The Better of Jamaica 2024 recognises people and organisations whose contributions embody excellence and go away a long-lasting affect on their communities and the diaspora. From trailblazers to innovators, the awards honour those that encourage significant progress and rejoice one of the best of Jamaican achievement.
This 12 months’s awards featured two standout classes: Individuals’s Selection and Influence Makers. The Individuals’s Selection Awards rejoice people and entities who’ve captured the hearts of the general public, incomes widespread admiration and assist. The Influence Makers class highlights these whose work has left an indelible mark, showcasing the ability of management, imaginative and prescient, and resilience.
Beneath, we shine a highlight on the inspiring tales and accomplishments of the 2024 awardees.
The Influence Makers Awardees
Are people and organisations whose contributions have left an indelible mark on their communities and past. From trailblazing management to fostering change and innovation, these honourees embody the spirit of excellence and resilience. This 12 months’s awardees—Particular person of the Yr, Enterprise of the Yr USA, and Change Maker of the Yr—showcase the ability of imaginative and prescient, willpower, and the power to encourage significant progress.
Particular person of the Yr : Sheryl Lee Ralph – Actress and Singer
Sheryl Lee Ralph is a shining beacon of excellence within the leisure world, recognized for her unimaginable expertise and deep connection to her Jamaican roots. An Emmy Award-winning actress, her performances have captivated audiences throughout many years, most lately within the acclaimed collection Abbott Elementary. Past her achievements on display, Ralph is a devoted advocate for social causes, championing ladies’s rights, HIV/AIDS consciousness, and youth empowerment.
Her Jamaican heritage has been a cornerstone of her identification, shaping her values and galvanizing her work. Proudly carrying her tradition along with her, Ralph has served as a cultural ambassador, utilizing her platform to focus on the richness of Jamaican expertise and custom.
Her achievements stand as a testomony to her resilience, imaginative and prescient, and unwavering dedication to creating a distinction on the earth. Sheryl Lee Ralph is just not solely a trailblazer however a real inspiration, bridging the hole between her homeland and the worldwide stage.
Change Maker of the Yr : The Honourable Decide Jewel Scott
The Honourable Decide Jewel Scott has carved her identify in historical past because the first Jamaican-American female Superior Court Judge in Clayton County, Georgia. Her journey is one among willpower and excellence, breaking limitations within the authorized career and paving the way in which for better illustration. A trailblazer in each sense, Decide Scott embodies the qualities of a transformative chief, inspiring numerous others along with her exceptional achievements.
Past her judicial accomplishments, Judge Scott is a tireless advocate for justice and equality. She has used her platform to champion the rights of underrepresented communities, guaranteeing equity and fairness stay on the forefront of her work. Her dedication to creating significant change extends past the courtroom, as she actively engages in mentorship and neighborhood outreach, empowering the subsequent technology of leaders.
Decide Scott’s contributions resonate deeply along with her Jamaican heritage, reflecting values of resilience, integrity, and repair. Her pioneering work and unwavering dedication to justice haven’t solely formed the authorized panorama however have additionally left a long-lasting affect on the lives of these she serves. A real change maker, she stands as a shining instance of excellence and advocacy.
Enterprise of the Yr in USA : Caribbean Sunshine Bakery
Caribbean Sunshine Bakery has turn into a cornerstone of the Jamaican diaspora, delivering genuine Caribbean flavours that evoke the heat and vibrancy of residence. Established with a dedication to preserving Jamaica’s wealthy culinary heritage, the bakery has grown right into a beloved establishment, providing a big selection of conventional pastries, breads, and savoury delights. From flaky patties to indulgent gizzadas, each chunk carries a style of Jamaica’s soul.
With a legacy spanning many years, Caribbean Sunshine Bakery isn’t just a enterprise however a cultural bridge, connecting Jamaicans overseas to their roots. Its unwavering dedication to high quality and authenticity has made it a trusted identify throughout the USA, fostering a way of neighborhood and pleasure amongst those that cherish their heritage. The bakery’s success is a testomony to the exhausting work and imaginative and prescient of its founders, in addition to its skill to adapt and thrive in a aggressive market.
Past its scrumptious choices, Caribbean Sunshine Bakery exemplifies excellence by its contribution to the diaspora. By selling Jamaican tradition and flavours, it has strengthened ties inside the neighborhood and launched numerous others to the island’s culinary treasures. Caribbean Sunshine Bakery stands as a shining instance of how custom and innovation can come collectively to create one thing actually extraordinary.
