Chiney K talks Christmas in Jamaica, her role as an Enjoy Responsibly Day ambassador

Entrepreneur, social media influencer and radio host Chiney K is set to spend her first Christmas in Jamaica in almost two decades. And even though she is looking forward to a festive season “outside of the parties”, the thought of a Christmas in the sun is giving the bubbly creative “mixed feelings”.

“This is definitely a first since I was probably nine or ten. The type of Christmas I know is a wintery one,” Chiney K told Living.

She added, “Growing up in New York, later on, it was always about the Rockefeller Center Tree Lighting and all that. Then on Christmas Day, which is also my mom’s birthday, it is normally a double celebration that sometimes begins at midnight by opening presents and then a full day of cooking.”

Chiney K’s following has grown since the launch of her On My Mind series in 2016, and she has often featured her mother, nicknamed ‘Hot Girl Benz’, in her short, entertaining vlogs. The Jamaican Chinese matriarch has also become a social media sensation. After stepping up to the challenges on the elimination-style reality TV show, The Social House, Chiney K, whose given name is Kerry-Ann Collins, walked away with the million-dollar cash prize. However, she has settled for travelling back and forth for short visits to see her mother in the US, having been buckled down on the island since receiving new job opportunities, and getting her Joli Faire brand of organic hair-growth oil established locally.

“I haven’t even had a chance to decorate as yet, but I really can’t wait to experience that traditional Jamaican Christmas as an adult, aside from parties because events are one in a million, but to be with family here. I just miss my mom, and it is going to [be] different celebrating from a distance.”

She has also accepted the role of ambassador for Enjoy Responsibly Day (ER Day), hosted by Red Stripe and the Desnoes & Geddes Foundation. Focused on the future, the two entities are moving beyond the consumption of their products and looking at maintaining a balanced and healthy lifestyle. The activities planned for today amplify the moderation conversation, specifically on their ‘Drink & Live Responsibly’ campaign. One of today’s activities includes the Responsible Living Now virtual forum, which will feature presentations by local and international experts and policy leaders on the issue of alcohol abuse endorsed by the Minister of Education, Youth and Information Fayval Williams, who will deliver the keynote address. Red Stripe’s campaign is built on three pillars: drinking responsibly, staying active and celebrating safely.

Searching for ways to cope with the uncertainty and loss brought on by the pandemic, as well as the feeling of loneliness, has led many to consume more alcohol than normal. “I know during the pandemic, and in going through a lot of stress, people often think the way to get through that is by having a drink,” was Chiney K’s assessment, adding that this has motivated her to take on this new role and look at her intake in new ways.

She said, “As an ER Day ambassador, I’m here to basically educate my followers, and the masses, on the fact that we need to enjoy and drink alcohol responsibly. While there is nothing wrong with drinking alcohol, there are ways to do it responsibly and safely. My role will be ensuring that everyone understands these practices, especially now that it is the festive season — a traditionally high consumption period — and we have a little more freedom to celebrate.”

While Chiney K is not a medical professional, she has had experiences testing her limits, and has seen how how challenging yourself to think twice before having another glass of wine, cocktail, or beer can actually do a world of good. “I like to be real and say, we have all been to the point of getting drunk, waking up with the hangovers and regret it the next morning, and it’s not really a nice feeling, neither is it healthy in the long run. That I can attest to because I have been there, and because of that, I do know what my limits are when it comes to properly enjoying alcohol.”

She shared six tips for responsible drinking.

stephanie.lyew@gleanerjm.com

Chiney K’s enjoy responsibly tips

1. Do a body assessment. Apart from fixing up and looking your best, I examine myself internally, ensuring I don’t have a headache or any other aches. You want to be able to enjoy alcohol while feeling good from the very beginning.

2. You want to make sure you’re full (not stuffed) but have something because drinking on an empty stomach only allows for more of the alcohol to be absorbed into your bloodstream at a quicker pace.

3. Decide what you are drinking and when you find that specific alcoholic beverage, challenge yourself to stick with it! Mixing the beverages, whether beer, champagne, or hard liquor, throws off everything.

4. If you begin to feel like the alcohol is taking control, take a few minutes, and I don’t mean five minutes as it relates to the duration of an event; I mean closer to an hour. There is no enjoyment in missing the rest of a party because you are drunk, so once you get to that ‘uh-oh’ point, right there is the time to take a break from drinking the alcoholic beverage and have some water.

5. One of the most important tips is to stay hydrated. When you’re thirsty, don’t grab your alcoholic drink. You want to make sure you have a balance. Make sure you have equal amounts of water on the table so that if at any moment you need a break, you can draw for that.

6. Especially now, when you have a reason to celebrate from the holidays, to birthdays, cheers to life in the pandemic to a longer extension on the curfew, we tend to want to go all out, so the key is not to be peer pressured to have one more drink if you know you have had enough. Stick to your gut. Know your limits!