Carnival Is Woman

-

 

If you're from the Caribbean, then you probably understand this better than most. The three major elements of any carnival are: dressing in masquerade, music, and dancing. This is constant regardless of the Caribbean territory. Think elaborate costumes, masks, feathers, headdresses, dancing, music, and drums, along with raucous behavior. Men can get away with a shorts and a t-shirt (or none), but for the Women... it's gonna be a production on Beyonce's level.

gif

An entire carnival support industry was created just to support women. One of the unspoken rules as a woman playing mas (Jamaican's say Jumping Carnival) is that whatever you're prepared to spend on your costume, be prepared to spend about half as much on getting ready: Think Carnival Boots, Carnival Makeup, Hair, Body Bronzing, Waxing, Nails, Stockings, Gloss for the road, Carnival Pouch, and possibly a photoshoot before you hit the road.


Women start to get ready for Carnival from as early as midnight. But... if at the end of it all they come out looking like this, then it's certainly worth it.

The word “carnival” itself is thought to mean “farewell to meat” or “farewell to flesh” the former referencing the Catholic practice of abstaining from red meat from Ash Wednesday until Easter. This festival is known for being a time of great indulgence before Lent (which is a time stressing the opposite), with drinking, overeating, and various other freedoms. Somewhere along the years, it has evolved to become "Freedom of the Flesh" which has since been interpreted as less clothes for women, gyrating and a whole lot of Alcohol on the streets.




Band launches and photo shoots, are primarily about the women, or the "Big Girls" of Carnival. Who's going to be the 'It' girl that is featured on most of the band pages and the girl who's photos literally have the ability to sell-out a sections. We'll probably have to do an entire blog on the 'It Girls of Carnival'. For now... meet Marissa

Instagram: @marissanwilliams

Soca music itself literally speaks to how women should behaving (dancing), should look, and what onlookers should be focusing on. The music is suggestive and raunchy... but most importantly it is 'Happy People Music'. 









Carnival... is indeed WOMAN.
Next Blog " The Big Girls Of Carnival"
Location: Caribbean

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

MIAMI Carnival and Carnival GLAM HUB

-
Image
  Miami Carnival 2021 will go down in history as being one of the most EPIC post-pandemic Carnivals ever. When all the other Carnivals got cancelled, Miami was the only destination that got the green light. Carnival Tabanca  was at its all time highest as the last major carnival was Trinidad Carnival 2020, which was a year and a half prior.   Carnival was BACK!!! With costumes and feathered backpacks ranging from anywhere between one and two thousand US dollars, all eyes are focused on the women. In Trinidad, there is a saying  “Carnival is Woman” I t’s easy to understand why. The production that goes into getting ready for Carnival as a woman is often times on par with, or even more expensive than what a woman spends on herself in preparation for her wedding day. In fact, between ‘chipping down the road’ and walking down the aisle -to some- there is no difference. On Carnival day -and rightfully so- every woman is a Princess and that’s why most Carnival costumes come with tiaras. In t
Read more

How did we get here?

-
Image
  What would have started as a story about a mentor and his mentee blossomed into something neither could have foreseen. This is where I introduce myself, Kibwe McGann -event planner, marketer, sponsorship magnet, aspiring mogul, carnival chaser, with a penchant for mentoring. And of course, the other half of this story, Gabrielle (Gabby) Waite  -marketing student, aspiring makeup artist, fashionista and glam girl.  Back in 2018, I had a client that needed me to select 8 models for a Carnival road march promotion. I was entrusted with the logistics of getting ready - costumes, hair, makeup, boots, transportation and lunch. Back then, I was very involved in a youth marketing agency called UCA -University College Ambassadors- where I was mentored the Exec body.  I shared with the Exec team the services I needed to fulfil my client's request and that night Gabby reached out saying she wanted to manage the glam process of getting the models ready.  I don't know much about makeup a
Read more