Enterprise of the Yr in Jamaica : Pink Apron
Pink Apron has established itself as a frontrunner in Jamaica’s culinary scene, mixing conventional Jamaican flavours with up to date culinary artistry. Recognized for its modern menus and distinctive service, the corporate caters to a variety of occasions, remodeling them into unforgettable experiences.
By championing using native substances and showcasing the island’s various meals tradition, Pink Apron has turn into an emblem of high quality and creativity, delighting meals fanatics and occasion planners alike.
Past its culinary achievements, Pink Apron has made a major affect on Jamaica’s meals business by elevating the requirements of gastronomy and galvanizing a brand new technology of cooks. Its dedication to celebrating Jamaican heritage with a contemporary twist has not solely set it aside but additionally highlighted the richness of the island’s culinary traditions on a broader scale.
Individuals’s Selection Awardees
The Individuals’s Selection Award celebrates people or entities who’ve captured the hearts of the general public, incomes the very best variety of nominations of their respective classes. This honour displays widespread admiration and assist from the neighborhood, recognising those that have made a major and optimistic affect on the tradition.
Finest Social Media Persona: Miss Pearly Grandson
Miss Pearly Grandson, a comedic sensation, has captured hearts together with his hilarious and relatable portrayals of Jamaican life. By way of his viral sketches and vibrant characters, he brings on a regular basis Jamaican tradition to life, mixing humour and authenticity. With a rising fan base and collaborations by MPG Productionz, he continues to entertain and encourage laughter throughout generations.
Finest Sportsman/Lady : Rajindra Campbell
Rajindra Campbell’s journey to the 2024 Paris Olympics was marked by perseverance and willpower. Dealing with monetary constraints and the necessity to work full-time to assist his coaching, he contemplated leaving the game simply months earlier than the Video games.
Regardless of these challenges, Campbell certified for the Olympics and made historical past by securing Jamaica’s first Olympic medal in a throwing occasion, incomes bronze within the males’s shot put with a throw of twenty-two.15 meters. His achievement not solely highlights his private resilience but additionally signifies Jamaica’s rising prowess in area occasions.
Finest Reggae Tune 2024 : YG Marley – “Reward Jah within the Moonlight”
YG Marley’s breakout single, “Reward Jah within the Moonlight”, took the world by storm in 2024. Sampling his grandfather Bob Marley’s 1978 basic “Disaster,” the monitor blended timeless reggae vibes with fashionable sounds, incomes Platinum certification within the U.S.
Its viral TikTok success and a charming music video directed by Cole Bennett propelled it to chart-topping positions worldwide. Celebrated for bridging generational musical tastes, the track cemented YG Marley’s place as a rising reggae star.
Finest Reggae Act : Buju Banton
Buju Banton, born Mark Myrie, is a legendary determine in reggae and dancehall music, celebrated for his profound artistry and resilience. After a decade-long hiatus, his launch in December 2018 was a second of pleasure and unity for followers worldwide.
The welcome he acquired again in Jamaica was nothing in need of extraordinary, culminating within the iconic ‘Lengthy Stroll to Freedom’ live performance in March 2019, the place over 40,000 folks gathered to rejoice his return.
In 2024, Buju continued his triumphant journey with ‘The Overcomer Tour,’ marking his first U.S. enviornment tour in over a decade, reconnecting with followers and solidifying his place as one among reggae’s most enduring stars.
Finest Media Persona: Simone Clarke-Cooper
Simone Clarke-Cooper has been a outstanding determine in Jamaican media for over 20 years, recognized for her participating presence and insightful storytelling. In 2020, she launched “Sim Soul Periods,” a groundbreaking tv present that gives a secure area for sharing private tales, which has resonated deeply with audiences.
The present’s success led to stay occasions, equivalent to ‘A Sim Soul Celebration – Rely Your self In,’ additional cementing its affect. Clarke-Cooper’s dedication to genuine communication continues to encourage and uplift the Jamaican neighborhood.
Finest Trend Icon : Lesa Milan
Lesa Milan is a celebrated entrepreneur and international trend icon who proudly represents her Jamaican heritage. Recognized for her function on The Actual Housewives of Dubai, she has captivated audiences along with her impeccable fashion and dynamic character. Because the founding father of Mina Roe, a luxurious maternity and girls’s put on model, Lesa has gained worldwide approval for her modern designs that empower ladies and rejoice femininity.
Her Jamaican roots have been a cornerstone of her success, shaping her vibrant aesthetic and entrepreneurial spirit. Lesa’s skill to merge fashion with function has positioned her as a trailblazer within the trend world, bringing international recognition to Jamaican expertise. A real inspiration, she continues to showcase the wonder and energy of her heritage whereas redefining excellence within the trend business.
