting the opportunity to get to know her. The rest, as it is famously said, is love history. “Initially, my reaction was, ‘Why is he messaging me?!’ Then my best friend said ‘Just get to know him’. I took about a week to respond to him, and here we are,” she revealed to The Gleaner.

They made the decision to enter a relationship with each other in November 2015.

Captivated by his smile, Alyshia described the love of her life as handsome, compassionate, kind, warm and friendly. Apart from being the ‘Sub-10 King’, she said Asafa is hard working, waking up every day ready to conquer the world. She also admires how he demonstrates sympathy towards others and is always willing to give and share without hesitation. “What I love most about him is his perseverance in everything he does. I love how attentive he is with everything. He knows me better than I know myself,” she added.

When it comes to pushing for more in her career and life itself, Asafa encourages Alyshia to never settle for less. “He’s always there for me emotionally, which is so important for me. He’s always made me a priority and allowed me to be myself. He’s accepted my flaws and all. He has nurtured our bond with patience and understanding.”

Alyshia realised Asafa was the one about a year into dating. Everything felt so organic and real that it felt like they had known each for years. A year and a half into the relationship, Asafa proposed.

Planned Proposal

 

He’d taken pictures of Aylshia’s hand while she was sleeping to figure out his love’s ring size. “He picked out the ring and guessed my ring size perfectly. He then proposed on Valentine’s weekend before going to dinner. I was getting dressed, and he turned me around and said, ‘I want to spend the rest of my life with you. Will you marry me?’ and I said yes!!!! It was definitely the happiest day of my life!”

 

Wedding planner Aiesha Panton met with Alyshia and checked out her mood board on how she desired the wedding to look. Panton then brought the bride’s vision to life, transforming the entire venue into a fairy-tale wonderland.

 

The two were joined in holy matrimony on February 16 in Montego Bay. “Wedding ceremony and reception were filled with love, lots of laughter and full of vibes. It was an amazing night for my husband and me. Our family and close friends had a great time and didn’t want to leave when the night came to an end.”

 

The best moment for the blushing bride came while walking down the aisle when she was greeted by Asafa’s enchanting and inviting smile. “His embrace was so warm and loving. He kept me laughing the entire ceremony.” She thanked her family, close friends and loved ones, including her husband, who made their dream wedding an epic reality.

 

krysta.anderson@gleanerjm.com