Rising star Jayla Hutchinson seizes opportunities in performing arts
Published:Wednesday | October 2, 2024 | 12:08 AMAsha Wilks/Gleaner Writer
Thirteen-year-old Jayla Hutchinson believes that immersing herself in every aspect of the performing arts will expand her skill set and make her a strong candidate for any career she eventually chooses.
As a student at St Andrew High School for Girls, Jayla has eagerly seized every opportunity that comes her way to ensure a successful career in the arts.
Her next major endeavour is to represent Jamaica at the 2025 World Championships of Performing Arts (WCOPA) in Long Beach, California, where she will compete as a vocalist and model.
Jayla’s mother, Daycia Webley, told The Gleaner on Tuesday that her daughter has the confidence, talent, support and mindset to bring home a gold medal.
Having gained insights into stage presence and what it means to perform with confidence, Jayda has firmly embraced her belief in returning home victorious.
Webley stated that long before she discovered her daughter’s singing talent, she realised her potential to become a model.
“From birth, she has never been camera shy ... . She always had this fun personality and she’s always ready to pose for the camera and so forth and people have always said to me [that] I should let her do ads, and that’s how it started,” she said.
Jayla’s big break came from appearing in the Tastee Cheese ‘Hol’ A Vibes and Tin!’ commercial that aired during Easter of 2021. Prior to this, she was engaged in smaller school events, which included dancing.
Webley said she knew this was Jayla’s “world” when she saw her on set for the commercial, where she “transformed” and radiated joy in her involvement with the acting project.
Since then, Jayla has appeared in advertisements for JN Bank, VM Building Society, and Rainforest Seafoods.
In 2022, the young artist performed in her first short film, Boys Don’t Cry, which was written by Sosiessia Nixon.
Another first is her participation in the Aladdin musical, which was staged by the junior theatre of the Jamaica Musical Theatre Company in early 2024.
Her modelling talent was highlighted in four editions of the Island Child Style Runway Show, where she began walking the runway in 2018.
She is currently sponsored by Zarabelle Limited, a talent agency, and Stylz FM, a Kingston-based radio station in Jamaica.
Webley said that although Jayla has always enjoyed singing, she did not truly recognise that her daughter sounded “different” until preparatory school.
She recalled a time when they were sitting around their dining table at home and Jayla volunteered to sing a grace. At the time, she was attending a Catholic school, where they recited graces.
“And I was like, ‘Wait, she don’t sound normal. She sounds like she has a [special] voice; she sounded different’, and I listened to her,” Webley said.
In her earlier years, Jayla struggled with asthma, but after changing her diet to avoid foods that increase mucus production, Webley noted that her daughter’s asthma issues have since disappeared.
“As she got older, the voice got stronger,” she added, noting that engaging in swimming has also helped with breathing techniques.
In a continued pursuit of honing her talents, Jayla has since participated in two semesters of the Voice Box Summer Singing Intensive Camp run by the Tessanne Chin Foundation, which develops the skills of some of Jamaica’s exceptionally talented young vocalists.
“I can tell you, I saw a major difference because one of the things was that she would do great in terms of singing and posting it on social media, but where I saw that she needed some help ... [was her onstage confidence]. I knew there was some doubt and a little nerves and I said, ‘Okay, she needs some training’, and that helped with that,” her mother explained.
Hutchinson would later go on to participate in The Four Seasons of Christmas, a Voice Box production.
“I personally do not believe that if you have a talent or a gift, that it should just be there. I wanted to ensure that she got the best opportunity in terms of any training, ... coaching, guidance, exposure, and development she would need, so that later on, she can decide if she wants to use it as just a hobby or if she wants to use it as a way of life in terms of earning,” Webley said.
Meanwhile, Jayla told The Gleaner that she has not identified a specific path that she would take just yet.
“I have kind of made up my mind, but I haven’t finalised the exact direction in performing arts that I’ll be going. There are certain sectors of performing arts that I’d like to venture into more before I can make a definite [call],” she said, adding that she is looking forward to learning to play an instrument.
Hutchinson’s expenses to attend WCOPA total US$15,000, including airfare, ground transportation, meals, lodging, performance attire, competition fees, team gear, coaching, and other costs associated with getting ready for competition.
Her mother admitted to The Gleaner that she occasionally runs into financial difficulties while trying to fulfil her daughter’s dreams, but she believes it is crucial to support children in following their passions.
“It was a no-brainer,” she continued. “You don’t want to wait until she’s 18 and then she’s trying to balance work, which is when she should be leaning on her talents to make a living.”
Jayla has expressed her deep appreciation for her mother’s involvement in and support of her numerous creative endeavours. She noted that some children do not have the same degree of support from their parents, friends, and other family members as she does, which serves as further encouragement.
How you can help
Interested persons can donate in support of Jayla Hutchinson’s Journey to WCOPA 2025 at https://realhelpinghands.com/campaign/support-jaylas-journey-to-wcopa-2025/.