Diary of a Carnival Chaser

  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

  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